Finding Fatherhood Through Nurturing Fathers

Why fatherhood support matters during incarceration and reentry.

Originally featured in 2019. 

“The day my son was born and the day I became a dad are not the same day in my life. I made some bad choices. I put drinking and partying ahead of my family – and I, and my family, paid the price. I know now that the days I spent in jail are precious days I lost with my family, but they are also the days that gave me my family.” 

Those are the words of Tyler Stanton, a graduate of the Nurturing Father’s program at the Hampshire County House of Corrections (HHOC). The Children’s Trust partners with HHOC to offer the 13-week Nurturing Father’s program to incarcerated fathers and a community-based program for men re-entering the community.  

Tyler was 19 years old when his first son was born, but his lifestyle choices led him to incarceration at HHOC where he was when his second child was born. Despite his experience with incarceration and the birth of his second son, he returned to his previous habits when he was released and it wasn’t long before he found himself back at HHOC for a second incarceration. That’s when he says everything changed for him. During his second incarceration, Tyler learned about the Nurturing Father’s program. He graduated from the program and upon release from HHOC, went on to become a group leader, guiding other dads through the experience. He is now sober and recommitted his life to his family and raising his sons. 

Tyler is now a dedicated father to his youngest son, Walker, and thanks to Nurturing Fathers, has reconnected and begun rebuilding his relationship with his older son.  

“If I didn’t do Nurturing Father’s, I’m not sure what I’d be doing right now. Nurturing Father’s awoke the father in me.”  

Learn more about Tyler’s journey with Nurturing Fathers:

About the 30 for 30 Fatherhood Series 

This story is part of 30 Stories for 30 Years, marking 30 years of the Children’s Trust Fatherhood Initiative. The series highlights how professionals and organizations across Massachusetts support father involvement, healthy co-parenting, and stronger parenting partnerships as part of upstream prevention.