Fathers for Change Study

Father and son fist bumping while sitting on a couch

Seeking Fathers for a Paid Research Study Comparing Two Programs for Reducing Intimate Partner Conflict

Who Is the Program for?

Fathers who:

  1. Have had an incident of aggression or domestic violence with their partners (does not have to have been reported to the police),
  2. Have at least 1 child aged 9 months to 12 years; and
  3. Either live with or have contact with their child through visitation/parenting arrangements.

What Is the Goal of the Research Study?

The goal is to compare two programs for men who have had aggression in their relationships with their partner or co-parent. Fathers and co-parents who agree to the study will complete an intake appointment and play assessment with their children (they will receive $50 for this assessment). Fathers will then be randomly assigned to either Fathers for Change or a Duluth Model Domestic Violence Program.

What Is the Program?

18 psychotherapy sessions once per week for 60 minutes with an individual therapist, either in person or using telehealth.

What Does the Research Involve?

Fathers and co-parents complete brief questionnaires each week and then complete a longer set of questionnaires post-treatment and 6 and 12 months following the end of their program. Participants are compensated for their time completing research measures and fathers will receive free treatment.

Why Is This Research Taking Place?

The study will help us understand which program works better for different fathers so we can provide better services in the future.

Where Is the Program Located?

Fathers who live in the Greater New Haven area can be seen at the Yale Parent and Family Development Program in New Haven. Fathers who live in the Greater Hartford area can be seen at the UConn Health Family Adversity and Resilience Program in West Hartford.

Downloads

Contact Information

Family Adversity and Resilience Research Program
Study Lead: Dr. Damion Grasso
UConn Health Department of Psychiatry
Phone: 860-523-6439
Fax: 860-523-3745
Email: dgrasso@uchc.edu

Location: 65 Kane Street, West Hartford, CT 06119

Parent and Family Development Program
Study Lead: Dr. Carla Stover
Yale University Child Study Center
Phone: 844-362-9272
Email: carla.stover@yale.edu

Location: 350 George Street, New Haven, 06510

UConn Health IRB Number: O24-078-1 (PI Grasso)
Yale University IRB Number: 2000026789 (PI Stover)