Adam Smith

The New Pathways for Good Dads program equips fathers with the tools they need to build a safe and stable home for their families. For New Pathways graduate Adam Smith, this involves consistency.

“(New Pathways) has given me more ideas on how to have a more consistent relationship with my kiddo, and how to communicate effectively,” he said.

Adam struggled with a fentanyl addiction for six years, overdosing and continuing the cycle over and over. He had attempted sobriety but relasped. He described his situation as “scary,” comparing his life to Grand Theft Auto, the popular action video game series where players rise through the ranks of the criminal underworld in fictionalized versions of real-life cities like New York City, San Francisco and Miami.

When your character dies in the game, you spawn at the nearest hospital, only to immediately run out and continue your chaotic life. That’s what Adam said his life felt like: “Grand Theft Auto, but real life.”

Originally from the Jefferson City area, Adam has been living in Mt. Vernon for about four years. He first learned about Good Dads while attending Whosoever House’s sober-living program.

Adam has a ten-year-old son who still lives in Jefferson City. He wanted the opportunity to learn important skills, provide his son a more consistent childhood, and “a chance to give my kid the opportunities I didn’t have.”

During the program, one of Adam’s key takeaways was the concept of “decide, not slide,” a lesson covered in the Within My Reach course on healthy relationships.

“(I) always ended up in situations where I’ve slid into rather than decided,” he admitted. “(I) don’t think of things ahead of time per se.”

“Sliding” is more impulsive and involves a high risk, whereas “deciding” involves clarity, planning and careful decision making. Being an active agent—making informed choices about what happens in your life—allows for intentionality and increases consistency in relationships.

Adam appreciated the support he received from being in both the sober-living program and Good Dads. During the Good Dads graduation ceremony in June 2025, he appreciated being surrounded by men on a similar journey as him.

“(Graduation) was super cool,” he said. “It’s not very often you get to be in a program that gives you a suit or recognition. It builds you up, and there were so many of us. It was super cool to see.”

Now that Adam has graduated, he wants to continue utilizing lessons learned from the Good Dads program. He’s open to having more children in the future, starting with being a better parent right now. Adam says consistency is key when it comes to interacting with his son.

“Living so far away is an obstacle: With my schedule and his schedule, it doesn’t always match up,” he admitted. “I try to be consistent; he knows 6 p.m. on Tuesday is when he videochats with Dad. He’s got a phone, so I can text him, too.”

Adam said sticking with the program and having patience was the mindset helped him the most. That’s the same advice he offers for fathers in a similar situation to him.

“Work on consistency and communication with co-parenting,” he said. “It’s important to have a good relationship with your kid’s other parent so you can collaborate for the best possible outcome for his or her wellbeing.”

Adam hopes that, in the future, fathers aren’t as overlooked. He says fatherhood is crucial, and fathers provide “a chance to make the community a better place for the future.”

About the Author

Dora Gilreath is the communications assistant at Good Dads. She joined the team in 2024 and has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in creative writing at Missouri State University. She loves reading, writing and anything related to theater.