African American Non-Resident Fatherhood Program: Effects on Child/Family Outcomes
Phase: NA
Conditions: Father - Child Relations
Sponsor: Rush University Medical Center

COVER PAGE 
The Dedicated African American Dad Study 
NCT number-NCT02412748 
Document date- July 15, 2016 
Study Protocol & Statistical Analysis Plan 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall Study Design 
The study was a randomized clinical trial comparing the effects of a 12-week, 9-session 
fatherhood intervention, Building Bridges To Fatherhood (BBTF), to an attention control 
Financial Literacy Program (FLP) for AA non-resident fathers. Both conditions had a booster 
session at 18 weeks. At the booster session, the BBTF intervention group met to problem-solve 
around remaining challenges to positive father involvement and to refresh the content offered 
during the 12-week program. The attention control FLP condition met to discuss progress 
towards acquiring financial literacy, but without mention of fatherhood or father involvement. AA 
non-resident fathers were randomly assigned to the two conditions. This study used a block 
randomization procedure to facilitate equitable distribution of fathers into the BBTF and FLP 
conditions. Data collection began in study year 2 and continued for 2 years. During each wave’s 
12 weeks of recruitment, there were six blocks with four participants in each block. Each block 
was constructed with an equal number of BBTF and FLP assignments. Data collection was 
done at baseline, immediately post intervention (12 weeks), and 3 months post intervention (24 
weeks).  
The BBTF sessions and FLP control sessions were held at community colleges or 
community neighborhood sites. The study was conducted in a series of 6 waves over 96 weeks, 
alternating from westside sites southside sites over 96 weeks. Each wave began with 12 weeks 
of recruitment at community locations in proximity to the site. After the intervention and control 
groups had been recruited at each site, the two conditions began in parallel. The BBTF 
intervention and FLP control groups met on different nights and in different locations at the 
facility in order to minimize contamination. Once the groups began at one site, recruitment 
began for the next wave that was to be conducted at the alternate site. This design minimized 
historical contamination within a site because of the 12-week hiatus between the beginning of 
one series of groups and the end of the previous groups.  
 
Subjects and Setting 
Inclusion Criteria. Inclusion criteria were: (1) AA biological father of a child 2 to 6 years old; (2) 
child lived with father no more than 48 hours per week (e.g., spends the weekends with his or 
her father); and (3) the child lived with the biological mother (or other custodial relative such as 
grandmother) in the metropolitan Chicago area. These fathers are referred to as AA non-
resident fathers. Additional criteria included: (1) child’s mother willing to consent to complete the 
child assessments--[this criterion was amended in order to allow fathers access to program 
content even when mothers were unwilling to complete research measures]; (2) child’s mother 
amenable to facilitating opportunities for fathers to interact with their children in order to practice 
skills learned in the program; and (3) father able and willing to travel to one of two intervention 
sites to attend a weekly program. The study was limited to fathers with a target child aged 2-6 
years. The rationale for this limit was based on the developmental phase when families are 
most vulnerable to decreased father involvement and children are highly dependent on 
parenting for their growth and development.  
Exclusion criteria included: (1) fathers with histories of child abuse, neglect, or violence 
perpetuated against the child or the child’s mother (based on mother or father report).  
The city of Chicago is composed of 77 community areas identified by numbers. We recruited 
fathers from the approximately 171,000 AA men between the ages of 18 and 65 residing in 13 
predominantly AA (73-98%) community areas. These mostly low-income community areas 
(median income $13,596-$43,728), with 23% to 55% of incomes below poverty level. Based on 
data that reveals that more than two-thirds of AA children live in homes without their biological 
fathers,1,2 we are confident that the communities will serve as rich recruitment sites for AA non-
resident fathers. We identified two conveniently located sites to conduct the programs, one 
located on Chicago’s West Side and the other located on Chicago’s South Side.  
 

Power Analysis. Previous research107 suggests that an intervention that is similar to BBTF 
could produce an improvement in father engagement (d = .42).108 Assuming an effect size of d = 
.42, a one-tailed alpha of .05, and a sample size of 144 participants (72 per group), we obtained 
a power of .80 for this design. Assuming a 20% dropout rate, the total sample needs to be 180 
participants, 90 per group.  
 
