An Upstate organization says they’re tackling crime and poverty in our area by helping dads get on their feet.
The non-profit Upstate Fatherhood Coalition is moving into Anderson county. They already have offices in Spartanburg and Greenville.
For years, they’ve been helping thousands of men across the state learn how to become better fathers through their program.
They have classes that teach parents about healthy relationships, men’s health, economic stability and parenting skills. They say all of those skills are needed to make a better father.
They take many parents who are court ordered through child support cases. They also take walk-ins, who just want help learning how to be a better parent.
“We go to court every week in all our counties,” Kelly Walker, the Executive Director, said. “In stead of locking them up, let us get an opportunity to work with these fathers and mothers and give them an opportunity to understand, not what their responsibilities are but what what their obligation is.”
The organization says many times, the parents have lived in poverty, are jobless or have a criminal history, making it harder for them to get on the right path.
“The stereotypes say they’re dead beats but a lot of time they are dead broke. They come from broken dreams,broken hopes, broken homes and we are just trying to mend our men,” the Community Employment Developer, Ricco Booker said.
The Coalition has had several success stories, where dads are getting full time careers and even married, through the program.
“We want to break that generational curse,” Booker said. “I was one of those that didn’t have a positive father in my life growing up but we are better now.”
“I’ve learned to listen to my kids better,” said Samford McGill, a participant. “I have peers who can listen to my story and help me that way.”
That’s why now, they’re growing. Upstate Fatherhood Coalition is expanding to Anderson County, to fill a need and get more fathers the help they need.
Their new Anderson County offices will be at the Westside Community Center.
For more information about how they work or how you can get involved, visit their website HERE.
