Healthy
Conditions
Keywords
Fatherhood, Relationships, Employment, Criminal Justice
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?
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMCCC 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.
Sponsors
University of Kentucky
Mountain Comprehensive Care Center
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
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
* N/A
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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). |
| 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. |
| 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. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Recruitment details
Participants were eligible if they were tried and convicted as adults; and were expectant or current adult fathers, including adoptive or step-fathers, or others acknowledged as a father figure of a dependent child or young adult up to 20 years of age.
Pre-assignment details
Of the 704 screened, 248 (43%) did not meet eligibility criteria. Of those screened, 401 (57%) met eligibility criteria and all of those eligible completed a baseline survey (N=401).
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| 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. | 201 |
| MCCC Comparison Participants in this condition did not receive reentry services related to responsible parenting, economic stability and mobility, or healthy marriage and relationships. | 200 |
| Total | 401 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | MCCC Treatment | MCCC Comparison | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at time of first arrrest | 19.5 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.9 | 18.7 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.4 | 19.1 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.2 |
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 201 Participants | 200 Participants | 401 Participants |
| Age, Continuous | 38.1 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 9 | 36.9 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.5 | 37.4 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.7 |
| Number of arrests in lifetime | 22.9 arrests STANDARD_DEVIATION 28.2 | 23.2 arrests STANDARD_DEVIATION 33.8 | 23.1 arrests STANDARD_DEVIATION 31.1 |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Black or African American | 2 Participants | 8 Participants | 10 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized More than one race | 1 Participants | 1 Participants | 2 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Unknown or not reported | 43 Participants | 32 Participants | 75 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized White | 155 Participants | 159 Participants | 314 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 201 Participants | 200 Participants | 401 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 201 Participants | 200 Participants | 401 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 201 | 0 / 200 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 201 | 0 / 200 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 201 | 0 / 200 |
Outcome results
Primary
Number of Participants Employed
The outcome is a dichotomous indicator of whether the participant currently has a job.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| MCCC Treatment | Number of Participants Employed | 26 Participants |
| MCCC Comparison | Number of Participants Employed | 20 Participants |
p-value: 0.88Regression, Logistic
Primary
Number of Participants in a Relationship
The outcome measure is a dichotomous indicator of whether the participant is currently in a relationship.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| MCCC Treatment | Number of Participants in a Relationship | 47 Participants |
| MCCC Comparison | Number of Participants in a Relationship | 37 Participants |
p-value: 0.89Regression, Logistic
Primary
Parental Role Satisfaction
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.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCCC Treatment | Parental Role Satisfaction | 11.9 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.2 |
| MCCC Comparison | Parental Role Satisfaction | 11.4 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.6 |
p-value: 0.29Regression, Linear
Secondary
Mental Health Distress
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).
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCCC Treatment | Mental Health Distress | 11.9 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 5.8 |
| MCCC Comparison | Mental Health Distress | 11.2 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.3 |
p-value: 0.74Regression, Linear
Secondary
Number of Participants That Participated in an Education or Job Training Program in the Past 30 Days
The measure is a dichotomous indicator of whether the participant has participated in education or job training programs within the past month.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| MCCC Treatment | Number of Participants That Participated in an Education or Job Training Program in the Past 30 Days | 10 Participants |
| MCCC Comparison | Number of Participants That Participated in an Education or Job Training Program in the Past 30 Days | 3 Participants |
p-value: 0.14Regression, Logistic
Secondary
Number of Participants With Recent In-person Contact With Child(Ren)
The measure is a dichotomous indicator of whether the participant has seen their child in person during the past month.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| MCCC Treatment | Number of Participants With Recent In-person Contact With Child(Ren) | 58 Participants |
| MCCC Comparison | Number of Participants With Recent In-person Contact With Child(Ren) | 50 Participants |
p-value: 0.61Regression, Logistic
Secondary
Number of Participants With Recent Other Contact With Child(Ren)
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.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| MCCC Treatment | Number of Participants With Recent Other Contact With Child(Ren) | 69 Participants |
| MCCC Comparison | Number of Participants With Recent Other Contact With Child(Ren) | 52 Participants |
p-value: 0.67Regression, Logistic
Secondary
Partner Conflict Resolution
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.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCCC Treatment | Partner Conflict Resolution | 1.4 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.5 |
| MCCC Comparison | Partner Conflict Resolution | 1.4 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.5 |
p-value: 0.81Regression, Linear