Program News 2002
Dads Find Support at FRC Parents' Group
Five fathers who participate in services at our Family Reception Center have recently participated in a 12-week program known as the Fathers' Parenting Journey Group. Developed by the Family Center, Inc. of Somerville, MA, the program offers parents an opportunity to work toward improving their relationships with their children through exploration of their own childhood, self-awareness, and goal setting. Through a highly structured agenda lead by co-facilitators Neil Weintraub, CSW, a social worker at FRC, and Charles Barrios, Program Supervisor of Transitions, the men in the group were able to examine their own experiences in childhood and examine the choices that they are offering their children in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Each week, the participants shared how they had been caring for their families as well as themselves. They discussed issues including the challenges of being a single parent, interacting with daughters, and juggling the roles of breadwinner and parent. Johnny, a father of two special needs children who participated in the group, feels that the weekly meetings have made him better equipped to deal with the special challenges of his family's situation, "by offering me some 'time-out' of my own to be able to voice and share my feelings with other men with similar feelings, (this experience) has enabled me to see things differently, to approach things differently and to make a better living environment for my family." Upon the group's completion, participants reported engaging in more reflection and positive interactions with their families and demonstrating stronger parenting skills. They describe their experience as one which has undoubtedly made a tremendous difference in the lives of their families. Concludes Johnny, "It is something that has given me strength and comfort through the bad times and helped me make the right decisions to have more of the good times."
June 5, 2002
