Families Of Children Under Stress Inc

AT FOCUS, OUR MISSION IS TO EMBRACE AND EQUIP FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TO MAKE EVERYDAY LIFE BETTER.

SUMMER CAMPS & CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES FOCUS TRADITIONALLY OFFERS A HIGHLY RATED, ADAPTED SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF DISABILITIES. IN 2021, FOCUS OFFERED FIVE WEEKS OF CAMP HOLLYWOOD, IT'S IN-PERSON SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM, IN LOCATIONS ACROSS METRO ATLANTA. FOR THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON, FOCUS ALSO OFFERED A WEEK OF VIRTUAL CAMP HOLLYWOOD THAT INCLUDED DAILY RECORDED ACTIVITIES MIRRORING THOSE DONE AT IN-PERSON CAMPS AS WELL AS AN OUTDOOR, IN-PERSON FAMILY ACTIVITY AND DAILY LIVE MUSIC THERAPY VIA ZOOM. ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-ONE CAMPERS PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMP HOLLYWOOD SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM IN 2021. CAMPERS ENJOYED ARTS, CRAFTS, COOKING, SCIENCE, RECREATION, AND MUSIC THERAPY BASED ON POPULAR CHILDREN'S MOVIE THEMES. IN SURVEYS CONDUCTED AFTER CAMP, 99% OF PARENTS RATED CAMP HOLLYWOOD ACTIVITIES AS "JUST RIGHT" FOR THEIR CHILD'S ABILITY LEVEL. PARENTS ALSO REPORTED THAT CAMP HOLLYWOOD OFFERED THEM AN IMPORTANT BREAK FROM ROUTINE CHILDCARE. THE FOCUS ADAPTIVE SWIM TEAM (FAST FINS) RAN FOR ONE, EIGHT-WEEK SPRING SESSION IN 2021 IN THREE METRO ATLANTA SETTINGS. THIRTY-SEVEN SWIMMERS PARTICIPATED IN THE SWIM SEASON. SWIM MEETS CAPPED THE SEASON WITH ATHLETES RECEIVING RIBBONS, T-SHIRTS, AND SPECIAL SNACKS. PARENTS OF SWIMMERS SAID THEIR CHILDREN DEVELOPED SKILLS IN THE WATER AND BETTER OVERALL FITNESS. TEEN & YOUNG ADULT ACTIVITIES FOCUS ORGANIZES A SOCIAL GROUP FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS (TYAS) WITH DISABILITIES TO HELP BUILD INDEPENDENCE AND FRIENDSHIPS. PARTICIPANTS NUMBERED 365 IN 2021 AND DEVELOPED STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER AS THEY TOOK PART IN MONTHLY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BINGO, KARAOKE, TRIVIA NIGHTS, AND MORE. THE MERCER UNIVERSITY DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH FOCUS IN TYA ACTIVITIES FOR SERVICE LEARNING. TYAS ALSO ATTENDED FOCUS' 6-DAY, 5-NIGHT OUTDOOR CAMP HELD AT CAMP TWIN LAKES IN JULY. CAMPERS RATED THEIR EXPERIENCE A 4.7 OUT OF 5 STARS, AND 86% OF CAMPERS REPORTED IMPROVING THEIR FEELINGS OF BELONGING AND THEIR PRACTICES OF WELLNESS BY ATTENDING CAMP. AT THE OCTOBERFEST TYA CAMP, A NUMBER OF TYAS EXPERIENCED THEIR FIRST NIGHT AWAY FROM HOME AND FAMILY.

