LAUREL — They came from different communities, backgrounds and age groups, but the 31 participants in the Jones County Sheriff’s Department Fatherhood Initiative Program had at least one thing in common.

All wanted to be better fathers and do what they could to keep their children from following in their footsteps.

“I have a 12-year-old son,” said John P. McCullum, 31, of Laurel. “When I see him, I see a carbon copy of myself.

“I see him doing some of the same things I did when I was his age,” he said with remorse. “This is my second time in here and I don’t want him to be like me.

“My father wasn’t here for me, but I want to be there for him. I want to have a positive influence in my son’s life. I want to be the father I’m supposed to be.”

McCullum, who also has an 11-month-old son, said he realizes he has made mistakes and hasn’t been the ideal father for his children. His oldest son asks questions he doesn’t have answers to.

“This program has helped me a lot,” said McCullum. “It’s helped me understand a lot more about being a father.”

On Wednesday, McCullum was among eight detention center inmates to be awarded certificates of completion by Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge, City of Laurel Public Information Officer Wanda Benson and the Rev. Cecil Ashford. Other recipients were Bobby Stevens, Emanuel Dixon, Quincy Clayton, Ira Lee Terrell, Michael Cook, Jon Oneal and Xavier Walker.

The Fatherhood Initiative Program, which was introduced to inmates at the Jones County Adult Detention Center in July, is a partnership between the City of Laurel’s Community Family Center’s Community First Program and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department. During the tenure of the program, Ashford, Community First’s Community Liaison, taught 10 sessions which lasted about 90 minutes each.

Funded by a grant from the Department of Human Services, the program’s mission statement said the curriculum is “designed to educate, encourage, and assist fathers in becoming knowledgeable of their individual responsibilities as a parent.”

Ashford, who was certified as a Fatherhood Initiative instructor 11 years ago, said inmates volunteer to participate in the program.

“We don’t force anyone to participate,” he added. “I was thrilled because we had 31 inmates who volunteered to participate.”

Although he is delighted by the response and enthusiasm of program participants, he was a little disheartened to learn that 27 of the 31 participants are repeat offenders.

“(Wednesday) we gave out certificates to those who completed the program,” said Ashford. “It’s our intent to make the program available to as many jail residents who want to participate.

“There may be some people who don’t think we need to spend taxpayer dollars to provide this program to these residents. But they are the ones we need to help with their relationships the most.

“It’s important that this population of fathers remain connected to their children through letters, cards, or phone calls,” added Ashford. “We are optimistic that this program will inspire them to resume their role as fathers when they leave jail.”

 Fathers are encouraged to increase their involvement in their children’s overall educational performance. They are also educated as to how they can positively impact their child’s risk of teen pregnancy, juvenile crime, and high school drop-out.

“Research suggests that 70 percent of juveniles in reform and long term prisons come from fatherless homes and they are two times more likely to become high school drop outs,” said Community Family Center Director Mariann Taylor. “We feel this program will teach skills that will not only help participants become better fathers, but productive people in society.”

Hodge said the Fatherhood Initiative is one of several programs the sheriff’s department has in place to inmates to improve their lives and become positive and productive citizens when they leave the detention center to return to their communities. Among them are the GED and work programs.

“It is our hope that this program changes their lives, their children’s lives and  their family lives in a positive way,” said Hodge. “We will open our doors as long as there are programs we find helpful and beneficial to the inmates here, anything that will change their mindset.

“People act the way they do because of learned behavior,” added Hodge. “We want to change their focus, change their mindset and give them a new way of thinking.

“We very well know that we can provide this information for them, teach them a new way of thinking, but it’s their choice of whether to accept and live by what is being taught.”

Captain Stacey Walls, who overseas the detention center, said the Fatherhood Initiative is a great program and is much needed. “I’m for anything positive that will help make life a little more positive for these inmates. I want to see them succeed.”

Taylor said the Fatherhood Initiative  allows participants to come to terms with issues they may have with their own dad. The program operates as a part of the agency’s “Responsible Fatherhood” component. The Community Family Center has three additional components; namely, “Parenting Education,” “Healthy Marriage Education,” and “Abstinence Education.”

Also, in addition to Jones County, the agency serves Covington, Jasper, Smith and Wayne counties. The programs have been offered at schools, churches and organizations in all five counties.

“I am very thankful to Sheriff Hodge and Captain Walls for allowing us the opportunity for the very first time to implement (the Fatherhood Initiative) within a jail because it will benefit the inmates who have a sincere desire to be better fathers to their children and positive role models in their community,” said Taylor.