An Early Evaluation Of A Responsible Fatherhood Program, Fathers Empowered To Learn, Lead, And Achieve Success (FELLAS)

OBJECTIVES. This study was a pilot test of the FELLAS responsible fatherhood program. METHODS. Fathers (n=388)completed a 35-hour program designed to help them improve life-skills, parenting skills and make progress toward economic stability. The analytic sample consisted of 131 fathers who had completed questionnaires at pretest, posttest, and six-month follow-up. The quantitative measures were not specific health outcomes, but have been shown to have a positive influence on health. Some fathers also participated in focus groups, the purpose of which was to gain feedback from participants about their views of the program, and the skills they had gained from the program. RESULTS. Participants showed significant improvement from pretest to posttest for five of the seven outcome measures, including: Attitudes Toward Finances, Parenting Skills, Father’s Involvement, Conflict Resolution, and Decrease in unemployment. These changes were maintained at the six-month follow-up for four of the five measures; all except Father’s Involvement. One of the outcome measures, which did not show change from pretest to posttest, Increase in Full-time Employment, did show significant change from pretest to follow-up. Participant feedback from fathers in the focus groups was also positive and included the development of more positive parenting. skills. CONCLUSION. The positive results shown in this pilot study set the stage for a more rigorous evaluation of the intervention.