Parent-Child RelationsNCT05214898
Improving Father-Child and Father-Partner Relationships Among Black and Hispanic Fathers
An observational study of Parent-Child Relations and Partner Communication, run by University of Southern California at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Fathers play a unique role in the lives of children, with high quality interactions found to improve a child's executive functioning and general school achievement. Father involvement also has positive impacts on fathers themselves, with more involved fathers reporting more self-confidence in their parenting, more… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years, men only
- Conditions the study is for
- Parent-Child Relations, Partner Communication, Parenting
- What is being tested?
- 24/7 Dad
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 350 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2022to 30 Sep 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Men only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Study population: Program eligibility will be open to all low-income fathers age 18 years or older with children under the age of 24 years. The target geographic area will be South LA, particularly the community of Watts, however participants will not be excluded based on geography. South LA is overwhelmingly Latino (68%) and Black (27%). Close to half (48%) of all residents speak Spanish at home. Nearly all residents are very low-income. We expect our participants to reflect the community in these dimensions.
Who may be able to join
- Male
- Age 18 years or older
- Have a child under the age of 24 years
- Speak English or Spanish
Who cannot join
- Unable to speak English or Spanish
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, 90041
About this study
Official title: Improving Father-Child and Father-Partner Relationships Through the Evaluation of the 24/7 Dads Intervention With Black and Hispanic Fathers
Fathers play a unique role in the lives of children, with high quality interactions found to improve a child's executive functioning and general school achievement. Father involvement also has positive impacts on fathers themselves, with more involved fathers reporting more self-confidence in their parenting, more satisfaction with parenting, demonstration of more maturity, and reports of less psychosocial distress. However, poverty can have a negative association with fathers parenting and child outcomes, though paternal warmth can mediate this relationship. Children's Institute Inc will recruit and implement the 24/7 Dad program which is designed to provide a comprehensive evidenced-based fatherhood program that builds and strengthens father-child relationships. The curriculum for the primary workshops will be the 24/7 Dad curriculum, which addresses both the responsible parenting and healthy relationship areas in this project. A quasi-experimental interrupted time series (ITS) design allows for a continuous sequence of observations on a population, taken repeatedly over time.
Read the detailed description
Fathers play a unique role in the lives of children, with high quality interactions found to improve a child's executive functioning and general school achievement. Father involvement also has positive impacts on fathers themselves, with more involved fathers reporting more self-confidence in their parenting, more satisfaction with parenting, demonstration of more maturity, and reports of less psychosocial distress. However, poverty can have a negative association with fathers parenting and child outcomes, though paternal warmth can mediate this relationship. Children's Institute Inc will recruit and implement the 24/7 Dad program which is designed to provide a comprehensive evidenced-based fatherhood program that builds and strengthens father-child relationships. The curriculum for the primary workshops will be the 24/7 Dad curriculum, which addresses both the responsible parenting and healthy relationship areas in this project. The study will use a quasi-experimental interrupted time series (ITS) design that allows for a continuous sequence of observations on a population, taken repeatedly over time. Study aims include: (1) Does the 24/7 Dad intervention influence the behaviors of fathers of young children?; (2) Do fathers who participated in the 24/7 Dad intervention and additional post-intervention support (MIRG and/or financial literacy and job support activities) have better outcomes than those who complete 24/7 Dad only?; (3) Does trauma history and/or current mental wellbeing mediate the relationship between the 24/7 Dad intervention and father engagement, father-child relationships, and co-parenting relationships?; and (4) Does perceived discrimination influence successful outcomes of 24/7 Dad intervention participants? To test the hypotheses of Aim 1 and Aim 2, a generalized linear mixed model will be fitted to the outcome variable individually, specified for corresponding distribution. For Aim 3, investigators will use path models, special cases of structural equation modeling (SEM) with observable variables only, to test the multiple hypothesized mediating pathway.
