Working out dads (WOD): a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a group-based peer support intervention for men experiencing mental health difficulties in early fatherhood.

Background: Approximately one in ten men experience mental health difficulties during the early years of fatherhood, and these can have negative impacts on children and families. However, few evidence-based interventions targeting fathers' mental health are available. The aim of the trial is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Working Out Dads (WOD) - a facilitated peer support group intervention for fathers of young children, in reducing psychological distress and other mental health symptoms.

A mixed-methods feasibility study of the Home Parenting Education and Support Program for families at risk of child maltreatment and recurrence in Australia.

Background: Efforts to prevent child maltreatment and its recurrence in infancy and early childhood are critical to disrupting pathways to poor physical and mental health and interpersonal relationships across the life course. The Home Parenting Education and Support (HoPES) program is an intensive 8-week home-visiting intervention for families of infants and young children (0-4 years) receiving child protection services or welfare services.

Objective: The aims of this feasibility study were to: (a) explore parents' and clinicians' perceptions of the outcomes related to participation in HoPES, and (b) obtain preliminary data about potential intervention outcomes related to parent-child interactions, parent mental health, and parenting self-efficacy.

The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic for families of infants involved with Child Protection Services for maltreatment concerns.

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated physical distancing restrictions have exacerbated social, economic and health disadvantage within our communities. With increases in mental health difficulties and family violence already being seen, there is concern that the risk of child maltreatment risk may also be increased. The current study aimed to explore the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic for families identified to be at risk of child maltreatment in Victoria, Australia.

Preservation and reunification for families of young children: case file review of a home-visiting program.

Objective: The Home Parenting Education and Support (HoPES) programme is a new intensive 8-week home-visiting intervention supporting the preservation and reunification of families with young children (aged 0-4 years) receiving child protection services following child abuse and/or neglect in Australia. The aims of the study were to (a) describe families who had participated in HoPES, (b) describe the key education content and support activities of the programme, and (c) identify the enablers and challenges in implementing HoPES.

Background: Intensive home-based family preservation programs are designed to improve parenting skills, reduce specific abusive behaviours, and address child, parent and contextual risk factors for child maltreatment and its recurrence.

"We're in the background": Facilitators and barriers to fathers' engagement and participation in a health intervention during the early parenting period.

Issues Addressed: Little is known about the barriers and facilitators associated with engaging fathers in interventions targeting their physical and mental health. The current research therefore aimed to explore fathers' perceived barriers and facilitators to engagement and participation in a health intervention delivered during the early parenting period.

Methods: Eleven fathers of young children (0-4 years) were interviewed about their perceptions and experiences of facilitators and barriers to engaging and participating in an intervention (Working Out Dads) to target their mental and physical health.

Assisting clients experiencing family violence: Clinician and client survey responses in a child and family health service.

Aims And Objectives: To determine the baseline levels of training, knowledge and confidence working in the area of family violence in staff at a public child and maternal health service in Melbourne, Australia, as well as perceived staff barriers to working effectively in this area. This study also aimed to explore the client perception of existing screening practices.

Background: Family violence is a global concern with pregnancy and the postnatal period times of particularly high risk.

A pilot evaluation of 'Working Out Dads': promoting father mental health and parental self-efficacy.

Aim: Approximately one in 10 fathers experience mental health difficulties in the early years of parenting, yet there is a dearth of evidence-based interventions to promote fathers' mental health at this time. Therefore, the aims of this study were: (1) to obtain preliminary data on the short-term changes in mental health symptoms and parenting self-efficacy for fathers of young children (aged 0-4 years) participating in Working Out Dads (WOD) and (2) to explore fathers' experiences of participation in WOD.

Method: The sample consisted of 57 fathers who had at least one child aged between 0 and 4 years.