Evaluating Practitioner Training to Improve Competencies and Organizational Practices for Engaging Fathers in...

Area of Science:

• Parenting Interventions
• Social Work
• Child Development

Background:

• Fathers are underrepresented in parenting interventions.
• Practitioners are key targets for enhancing father engagement.
• Training programs can improve practitioner skills and organizational practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of two practitioner training programs (face-to-face and online) on enhancing father engagement.
• To assess improvements in practitioner competencies and organizational father-inclusive practices.
• To compare the long-term effects of different training formats on father engagement.

Main Methods:

• Two studies utilized a single-group, repeated-measures design (pre, post, 2-month follow-up).
• Study 1 involved face-to-face training (N=233).
• Study 2 involved online training (N=356), measuring practitioner competencies, perceived effectiveness, strategy use, organizational practices, and father engagement rates.

Main Results:

• Practitioners in both training formats showed improvements in competencies, organizational practices, and father engagement rates immediately post-training.
• Online training participants showed a decline in three competencies from post-training to the 2-month follow-up.
• Face-to-face training demonstrated sustained improvements at follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Both training formats can enhance father engagement, but face-to-face training may offer more sustained benefits.
• Online training requires further refinement to ensure long-term competency retention.
• Effective practitioner training is crucial for increasing father involvement in parenting interventions.