US Department of Health and Human ServicesTechnical Assistance
Grantee Technical Assistance requests can now be submitted on-line using the TA Request Form. If you have questions, feel free to email info@fatherhood.gov or call (877) 4DAD411. Requests can also be submitted to your Federal Project Officer (FPO).
In addition to this feature, there are other resources online (also available in print) that can help Responsible Fatherhood grantees improve the quality of their programs, collaboration efforts, and often their organization as a whole.
Topics on this Page:
- Program Development
- Logic Models
- Responsible Fatherhood Management Information System
- Program Evaluation
- Resources from Online Library
- Other Relevant Resources
Program Development
Promoting Responsible Fatherhood grantees can expect the NRFC to provide endless resources to support their content development. Our backing is comprised of current research, best practice findings, and operational assistance for programs that includes, but is not limited to: evaluation design and grantee information management.
The NRFC aids its grantees in the creation and development of logic models, as well as providing a free, downloadable Management Information System to help Responsible Fatherhood Programs develop and manage the most effective programs possible.
Logic Models
A logic model outlines what you do, why you do it, and how you can measure your results. These Logic Model resources provide guidance on creating and utilizing logic models.
- Logic Modeling For Responsible Fatherhood Programs (PDF - 133 KB)
- Logic Modeling For Healthy Marriage Programs (PDF - 356 KB)
Responsible Fatherhood Management Information System
The Department of Health and Human Services has developed a tool to help Responsible Fatherhood programs manage and assess their programs. The Responsible Fatherhood Management Information System (RFMIS) will help programs maintain information on the services needed and delivered to fathers in their programs.
The system allows programs to track the progress of individual fathers and to aggregate data on program participants for reporting purposes. The RFMIS is available for use as a paper and pencil tracking system or as an electronic database that can be downloaded into any computer system that uses Microsoft Access (versions '97 through current). The RFMIS has been used by 15 HHS fatherhood project sites and in eight fatherhood projects funded by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.
Program Evaluation
Evaluation is an essential part of the grant reporting process. Proper assessment of your program will benefit its implementation and allows everyone to get the most out of it. Grantees new to program evaluation should check out the Evaluating Your Fatherhood Program (PDF - 315 KB) resource to give a basic overview of what evaluation is and how to start thinking about conducting yours.
As an OFA-Funded Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Grantee there are certain evaluation expectations connected to your grant. Presented at the Administration for Children and Families’ Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Grantee Conference in July 2007, these slides walk through the evaluation requirement connected to your grant. OFA Evaluation Expectations, July 25 2007 Conference Presentation (PDF - 228 KB)
Resources from Online Library
- Lessons learned from Early Head Start for fatherhood research and program development - University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The pieces include how these men viewed themselves as fathers, and what Early Head Start programs were doing to try to foster positive involvement of fathers in the lives of their children.
- A program evaluation of five TANF-funded responsible fatherhood programs in Florida - Ounce of Protection Fund of Florida. Florida's Commission on Responsible Fatherhood, in partnership with Workforce Florida, Inc., administered five locally based programs under a model called Equipping Parents to Strengthen Families.
- Family Structure, Father Closeness and Drug Abuse - Produced by the National Fatherhood Initiative, this paper examines if family structure has a significant impact on the level of risk of adolescent drug use even when controlling for other factors that encourage or inhibit initiation into drug use.
- OCSE Responsible Fatherhood Programs: Client Characteristics and Program Outcomes - Produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prepared by the Center for Policy Research and Policy Studies Inc. Examines the effects of a pilot program at eight sites in different states.
Other Relevant Resources
- The Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation.
- Performance Measurement Challenges and Strategies (PDF - 237 KB) - Office of Management and Budget. Provides practical strategies for addressing common performance measurement challenges.
- Evaluation Toolkit and Logic Model Builder - As a service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Child Welfare Information Gateway, provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families.
- Center for Program Evaluation - Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) online evaluation tools for state and local agencies for planning and implementing program evaluations and for developing program performance measures.
- Successful Strategies for Recruiting, Training, and Utilizing Volunteers: A Guide for Faith- and Community-Based Service Providers - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Faith-Based and Community Initiative Guide.
- Assisting Performance Measurement Initiatives in Health and Human Services Programs - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Performance measurement is needed as a management tool to clarify goals, document the contribution toward achieving those goals, and document the benefits received from the investment in each program.
- What About Dads?: Child Welfare Agencies' Efforts to Identify, Locate and Involve Nonresident Fathers (PDF - 821 KB) - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Office of Human Services Policy and Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children's Bureau.
- Child Neglect: A Guide for Prevention, Assessment, and Intervention - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect. Part of a Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual Series.
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Evaluation Working Group - Centers for
Disease Control site with links on for further information about evaluation or
assistance in conducting an evaluation project.
- Technical Assistance Resource Guide for the Comprehensive Community Mental Health for Children and Their Families Program (PDF - 106 KB) - Provides information and resources to assist states and communities in developing, implementing, evaluating and sustaining systems of care to benefit children.