Sample Recruitment. Three recruiters, ethnically matched to the participants and with ties to 
the community, were trained in minority outreach by the research team to establish relationships 
with fathers that supported recruitment. They were also trained to give presentations about the 
program to community groups. It was essential that the data collectors hired were comfortable in 
low-income communities, highly personable, and very patient (particularly when parents failed to 
show up for appointments). All program advertisements included a brief description of a self-
improvement program for AA fathers, featured photographs of scenes of fathers meeting 
together, and provided a number to call and e-mail address for further information. We 
continued with the highly successful active (recruiters meet directly with potential participants) 
and passive (potential participants are prompted to contact the staff) recruitment strategies used 
in our extensive prior work in low-income Chicago communities.95,104,105 Recruiters met with key 
informants already identified from churches, barbershops, community centers, schools, day care 
centers, local business establishments, dry cleaners, and sports venues to obtain the 
anticipated broad reach. Key informants were given brochures/flyers to pass on the information 
to potential participants. In addition, notices were placed in church bulletins and community 
newspapers. Active strategies included giving presentations at community churches and other 
community gathering places.  
Fathers who meet inclusion criteria were informed that half of the fathers in the study would 
be randomly chosen to participate in the intervention group or the control group. Fathers had to 
agree to this procedure. After informed consent was obtained and baseline measures were 
completed, randomization took place. Block randomization assignments were kept in sealed 
envelopes in the research office in the order in which they were generated and then 
communicated by the project director to the data collector via text message, who was blind to 
the assignment prior to consenting and enrollment. The intervention and control groups began 
simultaneously at the end of the 12-week recruitment period  
 
Sample Retention. We continued with the successful strategies that resulted in 80% retention 
in prior community-based studies.47,106 First, the sessions were offered at two sites convenient 
to public transportation and with free parking. Participants were reimbursed for the cost of public 
transportation for coming to and from the study sites for the sessions and data collections 
(round-trip public transit card or $10 gas card). They received a $40 gift card after completing 
each of the three data collections. At the sessions, they were given a healthy drink and snack. 
Three times during the BBTF program (Weeks 4, 8, and 12), there were no scheduled session. 
To enhance fathers’ opportunities for spending time with their child and serve as a motivator for 
continued involvement in the BBTF program, they were given a $30.00 activity voucher for 
these weeks. Our prior work with fathers suggested that this was a retention strategy that was 
highly valued by AA fathers who were often seeking opportunities and resources for spending 
fun, engaging, and educational time with their children.9,47,109 We identified multiple means of 
remaining in contact with fathers including: work, home, and cell phone numbers; noted if they 
accepted text messages; home and e-mail addresses; and the contact information of three 
friends, relatives, or coworkers who would know how contact them should their phone service 
be terminated or mailing address change. Fathers received two reminder telephone calls, text 
messages, or e-mails two days prior to and the day of each group session and data collection. 
Fathers were given the opportunity to have the baseline, 12- and 24-week data collections 
either at the community college or another location of their choosing, such as their homes. 

Mothers received a $40 gift card for completing child outcome and father involvement 
assessments. Data collection for the mothers at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks was conveniently 
conducted via phone administration, mailed paper-and-pencil survey or online via 
SurveyMonkey (based on the mother’s preference). Our intent was to ensure that the process of 
collecting data from the mother was not overly burdensome. Contact information was obtained 
as with the father.  
 
Procedures  
Fathers were given an explanation of the study in person or over the phone. This included 
informing them that half of the fathers in the study would be randomly chosen to participate in 
the intervention group and half in the control group. Fathers who were interested gave verbal 
consent to be screened for eligibility criteria. Fathers were also: (1) asked for the mother’s 
contact information (home phone, work phone, cell phone, and e-mail), (2) provided a letter to 
give the child’s mother informing her of the study and asking her to contact us within one week if 
not interested in participating. All mothers who did not contact us were contacted for consent 
and data collection. If mothers were interested, arrangements were made to meet them at a 
place of their convenience (e.g., their home, work, community gathering place). Mothers were 
also given the opportunity to complete data collection via telephone interview. The father’s 
written consent was obtained at first contact (if in person), or we scheduled to meet at a place of 
his convenience. These consent strategies were successfully used in preliminary study. After 
obtaining fathers’ and mothers’ written consent, baseline measures were administered. Baseline 
father questionnaires were father outcomes, paternal involvement, father-mother relationship 
quality, and child outcomes. Baseline mother questionnaires were child outcomes, paternal 
involvement, and father-mother relationship quality. Fathers were then assigned to one of the 
two conditions. Fathers in both conditions participated in three 3-week sessions, each of which 
was followed by a break week (total of 12 weeks); and participated in a booster session at 18 
weeks. The BBTF and FLP were held at the community colleges or other their community 
(South or West Side of Chicago) with two trained group leaders. A cohort of 12-15 fathers will 
be assigned to each condition. The program sessions for both conditions begin with a greeting, 
a healthy snack, and the introduction of their respective program material. Data collection 
occurred again at 12 and 24 weeks. They received reminder calls two to three times in the week 
before each of the nine program sessions, the booster session, and the three data collections 
(baseline, 12, and 24 weeks). Fathers received a $40 gift card and mothers received a $40 gift 
card at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks for completion of measures administered at those times.  
 
