Expanding Our Nurturing Fathers Work
Strengthening Nurturing Fathers Programming in Hampden and Hampshire Counties
Thanks to a grant from the Beveridge Family Foundation, we expanded our Nurturing Fathers work
in two important ways.
First, we launched a new group specifically for fathers under the age of 28 in Hampden County, in
partnership with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC)
Holyoke. Eight young dads graduated from the program, gaining skills, confidence, and a stronger
sense of connection to their children. The group was so successful that MSPCC Holyoke is already
planning another.
“Through Nurturing Fathers, I went from being
Nurturing Fathers program graduate
impulsive to thoughtful. Isolated to connected.
Unaware to informed. Nurturing Fathers pointed out all
the positives that I have to offer to my daughter. I no
longer feel inferior. I feel more empowered as a father.”
Second, we trained 12 new Nurturing Fathers facilitators in Hampshire County, twice as many as we
originally expected. The group included eight family support professionals and four program
alumni. The alumni, all fathers who had completed Nurturing Fathers in the past, received modest
stipends so they could train while continuing their full-time jobs. This support opened the door for
more men with lived experience to join the family support workforce. Two of these newly trained
facilitators have already gone on to lead groups at the Hampshire County House of Corrections.