Healing the Wounds of What it Means to Be a Man

In American culture, as well as other cultures around the world, young boys are taught how to be men. They are taught how to think, act, and behave in a particular way that is seen as manly.  As norms are taught and passed on to the next generation, do we consider the outcome?  For the past few years, I have been attending a regional conference, the New England Fathering Conference.  The focus is on fatherhood as a crucial part of building healthy families. At this conference, there is always so much wisdom and spirit to be found and a sincere…

Grandparents Raising their Grandchildren: Support for Three Generations

Working in the field of human services in Massachusetts for the past 3 years has given me an understanding of the vast way in which community problems are intertwined.  There are so many topics to discuss when it comes to looking at a community as a whole and breaking it down into manageable pieces.  The purpose of the organization I work for on Cape Cod is to prevent child abuse and neglect by supporting families and building resources in the region.  Through our work, we engage various social issues that a person may face.  From family dynamics, domestic violence, poverty,…