There is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Brennan, E., Barden, B., Elkin, S. & Bickerton, A. (2021). Preparing Fathers for Employment: Findings from the B3 Study of a Cognitive Behavioral Program (Report No. 2021-167). Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Highlights
- The study’s objective was to examine the impact of the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Justice Involved Individuals Seeking Employment (CBI-Emp) program on employment and earnings outcomes.
- The study used a randomized controlled trial to assign participants to the CBI-Emp treatment group or a control group. Using administrative and survey data, the authors conducted statistical models to compare the outcomes between treatment and control group members.
- The study found no significant differences between the treatment and control groups in employment and earnings one year after treatment.
- This study receives a high evidence rating. This means we are confident that any estimated effects would be attributable to Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Justice Involved Individuals Seeking Employment (CBI-Emp) and not to other factors. However, the study did not find statistically significant effects.
Intervention Examined
Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Justice Involved Individuals Seeking Employment (CBI-Emp)
Features of the Intervention
Developed by the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute, the CBI-Emp program applied cognitive-behavioral strategies to help fathers involved in the criminal justice system change their thoughts and behaviors that may hinder stable jobs after incarceration. The curriculum focused on enhancing fathers' self-awareness, social skills, and coping strategies for work and personal challenges, alongside traditional job readiness training. The program was facilitated by community-based organizations experienced in fatherhood support programs. The CBI-Emp program featured group sessions led by professionals trained in cognitive-behavioral techniques and Core Correctional Practices, which integrated these techniques into broader services such as parenting workshops. The program included 12 workshop sessions, each lasting 60 to 90 minutes, with 8 to 10 participants per session. Running from October 2016 to December 2018, the program targeted fathers aged 18 and older with children under 24 who had justice system involvement in the last three years and a moderate to high risk of reoffending based on an initial assessment.
Features of the Study
The study was a randomized controlled trial conducted at three locations: the Fortune Society in New York, New York; the Kanawha Institute for Social Research and Action, Inc. in Dunbar, West Virginia; and Passages in Cleveland, Ohio. Of the 752 eligible fathers, 375 were randomly assigned to the treatment group and 377 were randomly assigned to the control group. The treatment group was able to receive the CBI-Emp program alongside the organizations’ standard services. The control group was only able to receive the organizations’ standard services such as employment workshops, case management, fatherhood classes, and alumni services. The average age of the fathers in the study sample was 38 years and 71% identified as Black non-Hispanic. Over half had a high school equivalency or less (57%), and 27% were currently employed. Many fathers faced employment challenges, with 49% citing criminal records, 23% lacking skills or education, and 20% struggling with unreliable transportation.
The study used data from surveys administered during enrollment (baseline) and six to ten months after random assignment. It also used administrative records from the CBI-Emp program and quarterly records from the National Directory of New Hires to track employment and earnings. The authors used statistical models to compare outcomes between the treatment and control groups controlling for their background characteristics and the study site.
Findings
Earnings and wages
- The study found no significant wage differences between treatment and control group participants one year after treatment.
Employment
- The study found no significant differences between the groups in the number of quarters employed one year after treatment or in the number of weeks employed since random assignment.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
This study was a well-implemented randomized controlled trial, but the authors discovered that the treatment's effectiveness was reduced. They noted that only 44% of the fathers in the CBI-Emp group participated in the minimum recommended activities. It is important to highlight that the program's impact may not have been as strong as possible because some individuals did not fully participate.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is high because it was based on a well-implemented randomized controlled trial. This means we are confident that any estimated effects would be attributable to the CBI-Emp program, and not to other factors. However, the study did not find statistically significant effects.