--- title: What Do 584 Dads Say About 24/7 Dad® Building the Characteristics of Great Dads? description: 24/7 Dad® is proven to build on the characteristics of great dads. Don't believe us? Check out the evaluation performed by the University of Texas at Austin for more info. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/fall-family.png --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/what-do-584-dads-say-about-24/7-dad-building-the-characteristics-of-great-dads#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [NFI-Specific Programs & Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/nfi-specific-programs-resources) # What Do 584 Dads Say About 24/7 Dad® Building the Characteristics of Great Dads? 2 min read ![Christopher A. Brown](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/chris_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=chris_circle_icon.png) [** Christopher A. Brown ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/christopher-a-brown) Chris serves as the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NFI's strategic plan and business model, as well as its operations and fundraising efforts. ![fall-family.png](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/fall-family.png?width=467&height=311&name=fall-family.png) For the past two weeks [in this blog](https://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood/what-645-dads-say-about-24/7-dad-reducing-risk-of-child-abuse-and-neglect), I’ve shared the results of a stunning [evaluation](https://childandfamilyresearch.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/CFRPReport_R0140817_FatherhoodEFFECT.pdf) conducted by the [Child and Family Research Partnership](https://childandfamilyresearch.utexas.edu/) (CFRP) at the University of Texas at Austin that shows the positive impact of National Fatherhood Initiative’s [24/7 Dad®](https://store.fatherhood.org/24-7-dad-am-3rd-ed-complete-program-kit) program. Two weeks ago, I provided [an overview](https://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood/impact-of-247-dad-on-reducing-chance-of-child-abuse-and-neglect) of the evaluation results. Last week, I shared what the evaluation found on the program’s impact on [reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect](https://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood/what-645-dads-say-about-24/7-dad-reducing-risk-of-child-abuse-and-neglect). This week, I share more detail on what the evaluation adds to the evidence-base on the program’s ability to build pro-fathering attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy in the skills needed to be a 24/7 Dad. CFRP used the 24/7 Dad® Fathering Skills Survey (FSS) to measure change in **584 dads** related to building the five characteristics of the 24/7 Dad: - Self-Awareness - Caring for Self - Fathering Skills - Parenting Skills - Relationship Skills. In addition to basic demographic questions, the FSS includes 22 items that measure change in dads. (For a “map” of how the items relate to the five characteristics, see Appendix E of the evaluation [report](https://childandfamilyresearch.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/CFRPReport_R0140817_FatherhoodEFFECT.pdf).) The dads completed the FSS before they started 24/7 Dad® and after they completed the program. CFRP calculated overall improvement based on the percentage of correct answers dads had pre to post and improvement on each item. Two weeks ago, I shared that the dads experienced **highly significant** increases in all five characteristics of the 24/7 Dad. Specifically, the overall and item-specific improvement scores were: - Overall: **Dads experienced highly significant gains in all five characteristics** **(p<.001) **with 63 percent of dads providing correct answers after the program ended compared to only 40 percent before the program began. - Item Specific: **Dads experienced highly significant gains on every item (p<.001). **(See page 59 of the evaluation [report](https://childandfamilyresearch.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/CFRPReport_R0140817_FatherhoodEFFECT.pdf) for details on gains for each of the items.) - These overall and item-specific gains were independent of race/ethnicity, marital status, education, or language. Younger dads (age 18 to 24) were, however, significantly more likely to show gains compared to older dads (p<.01). ### **Again, Dosage Matters** In the two previous posts, I mentioned another measure used by CFRP related to implementing 24/7 Dad® that we’ve often been asked about but that hasn’t been part of an evaluation of the program. ### **Does the number of sessions dads attend affect its impact/effectiveness?** As they did with the effect of dosage on building the protective factors, CFRP examined its effect on building the five characteristics. They came to the same conclusion…**YES it does!**  CFRP found a significant impact of the total number of classes on changes in FSS scores (p<.05). **Dads who attended at least the minimum number of classes the program sites determined was necessary for program “completion” improved 4.5 percentage points more than dads who didn’t. **(See page 46 of the evaluation [report](https://childandfamilyresearch.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/CFRPReport_R0140817_FatherhoodEFFECT.pdf) for details on the minimum established by the sites.) Has your organization established a benchmark(s) for completion of your fatherhood program? How many sessions of 24/7 Dad® does your organization require for program completion? Date Published: 12/05/2017 Last Updated: 01/31/2019 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/how-to-find-out-if-your-organization-is-father-friendly) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/5-facts-about-todays-single-fathers) ## Related Articles ### [Five Leadership Practices That Build Father-Inclusive Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Creating a father-inclusive organization doesn't happen through a new but isolated fatherhood program, staff training on how to include fathers, or ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/five-leadership-practices-that-build-father-inclusive-organizations) ### [Beyond Graduation: Keeping Fathers Connected Image created with GPT Image 2. Many organizations do a good job recruiting fathers and helping them complete a fatherhood program. But what happens after the program ends? How do ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/beyond-graduation-keeping-fathers-connected) ### [Funding A Father-Inclusive Effort For Non-Governmental Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) struggle to identify funding sources for fatherhood initiatives and programs. After all, beyond the ... 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