FOCUS Families Overcoming Crisis Using Support

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FOCUSFamilies Overcoming Crisis Using Support

• Located in the United Way building
• 240 Cypress, suite 100
• Abilene, TX 79601
• Hours of Operation Monday Friday 900am-
  500pm
• Phone number [phone]
• Fax Number [phone]

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FOCUSOverview

• FOCUS, stands for families overcoming crisis
  using support. The agency was formally known as
  family outreach.
• Focuss on families who are divorced, separated
  or in the process of a divorce. Also working on
  parenting classes geared towards new parents.
• Agency consists of two paid employees which are
  the Program coordinator and the office
  administrator.
• All board members all volunteers from all walks
  of life.

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Who we team up with
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Board and Employee Organization Chart
paid employees
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Visitation Exchange Program

• In 1992, FOCUS (Formally known as Family
  Outreach) opened the Visitation Exchange Center
  for the purpose of alleviating the emotional
  abuse inflicted upon children in families of
  divorce when parents cannot come in contact with
  one another.
• This program is geared to those families that are
  court order by the 326th Court to have
  visitations supervised by a competent adult.
• All supervised visits are scheduled on the 1st,
  3rd and 5th Saturdays in the month.
• Volunteers are trained in order to supervise
  visits.
• Fees are collected depending the parties income.
  
• Our facility is child friendly and our visitation
  rooms set a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
• Most supervised visits are one hour long.
• Volunteers document every ten minutes during a
  visit.

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Children and Divorce Seminar

• In 1996, in conjunction with the 326th District
  Court in Taylor County, Family Outreach began
  conducting the Children and Divorce educational
  seminars. These four-hour sessions are held
  twice each month and are intended for parents
  going through a current divorce or modifying a
  divorce decree. The program is designed to show
  parents the affects divorce has on children and
  helps them understand changes in their children's
  behaviors and needs during a traumatic time.
  Parents and those obtaining custody/guardianship
  of children are court-ordered to attend a seminar
  through a standing order in effect with the 326th
  District Court. Others who wish to attend for
  their own family's benefit may do so without
  being court-ordered.
• Fee for the class is 35.00, or less (depending
  on your income).

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Parenting Classes

• Parenting classes have not officially been
  started at FOCUS, but currently curriculum is
  under review and a class should be started in the
  new year.
• Classes will be available to everyone in the
  community.
• Classes will try to satisfy the need in the
  community for parent education.

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Where we are going in the Future

• By introducing our parenting classes as well as
  our resource library, we hope to indirectly lower
  the divorce rate in Taylor county.
• Offer help to couples before they reach the
  point of divorce.
• Lower the rate of child abuse, by teaching
  parents how to understand their children.
• Provide a nurturing environment for all of our
  clients.