Fatherhood, Relationships, and Marriage – Illuminating the Next Generation of Research (FRAMING Research)

The purpose of this project is to support activities relevant to a learning agenda for Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) programming, which is funded and administered by ACF's Office of Family Assistance (OFA). The project is gathering and summarizing information and systematically identifying gaps in the knowledge base on HMRF and connected topics or areas. Connected topics or areas are identified through project activities and reflect ACF priorities.

This work includes:

  • Consultation with relevant practitioners and research experts and those with lived expertise in marriage and relationship education, fatherhood, and related fields to identify gaps in the HMRF knowledge base
  • Conducting a review of the HMRF literature and publicly available research reports
  • Analyzing existing research and other sources to map and refine what is known about HMRF programs and practice, what is currently being learned, and what needs to be learned to make programmatic advancements.
  • Examining potential connections between selected topics and areas relevant for HMRF programming and its goals
  • Disseminating reports and project findings throughout the project

The project team is iteratively revising and refining each of the activities described through literature reviews and expert consultation. The final products include written deliverables that summarize gaps in current knowledge and existing approaches, discuss implications for HMRF learning, and describe HMRF implications of associated connected topics and areas.

This contract was awarded to Mathematica with a subcontract to Public Strategies.

Point(s) of contact: Sam Illangasekare

Related Resources

Discover a summary of common challenges programs face in recruiting and engaging young fathers in Responsible Fatherhood programs.

The purpose of this brief is to highlight strategies Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) programs can use to improve their inclusivity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth.

This brief explores strategies Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) programs can use to improve their inclusivity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, or another sexual or gender minority (LGBTQ+) adults.

Fostering Trust with Program Participants and Serving Young Fathers: Highlights from the Third FRAMING Research Technical Work Group on Responsible Fatherhood

Fostering Trust with Program Participants and Serving LGBTQ+ Youth: Highlights from the Third FRAMING Research Technical Work Group on Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education

Suggestions from previous research on how to measure child wellbeing in healthy marriage and relationship education and responsible fatherhood programs.

Explore OPRE's FRAMING Research project's brief about Engaging Community Members in the Research Process to Enhance Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Program Evaluations.

Explore this interactive evidence and gaps map, or knowledge map, to learn more about the effects of parenting programs for incarcerated and re-entering fathers.

Read about highlights from OPRE's second FRAMING Research Technical Workgroup bringing together research and practice experts to discuss the future of responsible fatherhood programming.

Read about highlights from OPRE's second FRAMING Research Technical Workgroup bringing together research and practice experts to discuss the future of healthy marriage and relationship education programming.

This report aims to provide insights into how to best serve young fathers in Responsible Fatherhood (RF) programs.

This brief highlights strategies Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) programs can use to improve their inclusivity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth.

Measuring Child Well-Being in Evaluations of Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs

Explore how healthy marriage and relationship education, or responsible fatherhood programs, can include participants in their program research and evaluation.

Through this evidence-and-gaps map, examine what recent healthy marriage and relationship education programs for youth have found.

This white paper from the FRAMING Research report presents results from an analysis exploring factors correlated with workshop attendance. Specifically, it examines the length and frequency of workshop sessions. 

 

This brief explores how the principles of adult learning theory could be applied to HMRF programs.

This landing page describes a white paper that explores associations between workshop formats (length, time) and participant attendance.

Fathers’ parenting engagement (that is, the ways in which fathers interact with their children) is linked to many aspects of children’s well-being, from health outcomes to academic and social outcomes. However, nonresident fathers with low incomes often face barriers to being fully engaged. By improving fathers’ engagement with their children, RF programs could ultimately benefit children.

Healthy marriage and relationship education (HMRE) programs for couples with children aim to strengthen couples’ relationships and ultimately improve the well-being of participants’ children. Although these programs have shown some success in improving outcomes for married couples, their success with unmarried couples has been limited.

Recognizing the importance of stable, supportive families for the healthy development of children, the federal government has supported healthy marriage and relationship education (HMRE) programs for more than two decades. Many questions remain about how best to serve participants in these programs. The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) and the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), both within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF)...

Recognizing the importance of fathers to their families, as well as the difficulties that many low-income fathers face supporting their children, the federal government has supported responsible fatherhood (RF) programs for more than a decade. However, many questions remain about how to best serve fathers and their families. The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) and the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), both within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF)...