BELCHERTOWN — Gina Sanderson has worked for the Massachusetts Trial Court for nearly 30 years, most recently as a probation officer in Eastern Hampshire District Court. She said in the last three to five years she has seen the number of female probationers grow “exponentially.”
“It was a rarity, back in the day, to see a woman in court,” Sanderson said, noting that she attributes much of the change to the state’s epidemic of opioid and opiate addiction.
Sanderson eventually noticed a trend among the female probationers who were walking into her office — while they participated in therapy or drug counseling, many lacked self-esteem and basic knowledge about health and personal safety. Many of the women felt isolated as they struggled to stay sober or get out of violent relationships, she said.
But while men in the court system could participate in different fatherhood programs, there were no similar programs for women in the western part of the state.
So, Sanderson this year created the Womanhood Program. She sought donations to fund it, found volunteer teachers to lead the 10 weekly sessions, and developed the curriculum. The topics include health, creating a resumé, budgeting, conflict resolution, domestic violence and substance abuse.
“I was trying to pick things that I think are relevant based on getting to know these women,” Sanderson said in a telephone interview this week. She said she hopes the participants leave the program not only with new skills, but also feeling more empowered and confident — and less alone.
“Sometimes you get into this abyss. Things go badly and sometimes you can’t get out of your own way,” said Sanderson, who recruits participants for the free program.