We believe in the sanctity of the family Focus on Families works to support those facing challenges wherever we might best be of service to our clients.  During the recent year, we focused services primarily within elementary schools and in outpatient behavioral health settings.  Through the Focus on Families’ Primary Project program, we continued to serve children in grades pre-K thru 3 at three area schools; we were able also to support the receipt of evaluative and counseling services for many clients who might otherwise have not been able to afford these services.  More specific information about how we worked this year to be of support follows:
  • Provided direct training in half-day sessions to 138 elementary school teachers during the Spring semester and to 126 elementary school teachers in the Fall semester.
  • Completed 90 hours of intensive individual training as well as ongoing clinical supervision of three paraprofessionals hired to provide direct on-campus Primary Project services at each of three elementary schools.
  • Continued the integration of the Primary Project program into a comprehensive continuum of care, providing services for school staff as well as for the families of the children at each school.
  • Conducted parent-training programs to expand the services being provided; more than 60 parents received direct training in behavioral management strategies.
  • Provided individual consultation to school counselors in order to ensure their familiarity with Focus on Families programs and to increase counselors’ capacity for serving young children through intensive training in play therapy techniques.
  • Provided over 100 hours of support to counselors in area private schools, conducting needs assessments and developing plans to support the fulfillment of those needs.
  • Secured commitments from school counselors to receive training in child-centered and experiential play therapy techniques, and provided supportive funding for training services for several of those counselors.
  • Continued direct support and integration with the leadership team on one elementary school campus to oversee systemic change projects including Steps to Respect, Bullying Prevention, and Positive Behavioral Support.
  • Provided reimbursement of direct-care counseling services for the school administrators and staff of several New Orleans area schools. By August 2010, 208 individual counseling sessions with licensed professionals had been provided at no cost to the clients.
  • Provided reimbursement of direct-care counseling services for children assessed to be in need of more intensive services than the Primary Project program on each campus. By August 2010, 284 individual counseling sessions with licensed professionals had been provided to these children at no cost to their families.