Father-Focused Intervention for Reducing Family Violence and Symptoms in Children

This study is testing two different programs for fathers with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment. One program is called "Fathers for Change (F4C)" and focuses on helping fathers manage their emotions and improve family communication. The other is a standard program called "Duluth BIP," which provides education and therapy about intimate partner violence. The study wants to see if Fathers for Change is better at reducing violence in families and improving children's well-being. You might be able to join if you are a father, have a child between 6 months and 12 years old, have had an incident of IPV in the last year, have an open or recent case with CT DCF, and can complete assessments in English. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status.

Study design
This study plans to enroll 1080 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the Fathers for Change program or the Duluth BIP program.
What's involved
Both programs involve 18 weeks of individual therapy or psychoeducation. You will complete assessments at the beginning, after 19 weeks, after 43 weeks, and after 70 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 70 weeks after the start of the study to measure changes in violence.

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NCT06074068

Father-Focused Intervention for Reducing Family Violence and Symptoms in Children

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
Yale University
~1,080 participants
Updated 2026-04-15 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Fathers for ChangeDuluth BIP

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Physical Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) overtime
Measured over Baseline, 19 weeks, 43 weeks and 70 weeks
+3 more outcomes measured
Intimate Partner Violence
Child Maltreatment
2 sites across 1 states
Connecticut2
  • Carla S Stover, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Yale University

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

have at least one 6 month to 12-year-old biological child with whom they have contact;
had an incident of IPV within the last 12 months prior to screening with their child's mother (based on court/police records, coparent or self-report);
have a currently open or recently investigated (in the last 6 months) case with CT DCF
are able to complete assessments in English or Spanish;
agree to have their female coparents (mother of target child) contacted as collateral informants and for consent for participation of their child. If a participant has more than one child in the age range, the youngest will be selected;
female coparents (i.e., biological mother who need not be in a relationship with the father) consents to (at minimum) provide parent-report on child; however, may opt out of child participation. If the coparent agrees to participate by providing caregiver-report on child symptoms, but declines participation of their shared child, the father may still participate in the study if he meets eligibility criteria outlined below; thus, preventing any possible retaliation against co-parents for not consenting to child participation.

Exclusion

an active full/no contact protective order pertaining to their child because this will preclude participation in the father-child play assessment (many men will have protective orders pertaining to their partners, but it is more common for men to still be allowed contact with their children);
physiological addiction to a substance that requires detoxification. Fathers will be evaluated using the Drug Abuse Screening Test and AUDIT. If fathers report significant difficulties with physiological withdrawal (e.g., alcohol tremors or dope sickness) they will be referred for detox services. They can be re-evaluated following a detox program with documentation from the detox center of successful completion and clean urine screen;
cognitive impairment that will not allow for understanding of the study interventions (a mini mental state score \<25);
current untreated psychotic disorder;
currently suicidal or homicidal ideation based on screening using the BSI; or
previously participated in F4C or a BIP.
  • Change in Physical Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) overtimeBaseline, 19 weeks, 43 weeks and 70 weeks

    The Physical Intimate Partner Violence Subscale of the Family Socialization Interview-Revised will be used to assess physical IPV. Items are coded on a 4-point scale for severity from 0 (none) to 4 (severe). Scores are averaged to achieve a total score with a range of 0 to 4. Higher scores indicate greater frequency and severity of Physical IPV.

  • Change in Verbal Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) overtimeBaseline, 19 weeks, 43 weeks and 70 weeks

    The Verbal Intimate Partner Violence Subscale of the Family Socialization Interview-Revised will be used to assess verbal IPV. Items are coded on a 4-point scale for severity from 0 (none) to 4 (severe). Scores are averaged to achieve a final score with a range of 0 to 4. Higher scores indicate greater frequency and severity of verbal IPV.

  • Change in Physical Child Maltreatment overtimeBaseline, 19 weeks, 43 weeks and 70 weeks

    Family Socialization Interview-Revised will be used to assess physical child maltreatment. The Physical scale will be used for this outcome. Items are ranked on 0-4 point scale from 0 (none) to 4 (severe) and averaged for a final score with a range of 0 to 4 with higher scores indicating greater frequency and severity of physical child maltreatment risk.

  • Change in Verbal Child Maltreatment overtimeBaseline, 19 weeks, 43 weeks and 70 weeks

    Family Socialization Interview-Revised will be used to assess physical child maltreatment. The verbal scale will be used for this outcome. Items are ranked on 0-4 point scale from 0 (none) to 4 (severe) and averaged for a final score with a range of 0 to 4 with higher scores indicating greater frequency and severity of verbal child maltreatment risk.