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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING FAMILY FOCUS ON ITS 175th ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, Family Focus's history of promoting children's well-being by supporting families dates back to 1849; and
WHEREAS, Family Focus's rich history is the result of a 2021 merger between Chicago Child Care Society (founded in 1849) and Family Focus (founded in 1976). This merger is the most significant accomplishment of the new Family Focus over the past five years; and
WHEREAS, this merger united CCCS and Family Focus’ strengths, creating one organization dedicated to early childhood education, youth development, and family support services in under-resourced communities across Northeast Illinois; and
WHEREAS, founded more than 175 years ago, Chicago Child Care Society (CCCS) was the longest standing social service agency in Illinois. CCCS first opened its doors as the Chicago Orphan Asylum in 1849, when children were left homeless after their parents lost their lives to a cholera epidemic. Since then, CCCS has served Chicago’s children throughout our country’s historic events that shaped family needs - the Civil War, the Great Chicago Fire, WWI and WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Wars and the more recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; and
WHEREAS, in the mid-to-late 20th century, CCCS became well known for its adoption and foster care work and was a highly regarded authority and partner in establishing policies and regulations in the field. In 1974, CCCS celebrated its 125th anniversary by changing its name from Chicago Orphan Asylum to Chicago Child Care Society, better encompassing its responsive and community-centered programming designed to support the needs of the children and families; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, from her studies at the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, and Northwestern University, Bernice Weissbourd knew that parent support was key to early childhood development. With funding from her husband, Bernard Weissbourd, and Chicago businessman and philanthropist, Irving Harris, Family Focus opened a space for parent support in a room at the Miller School in Evanston; and
WHEREAS, former Evanston Alderman Delores Holmes joined Bernice as the first center director, and Family Focus became a drop-in center for parents with young children to gather. Word quickly spread about a woman who was developing the family support model, which started a pilgrimage of more than 80 other agencies and organizations from across the country sending representatives to Evanston to witness the family support movement in action; and
WHEREAS, over the years as needs grew, more centers were founded. Today, the Principles of Family Support are not only a pillar of Family Focus services, but also the field of early childhood development; and
WHEREAS, the late 20th century also marked a shift in services from adoption and foster care to early childhood education (ECE) programs, for which Family Focus remains a leader among Chicago agencies in the ECE field; and
WHEREAS, currently, Family Focus’s 11 centers serve nearly 20,000 mostly low-income participants each year throughout the Chicago neighborhoods of Englewood, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, South Shore, and Lawndale, and the suburban communities of Aurora, DuPage County, Cicero, Evanston, South Holland, Highland Park, and Highwood; and
WHEREAS, Family Focus runs programs designated as Family Advocacy Centers (FACs) in partnership with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). These centers provide support to parents facing neglect or abuse referrals, offering skills-based parenting classes, parent coaching, and supervised visitation; and
WHEREAS, the Family Focus Englewood center has licensed counselors on staff who support families through trauma-informed interventions; and
WHEREAS, the organization recognizes the importance of play for children's development, creativity, and social-emotional growth. Family Focus programs use play to help children build a foundation for lifelong learning; and
WHEREAS, at its Evanston location, Family Focus collaborates with The Evanston Food Exchange on the Foster Street Urban Agriculture Program. Children in this program learn how to plant, harvest, and sell produce at local farmers' markets; and
WHEREAS, Family Focus centers in Aurora, Belmont Cragin, Cicero and Evanston operate as Illinois Welcoming Centers, providing bilingual case management, crisis intervention, referral and follow-up, emergency resource support, and other support services; and
WHEREAS, Family Focus centers in Aurora and Cicero serve immigrant and refugee populations in need of citizenship, DACA, and other legal services; and
WHEREAS, Family Focus centers in Evanston and Aurora operate as Illinois Welcoming Centers, providing bilingual case management, legal assistance for citizenship and DACA renewal, and other support services; and
WHEREAS, the founding philosophy of Family Focus was that parents need a place to connect with others and that all parents can benefit from support. This was evidenced by the demand from both low-income and middle-to-upper-income parents at its first center; and
WHEREAS, Family Focus believes in helping parents gain confidence and competence as the primary educators of their children. The organization's approach centers on parents learning for themselves, rather than being "taught"; and
WHEREAS, Family Focus officially added "advocacy" to its values in recognition that its work cannot be separate from fighting for social justice and equality for all families; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Family Focus has made an invaluable impact in the lives of children, their families, and the communities they serve; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the leadership, staff, and community of Family Focus are recognized and celebrated for their dedication and impact; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, do hereby honor Family Focus on its 175th Anniversary, September 2025.end