mDad (Mobile Device Assisted Dad): A smartphone app to enhance father engagement and parenting knowledge 

A number of technology-based interventions using text messaging, social media, or the internet have shown promise in promoting positive maternal-child relationships. Yet, there are few similar approaches for fathers. Dr. Shawna J. Lee developed the mDad (Mobile Device Assisted Dad) project. Our team created a smartphone app that “pushes” parent education to fathers of young children, combined with functionality to track infant physical and social development through videos, pictures, and logs. The results of the mDad study showed that mDad content was relevant to the parenting experiences of diverse fathers. Functions of the app were perceived favorably. Fathers found the personalization and customization of the app to be a great strength. Fathers noted that mDad’s father-friendly approach was in marked contrast to other parenting resources they had used. Moreover, they found the content well suited to their needs and interests as fathers of young children.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Shawna J. Lee 
CO-INVESTIGATORS
Tova Walsh & Katherine Rosenblum
FUNDING
  • Kansas State University via a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture ($292,000)
  • University of Michigan School of Social Work Curtis Research Center Faculty Grant Program ($10,000)
  • University of Michigan Center for Human Growth and Development Rauner Family Fund Faculty Grant Program ($10,000)
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
​AND PRESENTATIONS
  • ​Lee, S.J. & Walsh, T.B. (2015). Using technology in social work practice: The mDad (Mobile Device Assisted Dad) case study. Advances in Social Work, 16, 107-124.
  • Lee, S.J., Neugut, T.B., Rosenblum, K.L., Tolman, R.T., Travis, W.J., & Walker, M.H. (2013). Sources of parenting support in early fatherhood: Perspectives of United States Air Force members. Children and Youth Services Review, 35, 908-915. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.02.012
  • Lee, S.J. (2015, July). Technology as a tool to engage dads. Invited presentation to the New Frontiers for Child Support Enforcement Innovation and Research Conference, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
  • Lee, S.J., Walsh, T., Tolman, R.M., & Rosenblum, K. (2014, January). Design and implementation of technology-delivered parent education for fathers in military fathers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Social Work & Research (SSWR), San Antonio, TX.
  • Lee, S.J. (2014, January). Development of the Mobile Dad app to enhance father engagement in military families. Invited presentation given at the United States Air Force (USAF) annual research meeting, San Antonio, TX.
  • Lee, S.J. (2013, November). The Mobile Dad project: A brief intervention to enhance father engagement in military families. Invited presentation given at the University of Michigan Center for Human Growth and Development (CHGD), Ann Arbor, MI.
  • Lee, S.J. (2013, October). Implementing technology delivered parent education in social work contexts. Invited Continuing Education workshop for social work practitioners, given at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, Ann Arbor, MI.

EMAIL

shawnal@umich.edu

Phone

734-763-6565

ADDRESS

University of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 S. University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

connection

​Dr. Shawna J. Lee is Director of the Parenting in Context Research Lab, which operates as a part of the University of Michigan School of Social Work.
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