Creating Lasting Family Connections® Fatherhood Program: Family Reintegration
Creating Lasting Family Connections® Fatherhood Program: Family Reintegration (CLFC Fatherhood) is an adaptation of CLFC designed for fathers or mothers experiencing family separation, such as those who are experiencing recovery for substance use, current or recent incarceration, or military service deployment. CLFC Fatherhood aims to improve personal growth, increase healthy behaviors and attitudes, and improve parents’ ability to provide a nurturing environment. Although the program was originally designed for fathers, mothers can also participate in separate groups. Facilitators lead groups through three modules and participants complete activities for each module in an accompanying notebook. However, facilitators can be flexible in program implementation (e.g., can tailor modules to participants’ needs and select which modules to implement and in what order).
The first module focuses on “developing positive parental influences” around drug and alcohol issues. Facilitators teach participants about appropriate substance use knowledge and beliefs, the dynamics and impact of dependency, effective approaches for prevention, and treatment options. Facilitators also help participants explore their feelings, beliefs, and experiences around alcohol and drug use and teach participants how to set behavioral standards for their children. The second module focuses on “raising resilient youth.” Facilitators teach participants how to discuss, validate, and manage thoughts and feelings; develop relationship skills; and effectively communicate during periods of separation. Facilitators also teach participants skills that support implementing expectations and consequences while encouraging dialogue, active participation, and bonding with their children. The third module focuses on “getting real” by developing self-awareness, appropriate emotional expression, communication, and refusal skills; and learning how to establish mutual respect in relationships. There is an optional fourth module focused on “HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted disease prevention.”
Participants and their families also receive case management services throughout and after enrollment in the program to connect them with community resources to support and address barriers to recovery and reentry such as job search assistance, childcare, or transportation. Case management can also include “Joint Intervention Meetings” where the participant and their support network (e.g., family, friends, religious leadership, sponsors) can review any challenges and concerns about the participant’s wellbeing and encourage and support accountability.
CLFC Fatherhood is rated as a promising practice because at least one study achieved a rating of moderate or high on study design and execution and demonstrated a favorable effect on a target outcome.
Date Last Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Mar 2025
Date Program or Service Description Last Updated: Mar 2025
Date Originally Reviewed (Handbook Version 2.0): Mar 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 studies reviewed.
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
CLFC Fatherhood is designed for fathers or mothers experiencing family separation, such as those who are experiencing recovery for substance use, current or recent incarceration, or military service deployment.
Dosage
Facilitators deliver CLFC Fatherhood to participants over 16 to 19 sessions (with each module having 3–6 sessions). Sessions are typically 2 hours and offered once or twice a week.
Case management services typically consist of monthly consultations or Joint Intervention Meetings, with follow-up case management provided for up to 1 year after the completion of the program.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
Facilitators deliver CLFC Fatherhood in community settings.
Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research
- Mental Health Center, Treatment Center, Therapist Office
- Provider Offices; Community Settings
Education, Certifications and Training
CLFC Fatherhood Facilitators must participate in a CLFC implementation training lasting 5–10 days. After participating in the implementation training, facilitators receive CLFC certification. Facilitators must also be familiar with the services available in their local area and develop a referral resource network to support the case management services.
Certified facilitators can receive up to 10 hours of ongoing technical assistance. A Master Trainer Certification is available for those who wish to train others to implement CLFC.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
Adaptation guidebook:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections Fatherhood Program: Family reintegration: Adaptation guidebook. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Developing positive parental influences module:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2023). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Developing positive parental influences manual: An alcohol and drug training for parents and other caring adults who wish to influence youth. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Developing positive parental influences notebook: An alcohol and drug training for parents and other caring adults who wish to influence youth. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Raising resilient youth module:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Raising resilient youth manual: A training for parents and other caring adults. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Raising resilient youth notebook: A training for parents and other caring adults. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Getting real module:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Getting real manual: A communications training for parents, youth, and families [Parent module]. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Getting real notebook: A communications training for parents, youth, and families [Parent module]. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
ABC 3(D) approach to HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted diseases prevention module:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: ABC 3(D) approach to HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted diseases prevention trainer manual. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections: ABC 3(D) approach to HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted diseases prevention notebook. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Case management services and “optional” Joint Intervention Meeting guide:
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (2015). Creating Lasting Family Connections Fatherhood Program: Family reintegration: Case management services and “optional” Joint Intervention Meeting (JIM) guide. Resilient Futures Network, LLC.
Available languages
CLFC Fatherhood materials are available in English.
