Understanding Dad™
Understanding Dad™ is a parenting program designed to help mothers recognize the importance of fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives and improve the relationships they have with their children’s father. Understanding Dad aims to support the growth of self-aware and communicative mothers by helping mothers improve their knowledge, behaviors and skills for the well-being of their children. Facilitators deliver Understanding Dad in a small group setting.
Understanding Dad covers eight topics including: (1) what it means to be a mom, (2) my father’s impact, (3) my mother’s impact, (4) me and my children’s father, (5) the impact of the mother and father’s relationship on their children, (6) patterns of communication, (7) safe communication, and (8) how to listen. Over the course of the program, each mother completes activities in a “Mother’s Handbook” and identifies specific behaviors they can implement.
Sessions follow a consistent format that includes a warm-up, interactive activities, and a closing. Facilitators begin each session with a warm-up activity designed to welcome mothers and let them share their thoughts and feelings. Next, mothers complete interactive activities designed to help them develop specific competencies related to the session topic. Activities may include teaching new content, whole-group and small-group discussions, brainstorming, role-play, or completing sections of the “Mother’s Handbook.” Finally, facilitators end each session with a closing activity where mothers answer questions designed to assess their knowledge of the session topic and log the most important things they learned during the session.
Understanding Dad does not currently meet criteria to receive a rating because no studies met eligibility criteria for review.
Date Last Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Jul 2025
Date Program or Service Description Last Updated: Jul 2025
Date Originally Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Jul 2025
Sources
The following sources informed the program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, and the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare.
This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0
Target Population
Understanding Dad is designed for mothers of children ages 0–18.
Dosage
Facilitators typically deliver Understanding Dad over 8 weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 2 hours. However, facilitators can choose to include an additional 2-hour introductory session. If needed, facilitators can offer two sessions per week if mothers are able to attend. Facilitators typically deliver sessions to groups of 12 or fewer mothers. Understanding Dad recommends using two co-facilitators, although using a single facilitator is allowed.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
Facilitators can deliver Understanding Dad in community settings.
Education, Certifications and Training
Facilitators are not required to be women and are not required to be parents themselves. The program recommends that facilitators participate in training before implementing the program but does not require training. Facilitators can choose to participate in an online, on-demand Understanding Dad training that consists of 30 lessons completed through 2 hours of video content. The training includes instruction on the program format and topics, session structure, implementation, facilitation skills, and recruitment and retention strategies. Participants receive a certificate upon completing the course. Facilitators can choose to earn an Effective Facilitation Certificate™ by completing a 6-hour online on-demand training focused on the characteristics and skills of effective program facilitators. The program also offers in-person or webinar trainings that they can customize to meet an organization’s specific needs and train-the-trainer trainings upon request.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
- Brown, C. (2022). Understanding Dad™: An awareness & communication program for moms facilitator's manual. National Fatherhood Initiative®.
- Brown, C. (2022). Understanding Dad™: An awareness & communication program for moms mother’s handbook. National Fatherhood Initiative®.
Available languages
Understanding Dad materials are available in English.
Other supporting materials
Understanding Dad™ Sample Contents
Understanding Dad™ Fidelity Guide
For More Information
Website: https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources
Phone: (240) 912-1263
Email: fathersource@fatherhood.org
Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Understanding Dad™ |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 2 |
| Eligible for Review | 0 |
| Rated High | 0 |
| Rated Moderate | 0 |
| Rated Low | 0 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
Studies Not Eligible for Review
Study 15273
Fagan, J., & Cherson, M. (2013). Pilot study of a program to increase mothers' understanding of dads. National Fatherhood Initiative. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/135704/file-421625629-pdf/W952_UDad_TempleUniv_PilotReport_121913_SC.pdf?t=1387815742000&hsCtaTracking=36c764d2-7574-4a54-9e11-4e420fdef498%7Cba127279-fe6b-44e8-a525-07e21e05cfb7
Fagan, J., Cherson, M., Brown, C., & Vecere, E. (2015). Pilot program to increase mother’s understanding of dads. Family Process. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12137
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 4.1.5)Study 15274
Fagan, J., Henson, A., & Pearson, J. (2021). Low-income mothers' participation in the Understanding Dads™ intervention and changes in self-reported coparenting. Journal of Family Social Work, 24(3), 199-218. https://doi.org/10.1080/10522158.2020.1852640
Pearson, J., Henson, A., & Fagan, J. (2020). What nonresident mothers and fathers have to say about a mother-only coparenting intervention: A qualitative assessment of Understanding Dads™. Families in Society, 101(2), 167-179. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389419899601
This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 4.1.5)