WCVB 5 for Good Celebrates Nurturing Fathers

5 for Good: Nurturing Fathers program helps incarcerated dads

Originally published via wcvb 5 by Erika Tarantal

For 10 years, a 13-week program has been supporting incarcerated fathers serving sentences in the Hampshire County House of Correction, HHOC.

Facilitator and clinical director Vuthy Chhum said the Nurturing Fathers curriculum begins with breaking down barriers.

“We process some of the trauma and things like that. Then, we start to talk about more pro-social activities and parenting skills.”

Vuthy Chhum

The program is available nationwide, but Jennifer Valenzuela, the executive director of the Children’s Trust, said few facilities have the resources to administer it.

The Children’s Trust raises private funds and enables the Hampshire Sheriff’s Office to run the program at HHOC.

“The Children’s Trust is a public-private organization with the sole focus of preventing child abuse and neglect in Massachusetts.”

Jennifer Valenzuela

Sheriff Patrick Cahillane said the program has proven to reduce recidivism.

“Roughly 98% of the people that are incarcerated in the country are going back out into their community. Especially in situations where they have family and children, it’s important that we take those individuals and help them navigate that space.”

Sheriff Patrick Cahillane

Program graduate Brandon Downey said that for him, Nurturing Fathers was life-changing. He now helps to facilitate the program, which has expanded to the Northampton Recovery Center.

“I’ve had really bad overdoses, and I’ve done extremely stupid things while I’ve been under the influence. Being alive today is a gift.”

Brandon Downey

Downey was able to reunite with his son and plays an active role in caring for him. He encourages others who are struggling to seek help.

“It’s so difficult. It really just does start with asking for help and getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new.”

Brandon Downey

Find more information about Nurturing Fathers and the Children’s Trust here.

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, inclusivity, and using past experiences to create stronger parenting partnerships as part of upstream prevention.