A sad reality of life is that not all children grow up with loving parents. Whether absent or present throughout the course of their child’s life, some parents are not capable of offering emotional support to their offspring. Mothers and fathers both can be guilty of such disregard but, fortunately, the probation officials in Pittsfield are doing something about it for all of Berkshire County.
Bob Melle, a senior probation officer of the Pittsfield District Court, said “The Fatherhood Program was started five years ago in the Boston area, but we didn’t have anything like that here in Berkshire County so we looked into it. The program was being run through the Massachusetts Probation Services.â€
“We’ve been up and running with our own Fatherhood Program now for two-and-a-half years,†added Don Wright, also a probation officer in Pittsfield. “Today there are 12 in the state, all east of Gardner. Our program is the only one that handles all of Berkshire County.â€
According to Wright, the program works on a referral basis: “We get referrals from district courts in our coverage area and run the groups here in Pittsfield. We handle referrals from the entire county and every now and then from probate court.â€
While most of the fathers in the program are through referrals, Wright adds that it is open to those interested and that there have been a few times when they had “voluntary†members attend their group sessions.
The program targets fathers who wish to increase their responsible behavior towards their children and the mothers of their children. Each group consists of up to 15 fathers and two co-leaders, a Pittsfield probation officer and a “community partner†(a volunteer from a nonprofit agency, such as the Red Cross).
The groups meet weekly, at the Second Congressional Church in Pittsfield, and each session lasts approximately two hours. To graduate, a participant must attend a total of 12 group sessions and have no unexcused absences. Topics covered during the group sessions include parental affection, guidance, financial support, respect, and a sober, drug-free lifestyle.
The rules of the program are that all participants must arrive to each session on time, attend all 12 sessions, arrive sober and drug-free, participate in the discussion, and not repeat personal comments made by fellow group members to people outside of the program. However, since the group leaders are probation officials, any behavior that violates the law, the participant’s probation contract, or the Five Principles of Fatherhood will be reported to the proper authorities.
Sessions begin with participants reading from the program’s Five Principles of Fatherhood: “As a father, it is my responsibility to give affection to my children; give gentle guidance to my children; provide financial support to my children and the mother of my children; demonstrate respect at all times to the mother of my children; and set a proud example for my children by living within the law and without the taint of alcohol/drug abuse.â€
After the reading, participants have an opportunity to describe a fatherly responsibility that they have completed successfully during the past week. This part of the program is called “rounds.†Participants are encouraged to use only positive self-descriptions during these discussions and to support their fellow fathers also in a positive manner.
Fundamental moral practices are also taught, such as the need to always show love and respect to their child, to not burden their child with emotions and problems the child is not capable of understanding or equipped to deal with, and the importance of always praising their child and the proper way to do so.
The final segment of the session highlights a guest speaker, a short video selection, or the sharing of news clippings, quotes, or poems regarding the responsibilities of fatherhood. The speakers are all volunteers with various specialties and backgrounds, and topics range from substance abuse and probate court issues such as child support, to sexually related issues and the Passages Program, a parenting group based out of Pittsfield.
“We try to hit on issues that are relevant to these men,†explained Wright. “We also bring in adjustment counselors to speak on the effects of domestic violence on children and how that affects them in the schools.â€
The group session is then concluded with the participants once again reading their Five Principles of Fatherhood.
Fathers are given an incentive to complete the program: those who graduate receive a reduction in court costs, fines, probation fees, or length of probation, if authorized by their sentencing judge.
“In the first two or three weeks we don’t get too much cooperation,†said Wright. “But then they realize that there’s no cost to them, that it can’t hurt to be here, and they eventually do open up.â€
Still, when they first began the program more than two years ago, only about one-third of participants graduated. “Some don’t complete the program because they commit new crimes,†said Wright. However, on a more positive note, he adds, “Now, with usually 12 guys per group, we have an average of about 80 percent graduate.â€
On Dec. 4 the program held its 8th Fatherhood Program Graduation. “We’ve been having about three or four a year,†said Wright.
“Our ninth group starts in January 2002 and will graduate in April,†added Melle.
“At the end of the program we ask the guys what they think would make it stronger,†said Wright. “We open it up to them and ask what we could do better. We always let them know the curriculum in the beginning and get their input at the end. [The program is] important and we want to make it the best we can.â€
Wright believes that for all his and his fellow probation officers’ advocacy of the program, only quotes from past graduates can say it better: “I felt like I was treated as a VIP and not at all did I feel like I was there for any other reason but to become a more responsible father,†and “I now end every conversation with my children with the words, ‘I love you’.â€
For more information on the Fatherhood Program, contact the Pittsfield Probation Office at 442-5468. While there is no “motherhood†program at this time, information on Passages, The Women’s Group, and other parenting programs in Pittsfield can be obtained by contacting the city Administrative Offices at 499-9361.
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Companion Corner: Weber at No Paws Left Behind
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a young cat waiting for a family to play with him.
iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.
Weber is a 10-month-old domestic shorthair. He has been at No Paws Left Behind since November.
Volunteer Claire Morin introduced us to him.
"He came in with an abundance of cats that were in a crowded situation in the home," she said. "Most of his brothers and sisters are gone, but Weber is still here."
Weber loves the attention and if you aren't giving him enough he will let you know.
"Weber is very, very sweet. As you can see, he's very needy for attention. He loves his treats, and he can get a little overstimulated. He's very attention seeking. And if you don't give him attention right away, he nips at you a little bit, not a bite, more like a tender here I am — pay attention to me," Morin said. "But he's very engaging, and he's a very, very sweet boy."
The city has lifted a boil water order — with several exceptions — that was issued late Monday morning following several water line breaks over the weekend. click for more