Other supporting materials
Implementation Options for the CLFC Fatherhood Program
Overview of Case Management Services (JIM)
For More Information
Phone: (502) 583-6820
Email: tstrader@sprynet.com
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 Creating Lasting Family Connections® Fatherhood Program: Family Reintegration |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 4 |
| Eligible for Review | 4 |
| Rated High | 1 |
| Rated Moderate | 3 |
| Rated Low | 0 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
| Outcome | Effect Size
|
95% Confidence Interval
|
Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver substance use | 0.01 | [-0.22, 0.24] | 0 | 2 (11) | 358 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 11 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver criminal behavior | 0.35 | [-0.08, 0.77] | 13 | 2 (4) | 514 |
Favorable:
2 No Effect: 2 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Adult well-being: Family functioning | 0.51 | [0.36, 0.65] | 19 | 4 (25) | 981 |
Favorable:
18 No Effect: 7 Unfavorable: 0 |
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention condition and a negative number favors the comparison condition. A range of comparison conditions, including no intervention, minimal intervention, placebo or attention, treatment as usual, and head-to-head comparison conditions are eligible for review (see Section 4.1.7 of the Handbook Version 2.0). Different types of comparison conditions may affect the magnitude of the effect sizes across studies. For example, an intervention compared to a no treatment comparison condition may produce a larger effect size than the same intervention compared to another intervention because the other intervention may itself be effective. The effect sizes shown may be derived from samples that overlap across studies. See the Individual Study Findings table for information about the specific comparison conditions used in each study and the Studies Reviewed section for information about any overlapping samples. The effect sizes presented here are provided for informational purposes only and are not used in determining a program or service rating. Effect sizes for some outcomes were not able to be calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse.
| Outcome | Effect Size
|
Implied Percentile Effect
|
Months after treatment when outcome measured
|
Number of Participants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver substance use | |||||
| Study 15240 - Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) vs. Treatment as Usual (Collins, 2017 - Not conducted in a usual care or practice setting) | |||||
| Alcohol Use (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | -0.05 | -2 | 0 | 123 | |
| Marijuana Use (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | Null | not calculated | 0 | 124 | |
| Marijuana Use (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | Null | not calculated | 4 | 121 | |
| Study 15243 - CLFC vs Treatment As Usual (McKiernan, 2013 [Study 1]) | |||||
| Alcohol Use (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | -0.06 | -2 | 0 | 234 | |
| Alcohol Use (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | 0.22 | 8 | 3 | 230 | |
| Drunk (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | -0.17 | -6 | 0 | 234 | |
| Drunk (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | 0.09 | 3 | 3 | 230 | |
| Marijuana Use (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | -0.26 | -10 | 0 | 234 | |
| Marijuana Use (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | 0.20 | 7 | 3 | 230 | |
| Other Illegal Drugs Used (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | 0.06 | 2 | 0 | 234 | |
| Other Illegal Drugs Used (Number of Days in Past 30 Days) | 0.24 | 9 | 3 | 230 | |
| Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver criminal behavior | |||||
| Study 15243 - CLFC vs Treatment As Usual (McKiernan, 2013 [Study 1]) | |||||
| Recidivism | 1.72 * | 45 | 0 | 234 | |
| Recidivism | 0.67 * | 24 | 3 | 230 | |
| Study 15246 - CLFCFP vs. Treatment as Usual Control (Shamblen, 2017 - Not conducted in a usual care or practice setting) | |||||
| Recidivism | 0.25 | 9 | 0 | 280 | |
| Recidivism | 0.06 | 2 | 3 | 252 | |
| Adult well-being: Family functioning | |||||
| Study 15240 - Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) vs. Treatment as Usual (Collins, 2017 - Not conducted in a usual care or practice setting) | |||||
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Emotional Expression | 0.42 * | 16 | 0 | 123 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Emotional Expression | 0.81 * | 29 | 4 | 121 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Interpersonal Skills | 0.56 * | 21 | 0 | 121 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Interpersonal Skills | 0.84 * | 29 | 4 | 120 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Relationship Satisfaction | 0.23 | 9 | 0 | 123 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Relationship Satisfaction | 0.71 * | 26 | 4 | 121 | |
| Study 15243 - CLFC vs Treatment As Usual (McKiernan, 2013 [Study 1]) | |||||
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Social Support | 0.18 | 7 | 0 | 234 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Social Support | 0.24 | 9 | 3 | 230 | |
| Study 15244 - Creating Lasting Family Connections Fatherhood Program vs. Treatment As Usual (Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2011) | |||||
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Intra-Personal Skills | 0.80 * | 28 | 3 | 389 | |
| Study 15246 - CLFCFP vs. Treatment as Usual Control (Shamblen, 2017 - Not conducted in a usual care or practice setting) | |||||
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Communication Skills | 0.38 * | 14 | 0 | 235 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Intra-Personal Skills | 0.19 * | 7 | 0 | 235 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Emotional Awareness | 0.44 * | 16 | 0 | 235 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Emotional Expression | 0.39 * | 15 | 0 | 235 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Interpersonal Skills | 0.43 * | 16 | 0 | 235 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Relationship Management Skills | 0.40 * | 15 | 0 | 235 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Relationship Satisfaction | 0.18 * | 7 | 0 | 235 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Relationship Commitment | 0.19 * | 7 | 0 | 235 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Relationship Skills Total Score | 0.49 * | 18 | 3 | 196 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Relationship Commitment | 0.18 | 7 | 3 | 196 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Relationship Satisfaction | 0.19 | 7 | 3 | 196 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Interpersonal Skills | 0.42 * | 16 | 3 | 196 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Emotional Expression | 0.37 * | 14 | 3 | 196 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Emotional Awareness | 0.32 | 12 | 3 | 196 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Intra-Personal Skills | 0.19 | 7 | 3 | 196 | |
| Creating Lasting Family Connections Relationship Skills: Communication Skills | 0.59 * | 22 | 3 | 196 | |
*p <.05
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention condition and a negative number favors the comparison condition. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0, Sections 6.4 and 6.5 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications. The Prevention Services Clearinghouse uses information reported in study documents and, when necessary, information provided by study authors in response to author queries to assign study ratings and calculate effect sizes (see Section 8.4.2 in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0). The Prevention Services Clearinghouse typically relies on study-reported p-values to form the basis of the assessment of statistical significance for a finding, but will perform its own statistical test of a finding using any available information in study documents or author queries, as needed (see Section 6.3 in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0). As a result, the effect sizes and statistical significance reported in the table may not align with the estimates as they are reported in study documents. Effect sizes for some outcomes were not able to be calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse.
Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.
Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.
The participant characteristics display is an initial version. We encourage those interested in providing feedback to send suggestions to preventionservices@abtglobal.com.
The table below displays locations, the year, and participant demographics for studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Participant characteristics for studies with more than one intervention versus comparison group pair that received moderate or high ratings are shown separately in the table. Please note, the information presented here uses terminology directly from the study documents, when available. Studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution that did not include relevant participant demographic information would not be represented in this table.
For more information on how Clearinghouse reviewers record the information in the table, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
| Characteristics of the Participants in the Studies with Moderate or High Ratings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Study Location
|
Study Year
|
Demographic Characteristics
|
Populations of Interest*
|
Household Socioeconomic Status
|
||
| Study 15243 - CLFC vs Treatment As Usual | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers | ||||||
| Louisville, KY, USA | 2006 |
35% of participants in their mid-30s
53% African American
1% Hispanic
77% Male
|
-- | 52% Employed | ||
| Study 15240 - Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) vs. Treatment as Usual | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers | ||||||
| Louisville, KY, USA | 2015 |
Average age: 34 years
89% Black
11% White 1% Hispanic ethnicity
99% Female
|
7% Homeless |
56% Below poverty level 45% Employed 4% Unemployed and could work |
||
| Study 15246 - CLFCFP vs. Treatment as Usual Control | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers | ||||||
| Kentucky, USA | -- |
Average age: 33 years
69% White
28% Black 3% Other 1% Hispanic
100% Male
|
100% current fathers, expectant fathers, or adult males who play fatherly role | 53% Employed | ||
| Study 15244 - Creating Lasting Family Connections Fatherhood Program vs. Treatment As Usual | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers | ||||||
| Jefferson County, KY, USA | 2006 |
Average age: 34 years
62% White
36% African-American 2% Hispanic
100% Male
|
77% Parents; 27% Child currently lives with them | 43% Employed | ||
“--” indicates information not reported in the study.
* The information about disabilities is based on initial coding. For more information on how the Clearinghouse recorded disability information for the initial release, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
Note: Citations for the documents associated with each 5-digit study number shown in the table can be found in the “Studies Reviewed” section below. Study settings and participant demographics are recorded for all studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Studies that did not report any information about setting or participant demographics are not displayed. For more information on how participant characteristics are recorded, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
Studies Rated High
Study 15246Shamblen, S. R., Kokoski, C., Collins, D. A., Strader, T. N., & McKiernan, P. (2017). Implementing Creating Lasting Family Connections with reentry fathers: A partial replication during a period of policy change. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 56(5), 295-307. https://doi.org/10.1080/10509674.2017.1327917
Shamblen, S. R., Strader, T. N., Collins, D. A., McKiernan, P., Kokoski, C., & Arnold, B. B. (2018). Toward an understanding of the connections in Creating Lasting Family Connections. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 46(4), 390-404. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2018.1543560
This study was not conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 7.2.2)Studies Rated Moderate
Study 15244McKiernan, P., Shamblen, S., Collins, D., Strader, T., & Kokoski, C. (2013). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Reducing recidivism with community-based family strengthening mode. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 24(1), 94-122. https://doi.org/10.1177/0887403412447505 [Study 2]
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation & McGuire & Associates. (2011). Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Initiative: COPES final evaluation report. https://copes.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/FI-Evaluation-Report.pdf
This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 7.2.2)Study 15243
McKiernan, P., Shamblen, S., Collins, D., Strader, T., & Kokoski, C. (2013). Creating Lasting Family Connections: Reducing recidivism with community-based family strengthening mode. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 24(1), 94-122. https://doi.org/10.1177/0887403412447505 [Study 1]
This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 7.2.2)Study 15240
Collins, D. A., Shamblen, S. R., Strader, T. N., & Arnold, B. B. (2017). Evaluation of an evidence-based intervention implemented with African-American women to prevent substance abuse, strengthen relationship skills and reduce risk for HIV/AIDS. AIDS Care, 29(8), 966-973. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2017.1286285
This study was not conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 7.2.2)