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330669
Evaluating Champion for Children's Boot Camp for New Dads Program


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Casey McBride, B.S., College of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Karen Liller, PhD, College of Public Health, Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Carla L. VandeWeerd, PhD, Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Martha L. Coulter, DrPH MPH MSW, Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Amy Haile, Champions for Children, Tampa, FL
John Roth, MSW, Champions for Children, Tampa, FL
Lilia Cruz, Champions for Children, Tampa, FL
Background: Maternal and child health research strongly supports the role for fathers in the health of mothers and babies. However, few prenatal programs exist to prepare expectant fathers for the unique challenges they will face. Responding to this need, the program Boot Camp for New Dads (BCND) was developed in 1990. BCND has been replicated in 39 states, including Florida, as well as internationally. The program provides men with information on how to ensure infant safety, support their partners before and after birth, bond with their infants, and develop a masculine view of parenting. It is unique in that past participants return with their infants to help facilitate sessions.  Evaluations are now necessary to determine program efficacy.

Purpose: To report the preliminary findings of a qualitative program evaluation of the BCND conducted by the non-profit agency, Champions for Children (CfC), in Hillsborough County, Florida. The aim of the evaluation is to assist with the agency’s effort to adapt the program to client needs.

Methods: Fourteen participants were invited to a group interview session after participating in the program. Open-ended questions concentrated on program expectations, strengths and weaknesses, and program delivery.

Results: Interview data suggest overall satisfaction with the program, including participants’ desire for more opportunities to learn directly from new fathers and for other “new dads only” groups. Future focus groups will attempt to identify why some fathers returned with their infants and others did not.  Efforts to incorporate more opportunities for father-father networking into BCND are recommended.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate Champion for Children's effort to adapt the Boot Camp for New Dads program to client needs.

Keyword(s): Partner Involvement, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a graduate student conducting an evaluation of Champion for Children's Boot Camp for New Dads program under the direct supervision of Dr. Karen Liller and Dr. Carla Vandeweerd. My research interests are the social determinants of health disparities and the epidemiology of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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