- Conditions
- Parent-Child Relations, Partner Communication, Parenting
- Being tested
- 24/7 Dad
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
24/7 DadBehavioural
The 24/7 Dad curriculum is an evidence-based, skills driven curriculum (12 group sessions). The following topics are included: Family History, What it Means to Be a Man, Showing and Handling Feelings, Men's Health, Communication, The Father's Role, Discipline, Children's Growth, Getting Involved, Working with \& Co-Parenting, Dads and Work, and the "My 24/7Dad Checklist". Healthy Relationship topics include: Communication Skills, including expression, discussion, and negotiation skills; Conflict Resolution and Anger Management; Problem-Solving; and Knowledge of the Benefits of Marriage. Responsible Parenting areas of focus include: children's growth/development; non-violent discipline; co-parenting; building conflict resolutions skills (for the child and the family); and, enhancing family relationships.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate Start | Investigators will use a quasi-experimental interrupted time series (ITS) design that allows for a continuous sequence of observations on a population, taken repeatedly over time (Bernal et al., 2017). ITS design provides an estimate of the causal effect of a discrete intervention; the design begins with measurements on a dependent variable and the intervention breaks ("interrupts") this time series into preintervention and post-intervention time points. Data will be collected from two group an "Immediate Start Group" and a "Delayed Start Group" (who will serve as a control group for the ITS design). Receives: Behavioral: 24/7 Dad | |
| Delayed-Start | Investigators will use a quasi-experimental interrupted time series (ITS) design that allows for a continuous sequence of observations on a population, taken repeatedly over time (Bernal et al., 2017). ITS design provides an estimate of the causal effect of a discrete intervention; the design begins with measurements on a dependent variable and the intervention breaks ("interrupts") this time series into preintervention and post-intervention time points. Data will be collected from two group an "Immediate Start Group" and a "Delayed Start Group" (who will serve as a control group for the ITS design). Receives: Behavioral: 24/7 Dad |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Father Engagement with Child
Father Engagement Scale (Dyer et al. 2018). 10-item questionnaire measuring interactions between fathers and children
Measured: 3 months
Secondary outcomes (3)
Relationship Conflict
Continuum of Conflict and Control Relationship Scale (Carlson et al., 2017). 20-item scale that identifies variance in relationship IPV, relationship distress, and individual distress
Measured: 3 months
Father-Child Relationship
Child-Parent Relationship Scale - Short Form (Driscoll \& Pianta, 2011). 15-item measure of conflict and closeness between fathers and children.
Measured: 3 month
Father Relationship with Co-Parent
Co-Parenting relationship scale (Dyer, Fagan, Kaufman, Pearson, \& Cabrera, 2015). 11-item scale aimed at describing the way the father and mother work together as co-parents
Measured: 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Jan 2022
- Study start1 Apr 2022
- Primary completion15 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Parent-Child RelationsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Southern CaliforniaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 350 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Southern California
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Children's Institute, Children's Bureau - Administration for Children and Families
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Julie Cederbaum, University of Southern California
- Investigators
- Julie A Cederbaum, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Southern California
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05214898
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UP-21-00532
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 16 Sep 2021
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: All data will be shared using a unique identifier; no identifying data will be shared
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Improving Father-Child and Father-Partner Relationships Through the Evaluation of the 24/7 Dads Intervention With Black and Hispanic Fathers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05214898
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UP-21-00532
- Conditions
- Parent-Child Relations, Partner Communication, Parenting
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 350 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Children's Institute, Children's Bureau - Administration for Children and Families
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Jan 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Fathers play a unique role in the lives of children, with high quality interactions found to improve a child's executive functioning and general school achievement. Father involvement also has positive impacts on fathers themselves, with more involved fathers reporting more self-confidence in their parenting, more satisfaction with parenting, demonstration of more maturity, and reports of less psychosocial distress. However, poverty can have a negative association with fathers parenting and child outcomes, though paternal warmth can mediate this relationship. Children's Institute Inc will recruit and implement the 24/7 Dad program which is designed to provide a comprehensive evidenced-based fatherhood program that builds and strengthens father-child relationships. The curriculum for the primary workshops will be the 24/7 Dad curriculum, which addresses both the responsible parenting and healthy relationship areas in this project. A quasi-experimental interrupted time series (ITS) design allows for a continuous sequence of observations on a population, taken repeatedly over time.
