Caring Dads
The Caring Dad’s Program is an evidence-based program as documented in the NSPCC Report. This page details the summary of this report.
- NSPCC Study Summary
- Authors: Nicola McConnell, Matt Barnard, Tracey Holdsworth and Julie Taylor
- Published: 2016
- Data: 204 fathers, 72 partners and 22 children
Fathers and partners reported fewer incidents of domestic abuse after completing the program.
Risks to children reduced because fathers generally found being a parent less stressful and interacted better with their children after they had attended the program.
Caring Dads is associated with pre to post group reductions in parenting stress and in level of hostility, indifference, and rejection as reported by fathers, and reductions in domestic violence victimization (emotional abuse, isolation, violence, injury, use of children), depression, and anxiety as reported by mothers. (Graph shown at right)
Changes in identified domains persist over six months and are well in excess of changes made by comparison group fathers over a similar time period.
Sustained improvements in the fathers' behaviour helped to increase feelings of safety and wellbeing within their families.
Caring Dads practitioners influenced decisions made about children, either by providing evidence of changes in the father's behaviour or highlighting additional safeguarding concerns
Qualitative information provided evidence of how the program can bring about positive improvements in the fathers' behaviour. For example, some children talked about seeing their father more often and feeling happier and more comfortable around him. (Interview excerpts shown at right)