GRANTS AND LOANS OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOCUS PROVIDES PRESCRIBED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR CHILDREN IN NEED THAT MEDICAID AND PRIVATE INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER. SUPPORTIVE SEATING AND/OR THERAPEUTIC STROLLERS HELP CHILDREN WHO DO NOT SIT OR WALK INDEPENDENTLY INTERACT WITH THEIR PEERS AND THEIR COMMUNITY. MANY CHILDREN ALSO NEED MOTORIZED LIFTS TO GO UPSTAIRS (STAIR LIFTS), GET OUT OF BED, OR GET INTO A VAN (WHEELCHAIR VAN LIFTS). THE FOCUS EQUIPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS, REVIEWS APPLICATIONS QUARTERLY FROM FAMILIES. THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS THE PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL NEEDS OF THE CHILD AS WELL AS THE FAMILIES' INCOME AND RESOURCES TO APPROVE OR DENY THE APPLICATION. IN 2021, FOCUS PAID 99,198.05 FOR CRITICAL EQUIPMENT FOR 36 CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL COMPLEXITIES. A PORTION OF THAT SUM WAS FOR PERMANENT GRANTS, SUCH AS THE INSTALLATION OF ELECTRONIC WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FOR VANS. THE REMAINDER INCLUDED PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS FEEDING CHAIRS OR THERAPEUTIC STROLLERS, WHICH CHILDREN WILL OUTGROW AND RETURN TO THE "EQUIPMENT LIBRARY." IN FOLLOW UP ASSESSMENTS, MOST PARENTS RATED THE PROVISION OF THE NEEDED EQUIPMENT AS "LIFE-CHANGING" IN TERMS OF FUNCTIONALITY AND MOBILITY.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND RETREATS BECAUSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OFTEN FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, FOCUS SPONSORS A NUMBER OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES EACH YEAR. IN 2021, FOCUS HELD ELEVEN OUTDOOR FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR ITS NETWORK AT SITES ACROSS METRO ATLANTA. IN 2021, 1,412 FAMILY MEMBERS CONNECTED WITH OTHERS AT FOCUS FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND CAMPS. FOCUS FAMILIES ATTENDED DAYS AT SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA, ZOO ATLANTA, AND THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS. OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDED A FAMILY WINTER GAMES IN CHAMBLEE, A FAMILY CARNIVAL IN PEACHTREE CITY, FAMILY DRIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT AT OAK GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, FAMILY SAFARI ADVENTURE IN MARIETTA, A COSTUME PARTY AND BARBEQUE WITH THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AT HOLY CROSS CHURCH, FAMILY WATER GAMES IN DUNWOODY, AND FAMILY FUN DAY. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR WAS THE LARGE HOLIDAY PARTY HOSTED BY FOCUS AND LEKOTEK AT AMS VANS IN DECEMBER. THE EVENT WAS A DRIVE-THRU CELEBRATION WHERE FAMILIES EXPERIENCED A WINTER WONDERLAND, TOURED SANTA'S WORKSHOP, PLAYED GAMES FROM THE CAR WINDOW, AND WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE HANNUKAH, KWANZAA, AND CHRISTMAS. THE EVENT CULMINATED WITH DISTANCED PICTURES WITH SANTA AND THE CHANCE TO CHOOSE A PRESENT FOR PARENTS BEFORE FAMILIES RECEIVED A HOME MOVIE NIGHT CARE PACKAGE. PARENTS GAVE THE EVENT RAVE REVIEWS AND THANKED FOCUS AND LEKOTEK FOR ALL OF THE EFFORT THAT WENT INTO MAKING THE EVENT SPECIAL FOR THEIR CHILDREN. FOCUS ENSURES THAT THE FAMILIES WHO ATTEND ITS FAMILY EVENTS HAVE A WELCOMING AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE TAILORED TO THE ABILITIES AND NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN. CAMP TWIN LAKES WAS THE SITE OF TWO FOCUS FAMILY RETREATS IN 2021, ONE IN MARCH AND ANOTHER IN AUGUST. CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES SPENT 3-DAYS AND 2-NIGHTS PARTICIPATING IN ARCHERY, ROCK CLIMBING, AND BIKE RIDING WITH ADAPTED EQUIPMENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. FAMILIES ALSO RODE IN PADDLE BOATS, WENT FISHING AND SWIMMING, PLAYED FIELD SPORTS, AND WERE ABLE TO VISIT TO THE CAMP TWIN LAKES WORKING FARM. FAMILIES PLAYED TRIVIA AND WATCHED AN OUTDOOR MOVIE TOGETHER AND ENJOYED OTHER COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES. IN SURVEYS TAKEN AFTER THE WEEKENDS, 75% OF FAMILIES REPORTED THAT THEY FELT MORE CONFIDENT TO FACE CHALLENGES AT HOME AS A RESULT OF ATTENDING FAMILY CAMP.

PARENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT AND INFORMATION FOCUS CONTINUES TO USE ITS INFORMATIVE AND MOBILE-FRIENDLY WEBSITE (WWW.FOCUS-GA.ORG) TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO FAMILIES. FOCUS IS ALSO ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERACTS WITH PARENTS AND FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN, AND TWITTER @FOCUSKIDSGA. FOCUS POSTS FREQUENTLY ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM TO INCLUDE PHOTOS FROM EVENTS AS WELL AS POSTS CONVEYING THE IMPACT ITS PROGRAMS HAVE ON PARTICIPANTS. IT ALSO HOSTS A DOZEN "CLOSED" (NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) FACEBOOK PAGES FOR PARENTS IN SUPPORT GROUPS, EITHER BY LOCATION OR NEED, SO THAT THEY CAN COMMUNICATE PRIVATELY AT ANY TIME. DURING 2021, FOCUS COORDINATED AND PROVIDED 13 EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS. THESE WORKSHOPS WERE RECORDED AND ARE ARCHIVED ON THE FOCUS WEBSITE (WWW.FOCUS-GA.ORG) FOR FAMILIES TO WATCH AT ANY TIME. WORKSHOPS ARE RELATED TO RAISING A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY AND INCLUDE SUCH TOPICS AS MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS, SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI), GUARDIANSHIP, THE INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL PLAN (IEP), WILLS AND TRUSTS, AND MORE. FOCUS ALSO SPONSORS AN ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE THAT CONNECTS PARENTS TO RESOURCES AS WELL AS TO EACH OTHER. DUE TO THE SURGE IN COVID-19 IN EARLY 2021, THE JANUARY 30TH EVENT WAS HELD ENTIRELY VIRTUALLY WITH LIVE- STREAMED SESSIONS THAT ALLOWED PARTICIPANTS TO INTERACT WITH PRESENTERS. ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN PARENTS ATTENDED THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE WHERE FOURTEEN SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED. SPEAKERS INCLUDED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGISTS, PHYSICIANS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS, AND MORE. AFTER THE EVENT, ALL CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS WERE RECORDED AND ARCHIVED ON THE FOCUS WEBSITE. FOCUS COORDINATES MONTHLY PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS IN MULTIPLE ATLANTA LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS A GROUP FOR BEREAVED FOCUS PARENTS. THE TRAINED PARENT VOLUNTEER LEADERS OF THESE GROUPS GUIDE PARTICIPANTS THROUGH DIFFICULT EMOTIONAL TIMES AS THEY NETWORK WITH OTHERS. SUPPORT GROUPS IN 2021 WERE HELD BOTH VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM AND IN OUTDOOR SPACES TO LOWER THE RISK OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION. IN 2021, 305 PARENTS JOINED SHARE (SUPPORT) GROUPS. PARENTS REPORTED THAT TALKING WITH OTHERS HELPED THEM MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS WHILE PARENTING A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY. FIVE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ARE ON CALL TO VISIT FOCUS FAMILIES WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE HOSPITALIZED AT CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA HOSPITALS FOR SURGERY OR ILLNESS. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS DROPPED OFF GIFTS, SENT NOTES OF ENCOURAGEMENT, AND MADE VISITS TO FAMILIES IN NEED. FOCUS HOSTED DINNERS FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN THE TECHNOLOGY-DEPENDENT INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (TICU) AT SCOTTISH RITE BY DELIVERING BOXED MEALS AND VISITING FAMILIES MONTHLY. FOCUS ALSO STOCKED THE "SNACK CART" FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE TICU TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT DURING A DIFFICULT TIME. IN 2021, FOCUS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTED 83 CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL, BRINGING GIFTS AND LIFTING SPIRITS. DURING DECEMBER, ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ST. ELIAS ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, COOPER CARRY, AND A NUMBER OF FRIENDS OF FOCUS GAVE GIFTS AND GROCERY CERTIFICATES TO 145 FOCUS FAMILY MEMBERS IN NEED DURING THE HOLIDAYS. THE COLORFUL PERIODIC FOCUS NEWSLETTER, THE VIEWFINDER, FEATURES STORIES WRITTEN BY PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. FOCUS DELIVERED THE NEWSLETTER ELECTRONICALLY TO 8,086 CONTACTS IN 2021, WHICH INCLUDED FAMILIES, PROFESSIONALS, AND FRIENDS. PARENTS SHARED THAT READING VIEWFINDER NEWSLETTERS IS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE WAYS TO FIND COMMONALITIES WITH OTHER FOCUS FAMILIES.