Responsible Fatherhood Opportunities for Reentry & Mobility

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine differences among incarcerated or recently incarcerated fathers who receive targeted services and those who do not.

Detailed Description: Individuals with a criminal justice background (either incarcerated or on community supervision) and substance use issues will have the opportunity to enroll in services provided by the Mountain Comprehensive Care Center to focus on enhancing fatherhood and family situations.

The primary research questions focus on gauging the intervention's effectiveness in improving healthy relationship and responsible fatherhood outcomes. The intervention has several components targeting parenting skills, job training, relationship education, and case management/reentry support. Primary research questions include:

1. Compared to the counterfactual condition, what is the impact of the intervention on parenting and co-parenting skills/behaviors, as measured by parental role satisfaction and confidence in parenting skills six months after release from incarceration?

2. Compared to the counterfactual condition, what is the impact of the intervention on the likelihood that the participant will be employed six months after release from incarceration?

3. Compared to the counterfactual condition, what is the impact of the intervention on the likelihood that the participant will be in a relationship six months after release from incarceration?

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Male inmates at specific eastern Kentucky jail sites who are at least 18 years of age and not previously screened for the study
Participants for the local evaluation will be identified as eligible fathers who have been tried and convicted as an adult; within 3 to 9 months of release; are low-income; and may be an expectant father, a biological father, an adoptive father or a stepfather or who a person who is acknowledged as a father figure (e.g., grandfather) of a dependent child or young adult child up to 24 years of age, and interested in participation.

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
MCCC Treatment	MCCC treatment	Participants in this condition received newly-supported reentry services to enhance fatherhood and parenting for individuals with substance use issues. These services focus on responsible parenting, economic stability and mobility, and healthy marriage and relationships.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants in a Relationship	6-month follow-up	The outcome measure is a dichotomous indicator of whether the participant is currently in a relationship.
Parental Role Satisfaction	6-month follow-up	A scale calculated by summing three times measuring happiness, closeness, and comforting interactions with the child. Total score range is 3-12, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.
Number of Participants Employed	6-month follow-up	The outcome is a dichotomous indicator of whether the participant currently has a job.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants That Participated in an Education or Job Training Program in the Past 30 Days	6-month follow-up	The measure is a dichotomous indicator of whether the participant has participated in education or job training programs within the past month.
Number of Participants With Recent In-person Contact With Child(Ren)	6-month follow-up	The measure is a dichotomous indicator of whether the participant has seen their child in person during the past month.
Mental Health Distress	6-month follow-up	The outcome measure is a scale calculated from six items measuring symptoms of anxiety and depression experienced in the past month. Total scores range from 6-30,w with higher scores indicating more frequent experience with symptoms (i.e., greater distress).
Partner Conflict Resolution	6-month follow-up	The measure is a Likert-type (very/somewhat/not at all satisfied) response to whether the participant is satisfied with the way that they and their partner/spouse handle conflict. Total scores range 1-3, with higher scores indicating a greater level of satisfaction.
Number of Participants With Recent Other Contact With Child(Ren)	6-month follow-up	The measure is a dichotomous indicator of whether the participant has spoken with their child on the phone or sent their child letters within the past month.