Press Release - June 11, 2002
Office of the Commissioner of Probation

FATHERS LEARN TRUE MEANING OF FATHERHOOD

A group of 11 fathers, offenders who were placed on probation, will graduate from the Fatherhood Program of Barnstable District Court where they learned how to become more responsible and caring fathers to their children. Several have reunited with children they had not been in contact with for years. The graduation will take place on Thursday, June 13, and feature speaker Dr. Randall Turner, Vice-President of the Maryland-based National Fatherhood Initiative.

Turner is a recognized national leader who has created numerous programs for fathers, including "Long Distance Dads," a program for incarcerated fathers; "Doctor Dad," a program designed to teach child health and safety to young fathers; and "Foundation of Fatherhood," a community fatherhood program.

The ceremony will be at St. Mary's Church, in Barnstable, at 5 p.m. The Barnstable Fatherhood Program, run by Barnstable Probation Officer J. Robert "Bob" Smith, is one of the longest running Fatherhood Programs of the Massachusetts Probation Service. The Barnstable program has graduated 120 fathers, roughly 20 fathers a year, since it was established in 1997.

"This program is not for everyone. We started with 12 fathers and one dropped out. But, the fathers who see it through to the end find it very rewarding. In some cases, it is a life-changing experience," said Smith.

"The program gave me the tools I need to become a better father. I was skeptical at first. In the long run, I am happy that I participated," said one father.

The Fatherhood Program is the "brainchild" of Norfolk Juvenile Court Chief Probation Officer Thomas Mitchell who started the program ten years ago when he discovered a common thread among the male probationers under supervision. "An overwhelming majority had little or no contact with their own fathers," Mitchell said. There are Fatherhood Programs in nearly each of the 110 courts throughout the Commonwealth.

At the Fatherhood Program in Barnstable, participants share how they have used one of the five principles of the Fatherhood Program in the past week. The Fatherhood Program also features guest speakers which include judges, clergy and social service providers. Across the state, Fatherhood Program participants, who typically range in age from 18 to 50, learn child safety, receive job and Red Cross training, and attend presentations on the importance of childhood and establishing paternity as well as how to show affection to children. The participants were placed on probation for offenses that range from breaking and entering to substance and domestic abuse and assault charges.

The Massachusetts Probation Service is a department of the Massachusetts Trial Court. There are 12 Superior Court, 70 District Court, and 12 Probate and Family Court probation offices throughout the Commonwealth. Probation's Juvenile Court system includes 11 divisions which represent every county in the state. There are more than 20 Community Corrections Centers. The Office of the Commissioner of Probation (OCP) serves as the central administrative office for the state Probation Service and the Office of Community Corrections.