Dear Family Focus Community,

July marked the beginning of a new fiscal year, a natural moment for reflection and renewed purpose. It’s a time to take stock of where we’ve been, where we’re headed, and what it will take to keep moving forward.

This year, that reflection is layered with deep concern. Ongoing threats to our funding and policy shifts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, they’re felt in real time, in real places, by real people. They’re felt when we lose teammates who brought their hearts and consistency to the families we serve. And they’re felt when a child walks into one of our centers seeking a familiar face, only to learn that person isn’t there anymore.

These losses are more than staffing changes; they’re emotional disruptions for our program participants and for our entire Family Focus community. The toll is heavy, and the stakes are high. At the same time, we’re seeing vital programs, afterschool care, early childhood education, immigrant services, and more under mounting pressure. Funding shortfalls and workforce shortages are stretching teams thin and limiting access to services that families rely on every day.

But, while the challenges are real, so is our response. We’re not just holding the line, we’re leading with solutions. In the face of budget uncertainty, Family Focus has completed more than 26,000 home visits in fiscal year 2025 alone. We’ve expanded our trauma-informed parenting and community-based doula programs, walking alongside families during some of their most vulnerable moments. Our approach is healing-centered, and these aren’t just services, they’re proof points of our mission in motion.

We’ll continue showing up with heart, strategy, and resolve, because our families deserve nothing less.

With gratitude,

We’re proud to share that our current Board Officers are continuing their second year of service, bringing both consistency and strength to a critical time for our organization. 

Caragh DeLuca, Chair 

Jamel Alikhan, Vice Chair 

Andrew Turitz, Treasurer 

Camille El-Amin, Secretary 

Their collective leadership, vision, and commitment to our mission ensure that Family Focus stays bold in the face of change, and focused on what matters most: strengthening families. 

We're also thrilled to welcome our newest board member, Eileen Lysaught, General Counsel at Laner Muchin, Ltd. Eileen brings deep legal expertise and a passion for equity that aligns beautifully with our values. We’re excited to have her voice at the table as we continue moving our mission forward. Stay tuned for more leadership features on our website and social channels throughout the year. 

Our first Village of Care: Maternal Wellness and Resource Event served as the launchpad for our year-long birth equity initiative and expanded doula program, hosted at our Lawndale center. The gathering brought together doulas, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community advocates to spotlight the urgent need for community responsive maternal care and equitable birth outcomes. 

Commissioner Donna Miller delivered a powerful keynote on racial disparities in maternal health, followed by OBGYN Dr. Erica E. Taylor, who debunked postpartum myths with both expertise and compassion. A standout moment of the day was our Fatherhood Panel, which featured the voices and experiences of four men who shared deeply personal stories on co-parenting, birth equity, and their experiences with doula support, Our Fatherhood Outreach Worker, Elondra Lay expressed: "My doula didn’t just support my partner she made me feel seen and valued as well" 

With coverage from iHeartMedia’s 1390AM, WGN and FOX 32, and ABC 7, Village of Care affirmed that Family Focus is driving the conversation on birth equity, and centering whole-family wellness in every step forward. 

We are proud to spotlight the Robert R. McCormick Foundation for their pivotal support of Family Focus’ Strong Fathers, Strong Families initiative. Through the Foundation’s investment, we’ve expanded peer support groups and increased access to co-parenting education to help fathers fulfill their essential role in the birth and postpartum experience. This work is deeply embedded within our broader Village of Care initiative, which focuses on improving maternal health outcomes for Black and Brown families. 

By supporting fathers as advocates, caregivers, and leaders, we not only promote healthier birth experiences, we build the social capital that fuels strong, stable communities. Together, we are redefining what family-centered care looks like, and why it matters.

Thank you to the Robert R. McCormick Foundation for believing in the power of fathers and the promise of thriving families. 

Our Hyde Park and South Shore Centers

Earn NAEYC Accreditation!

We’re thrilled to announce that our Hyde Park and South Shore Centers have officially earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the gold standard for early childhood programs nationwide! 

This is no small feat. NAEYC Accreditation is a rigorous process that recognizes programs delivering the highest level of care and education. It speaks volumes about the dedication, professionalism, and passion our Hyde Park team brings to children and families every day. 

From nurturing classrooms to thoughtfully planned lessons, this milestone affirms what we’ve always known: our educators are exceptional, and our families deserve the very best. 

Congratulations to our Hyde Park and South Shore teams on this incredible achievement!

Inagural Leadership Lab Cohort pictured with Elle Davis, ( in green), Founder of The Ellevate Group

During our recent annual meeting, held at Impact House, we celebrated the first graduation of our inaugural 14-member Leadership Lab cohort. Led by Elle Davis, founder of The Ellevate Group, this dynamic, cohort-based program centered on developing bold, community-driven leadership within our organization.  

The Leadership Lab is a key pillar of our staff development strategy, offering mentorship, professional training, and peer connection to help create confident, strategic, and values-driven leaders. 

This initiative was made possible through the generous support of Beth Sonnenschein, longtime Family Focus board member and champion of workforce development and the Shirley Latham Rinder Fund. Their investment helped launch a program rooted in one core belief: that extraordinary impact begins with strong, supported leadership. Congratulations to our 2025 cohort! 

From the state capitol to our community centers, Family Focus is putting advocacy into motion. 

This summer, we joined statewide partners in Springfield to push for increased federal funding for Head Start during Advocacy Days. With the message “flat funding = fewer children served,” we met with legislators, launched a digital campaign, and called on policymakers to protect early childhood education. With the Veto Session approaching October 14, 2025, and the Assembly now in recess, your voice will be critical this fall. Stay tuned to our social channels for real-time action alerts. 

Meanwhile, in response to increased ICE activity and community concern, we hosted an organization-wide check-in on immigrant resources. Staff gathered to share tools, raise questions, and reaffirm our commitment to being a safe and culturally responsive anchor for immigrant families.

When Design Meets Mission

Partnerships like the one with CannonDesign exemplify how collective action protects what matters most – our children and their environments. As part of their annual Impact Day, more than 20 CannonDesign team members rolled up their sleeves at our Hyde Park and South Shore centers to bring lasting beauty, safety, and joy to our learning spaces. 

From installing a new infant/toddler garden and refreshing playground mulch, to planting vibrant fruits, vegetables, and flowers across three garden areas—this was more than a day of service. It was a meaningful investment in the spaces where children grow, explore, and thrive. Volunteers also read to children in classrooms and helped add finishing touches to our wooden fences to ensure safe play for every child. 

A heartfelt thank you to Anne Gibbons, CannonDesign team member and valued Family Focus board leader, whose design leadership helped bring our Loop office to life and whose ongoing partnership continues to shape the future of our centers.

Mark your calendars! Roots Aurora will be held on Friday, September 5th. We hope you can join us for this annual block party!  

Roots Aurora is a family-friendly celebration of Aurora’s diversity and culture, and features live music, dance, art, and global cuisine. More than a thousand attendees gather every year to help celebrate the cultures that make Aurora thrive. Attendance is free and open to the public! 

🗓️ Friday, September 5th, 2025 

🕔 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM 

📍Downtown Aurora, Water St Mall 

Together, we are the movement

 Thank you for standing with us, advocating with us, and walking alongside the families we serve. There is so much more ahead, and we can’t wait to keep growing, learning, and rising with you.