News  Franklin County Womanhood Program Graduates Create Blankets to Donate to Local DCF Office and Children's Advocacy Center in Community 'Giving Back Night'

The Franklin County Womanhood Program recently graduated 12 participants from its 10-week program. The graduates, ages 25-66, joined together in a "Giving Back Night," during which they came together to vote on a project to create and then provide the items to a local community organization.

"The final component of this program is called the 'Giving Back Night' and entails the women collaborating together and voting on a project and deserving agency to give back to," said Katherine Ross, Greenfield District Court Probation Officer and Womanhood Program facilitator.

The blankets will be used during Department of Children & Family (DCF) supervised visits to provide comfort to children who are completing SAIN interviews at the Children's Advocacy Center. A SAIN (Sexual Abuse Intervention Network) interview is one conducted by DCF when there is an allegation of sexual abuse. The SAIN interview "intends to reduce the number of interviews the child is faced with, according to DCF.

"With the help of the Reinventing Justice Foundation donating all of the materials, we were able to continue with our community service project which is a vital component of the program," said Probation Officer Ross, "The different agencies and presenters give back so much each week during the duration of the Womanhood program, it is only fitting that the women give back to the community in some way."

Probation Officers Ross and Ashley Luippold facilitate the program which is open to court-involved women supervised as Risk/Need cases in all Franklin County courts. Nutrition, yoga, mindfulness, art therapy, domestic violence, self-defense, anger management, life skills, and woman's health are among the topics covered in the program's curriculum.

The program, held every Tuesday beginning in March, featured weekly guest speakers who presented interactive lectures and workshops that offer guidance and information about community resources. Dinner was served to participants each week.

"We work to create a pro-social, supportive environment that allows our participants to explore new pathways and empowers them to create a new framework for themselves on their journey toward achieving long-term positive change," said Chief Antoinetta Deangelis.