This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation brief intends to help Responsible Fatherhood (RF) programs better serve fathers with criminal justice involvement by summarizing research on the effects of parenting programs for incarcerated and reentering fathers. The brief has three components:

• A description of parenting programs for incarcerated and reentering fathers, including the populations they serve and the types of services they offer,
• Highlights of what is known about the effectiveness of these programs from studies of parenting programs for incarcerated and reentering fathers, and
• A discussion of how the RF field can use this evidence to strengthen parenting services for fathers with criminal justice involvement.

The Fathers and Continuous Learning in Child Welfare (FCL) project sought to improve placement stability and permanency outcomes for children by engaging their fathers and paternal relatives. FCL implemented a methodology known as the Breakthrough Series Collaborative, a continuous learning methodology. The second of a three-part series, this podcast reviews strategies implemented in Los Angeles County, California. Topics discussed include the value community organizations provided in Los Angeles County's improvement team, how Los Angeles County's actions and thoughts diminished the importance of fathers and paternal families and the steps the agency took to change its processes and mindsets, and why the improvement team felt it needed the courage to act "intentionally and unapologetically" to implement meaningful change.

The Fathers & Families Coalition of America will host its 23rd Annual National Conference as a hybrid event from March 8 to March 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. The conference will feature a Roundtable Series covering child support, engaging families, child welfare, disparities in education, and local to national policy impacting practices; 10 Workshop Strands; and Fireside General Sessions. Also included are credential or certificate programs and networking opportunities. Conference registration includes a fee for in-person and virtual participants.

The Fathers and Continuous Learning in Child Welfare (FCL) project sought to improve placement stability and permanency outcomes for children by engaging their fathers and paternal relatives. FCL implemented a methodology known as the Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC), a continuous learning methodology. The first of a three-part series, this podcast discusses strategies implemented in one agency participating in the BSC in Hartford, Connecticut to create a culture in their child welfare system that prioritizes thinking about and engaging fathers and paternal relatives. The podcast covers the benefits of including community partners and fatherhood advocates in Connecticut’s improvement team.

Part of a larger project sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services called Key Programmatic Elements of Engaging Fathers to Promote Self-Sufficiency (KEEP Fathers Engaged), this fact sheet explores three strategies for child support agencies to engage fathers and improve family stability. The strategies are: 1) focus outreach on the emotional and other nonfinancial contributions fathers make to children’s well-being; 2) develop partnerships to help fathers achieve their full potential; and 3) use data and evaluation to support sustaining father engagement. The fact sheet provides brief sketches of how these strategies were used within the Georgia Division of Child Support Services, the Texas Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division, and at the Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Child Support Enforcement.

As part of the Building Bridges and Bonds (B3) study, the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation sought to identify new and promising approaches to supporting fathers working toward economic stability and improved relationships with their children. This report presents findings and lessons from one part of the B3 study: a rigorous evaluation of the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Justice Involved Individuals Seeking Employment (CBI-Emp). CBI-Emp is an intervention that applies cognitive behavioral skill building to help people who have been involved in the justice system maintain employment. The report builds on previously released findings about the implementation of the CBI-Emp curriculum and summarizes the implementation results and lessons learned. The report also describes the effects of the curriculum and provides estimates of program costs.

This issue brief reviews approaches used to engage fathers in human services at the program, organization, and systems level. Program-level approaches to promote father engagement reflect tailored recruitment and intake methods, enhancing service environments, and delivering services aligned with fathers’ goals. Organization-level fatherhood engagement includes demonstrated commitment, developing partnerships with allied organizations, and including father engagement into staff development and supervision. System-level approaches include the identification and breaking down of systemic barriers and ensuring that organizations have sufficient resources and authority needed for engaging fathers.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse offers a comprehensive compendium of fatherhood curricula designed to support responsible parenting, healthy relationships, and economic stability. These evidence-informed and promising program models can help TANF agencies and partners strengthen father engagement strategies, offer parenting and relationship education, and better support noncustodial parents in contributing to family well-being.

Separation between parents can create significant challenges for children, fathers, and families, especially when factors such as incarceration, employment demands, or child welfare involvement disrupt family relationships. The Institute for Research on Poverty will host a webinar on March 11, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET to explore research and practical strategies for helping fathers maintain or rebuild connections with their children during and after periods of separation. For TANF programs, the discussion may highlight opportunities to strengthen father engagement, support healthy co-parenting relationships, and connect noncustodial parents with services that promote family stability and child well-being.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway podcast series covers timely topics in child welfare, family well-being, and systems change. These episodes can be a great professional learning resource for TANF staff, partners, and community providers engaged in cross-system work or serving families with complex needs.