BARNSTABLE DISTRICT COURT P.O. J. ROBERT SMITH HONORED
BY STATE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AGENCY

          J. Robert "Bob" Smith, a Barnstable District Court Probation Officer, was recently honored by the Children's Trust Fund of Massachusetts for his work with fathers on probation. Smith is the coordinator of the Barnstable Fatherhood Program and a facilitator of the Children's Trust Fund of Massachusetts' (CTF) Southeast Fathers and Family Network meetings.

          Smith was presented with the award by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Police Chief Joseph C. Carter, a CTF member of the Board of Directors, and Jack Miller, Director of Programs at CTF. The award ceremony took place at CTF's Annual Meeting at the Bay Tower Room in Boston.

          Quote from Bob Smith about receiving the honor and the importance of the Fatherhood Program:

          The Fatherhood Program was designed to encourage fathers to play a more significant role in the lives of their children by emphasizing the importance of their behavior as a model for their children, according to Smith. "I am inspired with every Fatherhood Group to see and hear the men become more responsible to their children, and respectful to the mothers of their children."

          Smith also shares his expertise with other professionals who work with families to address parenting needs, especially those involving fathers at the CTF Network Meetings.

          The Barnstable Fatherhood Program has graduated more than 130 fathers. Since 1997, one six fathers have returned to court. 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. 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 which operates 21 Community Corrections Centers throughout the state.

Left to right: Jack Miller, Director of Programs at the Children's Trust Fund of Massachusetts; J. Robert Smith, coordinator of the Barnstable Fatherhood Program; and Joseph C. Carter, MBTA Police Chief