Forty one year old Sam Goode says that he was an angry person. He readily admits that he did not always “walk the straight and narrow.” But the birth of his first child, Sam, Jr. began a change in his thinking that made him want to change. However, he was having a difficult time dealing with his son’s mother and after several attempts to work out their differences he wound up in Davidson County Juvenile Court last summer. It was there that Goode was introduced to the New Life Project’s Fatherhood program.
“My son’s mother and I had broken up and we had agreed to joint custody,” Goode said. “She reneged when she sent him to schools and did not put me on the list of people who could pick him up. At court the judge suggested that I look into the Fatherhood Program.”
Goode said his experience in the program has assisted him by focusing him on his son and not the mother.
“The program reinforced my understanding of what it means to be a father. It taught me to behave more rationally and be calm in my interactions and not to be so mad in this relationship.”
Wanting the be the best father he could be for his five year old son, Goode said he is now placing his emphasis on raising his son instead of the troubles he and the mother are experiencing.
“Talking to the people in the program I learned that I am not the only one going through this. My son is the most important person not my relationship with his mother. It’s not about my relationship with his mother and I cannot let those problems get between me and him.”
Goode said that he would recommend the Fatherhood Program to any person dealing with a similar situation and to those who are struggling with fatherhood in any way.
“The guys at the program are sincere and helpful. Listening to them and the other people in the program has made me feel better about myself knowing that there are people out there who are willing to help those who are willing to help themselves. Today I feel a lot more comfortable with who I am as a person, a man and a father.”
Through parenting education, relationship building, life skills training, employment and educational resources, risk reduction case management, economic stability support and mentoring NLP encourages successful fatherhood in an effort to maximize the physical, emotional and academic well-being of their children. The project is currently piloted in North and East Nashville.
For more information about the New Life Project Fatherhood Program call 615-340-8989 or go to http://www.nashville.gov/Health-Department/Family-Youth-and-Infant-Health/New-Life-Fatherhood-Program.aspx