Data Analysis Data analysis is described with respect to the three specific aims and 
hypotheses that were tested. Missing data was imputed using SAS Proc MI, a multiple 
imputation computer program based on the work of Rubin.131 All continuous data was examined 
for statistical normality. Histograms were obtained for these variables, and skew and kurtosis 
were assessed in order to assess statistical normality. Where possible, we normalized these 
data using Tukey’s ladder of transformation132 before conducting statistical analysis. SPSS for 
Windows (Version 11) and SAS (Version 9.1) was used for data management and statistical 
analysis. A two-tailed 0.05 significance level was used for all statistical tests except where noted 
below. All analyses were performed on an intent-to-treat basis. Outcome measures that could 
be successfully transformed to achieve normality were in all likelihood close enough to a normal 
distribution that the robust nature of the F-test made it possible to obtain reasonable p values in 
the study. 
Descriptive statistics on the sample data for all research variables were obtained. In 
addition, one-way ANOVAs and chi-square analysis on the demographic and baseline research 
measures were performed between the intervention and control groups to determine that they 

were comparable. The effects of participant attrition on the research variable were also 
assessed using one-way ANOVAs.  
 
Hypothesis 1: Relative to the attention control condition, BBTF program fathers will 
report better father outcomes (psychological well-being, parenting competence, and 
father-mother relationship quality) and greater paternal involvement (material support, in-
kind support, father-child interaction) at 12 weeks and 24 weeks.  
Data analysis were a repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) to address 
Hypothesis 1. The basic design for these analyses was a 2x3 design with three assessment 
time points (the within-subjects factor) crossed with the two treatment conditions (BBTF and the 
comparison group [the between-subjects factor]). The null hypothesis for all these analyses was 
that changes for all dependent measures (psychological well-being, parenting competence, 
father-mother relationship quality, material support, in-kind support, and father-child interaction) 
would remain constant for the two groups over time. The alternative hypothesis was that they 
would increase over time in the BBTF group relative to the control group. This was the 
interaction effect in the RM-ANOVA. An initial multivariate analysis was be conducted first to 
see if there was any overall effect. If the null hypothesis was rejected in the multivariate 
analysis, we examined the univariate analyses. We tested for violations of sphericity, and if they 
were in evidence, then a Greenhouse-Geisser correction was used to estimate probability 
values.  
In order to determine when these changes occurred across the three assessment time 
points, a follow-up analysis was conducted with time reparameterized into a set of two 
orthogonal Helmert contrasts. The two contrasts were of the form (1, -1/2, -1/2; 0, 1, -1), where 
if the first contrast was significant, this indicated that the critical differences occurred between 
times 1 and 2; and if the second was significant, the changes took place between times 2 and 3. 
This informed us as to the transition point or points where the velocity changes were greatest 
between the treatment and comparison groups.  
 
Hypothesis 2: Across both conditions, father outcomes and post-intervention ratings 
of father-mother relationship quality will mediate paternal involvement at 12 weeks and 
24 weeks.  
This analysis used a regression approach to mediation analysis, as that described in 
MacKinnon, 2008.133 This approach looked at the extent to which changes in paternal 
involvement over time were explained by changes in the father outcomes and the mother-father 
relationship in both the treatment and control groups. This effect was estimated using a series of 
three regression analyses. The dependent variable (a measure of paternal involvement) at Time 
2 (12 weeks) was regressed on a dummy-coded treatment variable and the same paternal 
involvement measure at Time 1 (baseline). Then the mediators (father outcomes and mother-
father relationship) were included in the regression models, and the change in R-squared was 
used to determine their impact. These analyses were repeated for Times 1 and 3 (24 weeks).  
 
Hypothesis 3a: Relative to the attention control group, BBTF children will have 
improved child outcomes (behavioral, emotional, and social) at 12 weeks and 24 weeks.  
The analysis of Hypothesis 3a was directly parallel those described for Hypothesis 1. The 
only difference was in the dependent measures, which were be child outcomes instead of 
paternal involvement outcomes.  
Hypothesis 3b: Across both conditions, father outcomes, father-mother relationship 
and paternal involvement will mediate child outcomes at 12 weeks and 24 weeks.  
This analysis used the same regression approach to mediation analysis described in 
Hypothesis 2, with the only differences being that the outcome variable was the child outcomes 

rather than paternal involvement; paternal involvement acted as a mediator along with father 
outcomes and father-mother relationship.