Detailed description
Fathers play a unique role in the lives of children, with high quality interactions found to improve a child's executive functioning and general school achievement. Father involvement also has positive impacts on fathers themselves, with more involved fathers reporting more self-confidence in their parenting, more satisfaction with parenting, demonstration of more maturity, and reports of less psychosocial distress. However, poverty can have a negative association with fathers parenting and child outcomes, though paternal warmth can mediate this relationship. Children's Institute Inc will recruit and implement the 24/7 Dad program which is designed to provide a comprehensive evidenced-based fatherhood program that builds and strengthens father-child relationships. The curriculum for the primary workshops will be the 24/7 Dad curriculum, which addresses both the responsible parenting and healthy relationship areas in this project. The study will use a quasi-experimental interrupted time series (ITS) design that allows for a continuous sequence of observations on a population, taken repeatedly over time. Study aims include: (1) Does the 24/7 Dad intervention influence the behaviors of fathers of young children?; (2) Do fathers who participated in the 24/7 Dad intervention and additional post-intervention support (MIRG and/or financial literacy and job support activities) have better outcomes than those who complete 24/7 Dad only?; (3) Does trauma history and/or current mental wellbeing mediate the relationship between the 24/7 Dad intervention and father engagement, father-child relationships, and co-parenting relationships?; and (4) Does perceived discrimination influence successful outcomes of 24/7 Dad intervention participants? To test the hypotheses of Aim 1 and Aim 2, a generalized linear mixed model will be fitted to the outcome variable individually, specified for corresponding distribution. For Aim 3, investigators will use path models, special cases of structural equation modeling (SEM) with observable variables only, to test the multiple hypothesized mediating pathway.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate Start | – | Behavioral: 24/7 DadInvestigators will use a quasi-experimental interrupted time series (ITS) design that allows for a continuous sequence of observations on a population, taken repeatedly over time (Bernal et al., 2017). ITS design provides an estimate of the causal effect of a discrete intervention; the design begins with measurements on a dependent variable and the intervention breaks ("interrupts") this time series into preintervention and post-intervention time points. Data will be collected from two group an "Immediate Start Group" and a "Delayed Start Group" (who will serve as a control group for the ITS design). |
| Delayed-Start | – | Behavioral: 24/7 DadInvestigators will use a quasi-experimental interrupted time series (ITS) design that allows for a continuous sequence of observations on a population, taken repeatedly over time (Bernal et al., 2017). ITS design provides an estimate of the causal effect of a discrete intervention; the design begins with measurements on a dependent variable and the intervention breaks ("interrupts") this time series into preintervention and post-intervention time points. Data will be collected from two group an "Immediate Start Group" and a "Delayed Start Group" (who will serve as a control group for the ITS design). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- Program eligibility will be open to all low-income fathers age 18 years or older with children under the age of 24 years. The target geographic area will be South LA, particularly the community of Watts, however participants will not be excluded based on geography. South LA is overwhelmingly Latino (68%) and Black (27%). Close to half (48%) of all residents speak Spanish at home. Nearly all residents are very low-income. We expect our participants to reflect the community in these dimensions.
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Male
- Age 18 years or older
- Have a child under the age of 24 years
- Speak English or Spanish
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Unable to speak English or Spanish
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 DadThe 24/7 Dad curriculum is an evidence-based, skills driven curriculum (12 group sessions). The following topics are included: Family History, What it Means to Be a Man, Showing and Handling Feelings, Men's Health, Communication, The Father's Role, Discipline, Children's Growth, Getting Involved, Working with \& Co-Parenting, Dads and Work, and the "My 24/7Dad Checklist". Healthy Relationship topics include: Communication Skills, including expression, discussion, and negotiation skills; Conflict Resolution and Anger Management; Problem-Solving; and Knowledge of the Benefits of Marriage. Responsible Parenting areas of focus include: children's growth/development; non-violent discipline; co-parenting; building conflict resolutions skills (for the child and the family); and, enhancing family relationships. | Behavioural | Delayed-Start, Immediate Start |
Primary outcome
Father Engagement with Child
Time frame: 3 months
Father Engagement Scale (Dyer et al. 2018). 10-item questionnaire measuring interactions between fathers and children
3 secondary outcomes
Relationship Conflict
Time frame: 3 months
Father-Child Relationship
Time frame: 3 month
Father Relationship with Co-Parent
Time frame: 3 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. All data will be shared using a unique identifier; no identifying data will be shared
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Julie A Cederbaum, PhD principal investigator
University of Southern California
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Parent-Child Relations and Partner Communication, run by University of Southern California at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Father Engagement with Child (time frame: 3 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.