1. Virginia Knox, MDRC Texas Fatherhood Summit February 3, 2016

2. BUILDING BRIDGES AND BONDS (B3) A rigorous, multi-site study of innovative services offered by Responsible Fatherhood/ReFORM (RF) programs Unique opportunity for the program and research communities to produce new evidence about specific service approaches OFA and other stakeholders are involved in helping B3 to set priorities 2

3. TEST 1: ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES Challenge –Help men gain higher earnings through greater employment stability Promising approaches –Employment services informed by cognitive behavioral principles 3

4. COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL EMPLOYMENT 4 ELEMENTS OF CBE CURRICULUM Motivational engagement Why thought patterns matter (risky thoughts affect behavior and in turn success at work) Skills for work (social skills; emotion regulation) Problem solving skills Individualized success planning Basic job seeking skills

5. TEST 2: PARENTING SERVICES Challenges –Build parenting skills of dads even if not living with children –Reduce co-parenting conflict for both parents Promising approaches –Parenting curricula involving both father and child –Co-parent sessions involving the mother 5

6. TEST 2: PARENTING SERVICES 6 ELEMENTS OF JUST BEGINNING CURRICULUM Make environment baby-friendly Parent training sessions Parent-child visits Getting to know your baby Follow your child’s lead Talk to your baby Encourage and praise your baby Using all the skills together

7. TEST 3: ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES Participant recruitment, engagement, and retention are a central issue for many programs B3 is working with programs to identify and test new approaches in this area. Staying in touch with dads via mobile technology might boost practice of new skills and promote consistent participation 7

8. STUDY TIMELINE 2015-2016: Site recruitment 2016-2017: Enroll participants into the study 2016-2018: Sites receive study support 2017-2019: Share lessons with RF field 2017: Implementation reports 2018: Impact reports 2019: Final synthesis reports 8

9. CONTACT INFORMATION MDRC (research contractor) virginia.knox@mdrc.org www.mdrc.org/b3 OPRE (federal office) Anna Solmeyer Anna.Solmeyer@acf.hhs.gov 202-401-4055 9