--- title: Why You Should Use Understanding Dad™ to Improve Coparenting description: Read 2 peer reviewed papers onNFI's Understanding Dad™ that shows improvements in moms' co-parenting abilities and reduced conflict between moms and dads. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_temple-study-on-understanding-dad.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/why-you-should-use-understanding-dad-to-improve-coparenting#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) [General Fatherhood Program Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/general-fatherhood-program-resources) # Why You Should Use Understanding Dad™ to Improve Coparenting 1 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. ![NFI_Blog_temple-study-on-understanding-dad](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_temple-study-on-understanding-dad.jpg?width=453&name=NFI_Blog_temple-study-on-understanding-dad.jpg) Improving coparenting is one of the primary concerns of staff who serve fathers, mothers, and families. That’s why two recently-published peer-reviewed papers of an evaluation of National Fatherhood Initiative’s [Understanding Dad™](https://store.fatherhood.org/understanding-dad-an-awareness-program-for-moms/) program for moms implemented across five sites across the U.S. are so encouraging—especially the large, long-term effect sizes reported in the most recent paper. Both papers—one that summarizes the findings from the qualitative portion of the evaluation and the other the findings of the quantitative portion—reveal the positive impact of the program on mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions on their coparenting relationships. I [previously wrote](https://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood/second-evaluation-of-understanding-dad-further-reveals-the-programs-promise) about the qualitative and quantitative results shared by the researchers during [this webinar](https://www.frpn.org/asset/frpn-webinar-findings-frpn-funded-projects-3-engaging-mothers-in-coparenting-interventions-0) sponsored by the [Fatherhood Research and Practice Network](https://www.frpn.org/); therefore, rather than reiterate the findings from my previous post, this post simply provides a link to the published articles on our website. I encourage you to read the paper on the quantitative portion as it includes lessons on recruiting and engaging moms in a coparenting intervention. [What Nonresident Mothers and Fathers Have to Say About a Mother-Only Co-Parenting Intervention: A Qualitative Assessment of Understanding Dad™](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Research%20Evaluation%20Files/Understanding-Dad-Five-Site-Evaluation-Qualitative-Peer-Reviewed.pdf?__hstc=162717731.edbf480d03fd230c9e0dd48a25da89c5.1598294889297.1611151330333.1611236127647.142&__hssc=162717731.15.1611236127647&__hsfp=3405883671&hsCtaTracking=d55d4f67-c3b1-45a9-942e-a8a5b75d47d1%7Cdd6d0a27-b4a3-4cc1-b143-f3998a046213) (Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services) [Low-income mother’s participation in the Understanding Dad™ intervention and changes in self-reported co-parenting.](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Research%20Evaluation%20Files/Low-income-mothers-participation-Understanding-Dad-intervention-changes-self-reported-coparenting.pdf?__hstc=162717731.edbf480d03fd230c9e0dd48a25da89c5.1598294889297.1611151330333.1611236127647.142&__hssc=162717731.15.1611236127647&__hsfp=3405883671&hsCtaTracking=3b074c12-32ef-4860-90a0-0390023d8d85%7Cef3f56f2-906c-46d6-a1d0-fdb52f163a27) (Journal of Family Social Work) **Would you like to improve dads’ ability to gain access to their children?** **Have you considered adding a coparenting program for moms to compliment your work with dads?** [![he Benefits of Fatherhood Programs in Community-Based Organizations](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/135704/bbfbc796-8f3f-495b-a089-976b4f177f1f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/135704/bbfbc796-8f3f-495b-a089-976b4f177f1f) Date Published: 01/26/2021 Last Updated: 01/26/2021 ## 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/13-lessons-and-takeaways-to-engage-your-stepdads) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/paving-the-way-for-fathers-to-find-their-purpose) ## Related Articles ### [Limited Blog Series: Supporting My Co-Parent Image created with GPT Image 2. Quick Confidence Builds are brief activities that practitioners can use when working with dads in face-to-face or virtual group-based or one-on-one ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/supporting-my-co-parent) ### [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) ### [Limited Blog Series: Fathering Stressors Image created with GPT Image 2. Quick Confidence Builds are brief activities that practitioners can use when working with dads in face-to-face or virtual group-based or one-on-one ... 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