FAMILIES OF CHILDREN UNDER STRESS INC
3825 PRESIDENTIAL PARKWAY STE 103, ATLANTA, GA 30340 www.focus-ga.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: 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 OFFERS 11 WEEK-LONG SESSIONS OF HIGHLY RATED, ADAPTED SUMMER DAY CAMP, AND 275 CHILDREN ATTENDED IN 2019. MERCER UNIVERSITY HOSTS THE TRADITIONAL OUTDOOR CAMP IN LATE MAY, AND ITS PHYSICAL THERAPY (PT) GRADUATE STUDENTS ASSIST WITH THE PROGRAM THAT FEATURES SWIMMING, GOLF, AND COMPETITIVE GAMES. IN JUNE AND JULY, NINE LOCAL CHURCHES ACROSS THE METRO ATLANTA AREA DONATE SPACE AND VOLUNTEERS FOR TEN INDOOR CAMPS. VOLUNTEERS COME FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE, MERCER PT STUDENTS, AND THE CHATTAHOOCHEE TECH PT ASSISTANT PROGRAM. FOCUS ALSO SUPERVISED FOUR INTERNS (FROM CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY, GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, MERCER UNIVERSITY, AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY) AS THEY WORKED IN SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS. IN 2019, CAMPERS ENJOYED ARTS, CRAFTS, COOKING, SCIENCE, RECREATION, AND MUSIC BASED ON POPULAR CHILDREN'S MOVIE THEMES WITH ACTIVITIES ADAPTED FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPABILITIES. CHURCHES PROVIDING FREE SPACE WERE ACWORTH SUMMIT BAPTIST, ALPHARETTA PRESBYTERIAN, BUCKHEAD CATHEDRAL OF ST. PHILIP, EMBRY HILLS UNITED METHODIST, JOHNS CREEK UNITED METHODIST, LAWRENCEVILLE MCKENDREE UNITED METHODIST, MARIETTA MT. BETHEL UNITED METHODIST (TWO WEEKS), MCDONOUGH FIRST UNITED METHODIST, AND PEACHTREE CITY FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. IN POST CAMP SURVEYS, PARENTS GAVE A+ RATINGS FOR APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES, INCLUSION OF ALL CAMPERS, STAFF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTENTIVENESS, COST OF CAMP, AND PROVISION OF A BREAK FOR PARENTS FROM CONSTANT CHILDCARE. FOCUS' ADAPTIVE SWIM TEAM RUNS FOR TWO (SPRING AND FALL) TEN-WEEK SEASONS IN EIGHT METRO ATLANTA SETTINGS; 181 SWIMMERS PARTICIPATED IN 2019. SWIM MEETS IN THE SPRING AND FALL CAPPED THE 2019 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. THROUGH A SATURDAY CHILDCARE PROGRAM, FOCUS PROVIDES A BREAK FOR PARENTS FROM THEIR CONSTANT CAREGIVING ROLES. SPECIAL EDUCATORS AND REGISTERED NURSES, AIDED BY VOLUNTEERS, CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES AND THEIR SIBLINGS. IN 2019, THE PROGRAM SERVED CHILDREN IN TWO LOCATIONS - AT ALPHARETTA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND EMBRY HILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN CHAMBLEE. THE CHURCHES DONATE SPACE AND VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE 75 CHILDREN IN 2019. BY SURVEY, PARENTS THAT UTILIZED THE CHILDCARE SERVICE SAID IT GAVE THEM A BREAK FROM CHILDCARE IN A CONVENIENT AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT. THEY THOUGHT THE CAREGIVERS TREATED THEIR CHILDREN WITH LOVE AND RESPECT. THEY SAID THEIR CHILDREN ENJOYED PLAYING WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND BEING WITH A MUSIC THERAPIST FOR INTERACTIVE SINGING AND PLAYING.

GRANTS AND LOANS OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOCUS PROVIDES TO CHILDREN PRESCRIBED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT MEDICAID AND PRIVATE INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER. CHILDREN WHO DO NOT SIT OR WALK INDEPENDENTLY NEED SUPPORTIVE SEATING OR THERAPEUTIC STROLLERS WITH SUPPORTIVE SEATING. MANY ALSO NEED MOTORIZED LIFTS TO GO UPSTAIRS (STAIR LIFTS), GET OUT OF BED AND TO A WHEELCHAIR OR THE BATHROOM (CEILING LIFTS), OR GET INTO A VAN (WHEELCHAIR VAN LIFTS). A FOCUS MEDICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS, REVIEWS APPLICATIONS QUARTERLY FROM FAMILIES THAT INCLUDE MEDICAL REFERRALS. 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 2019, FOCUS PAID 106,858 FOR CRITICAL EQUIPMENT FOR 53 MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN. 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 CAMPS BECAUSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL OR BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES OFTEN FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, FOCUS SPONSORS A NUMBER OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, CITYWIDE ACTIVITIES EACH YEAR. IN 2019, 2,967 FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CONNECTED WITH OTHERS AT FOCUS FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND CAMPS, SAID LATER THEY FELT "LESS ALONE." FOCUS FAMILIES ATTENDED DAYS AT SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA, ZOO ATLANTA, AND LEGOLAND AND GAMES WITH THE ATLANTA BRAVES (WITH COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS FROM LEGOLAND AND THE BRAVES). OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDED A CHILI COOK-OFF AT MCKENDREE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WITH THE STONE MOUNTAIN CHORUS, A VALENTINE DANCE AT GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF THE ANNUNCIATION WITH PHILOPTOCHOS AND THE FLEETWOOD DANCE CENTER, AND A ROBOTICS MAKER FAIR WITH GRADY HIGH SCHOOL. FAMILIES ALSO CAME TO BOWLING, CRAFTING, MOVIES, A PICNIC, AND A "CAMP HOLLYWOOD JUNIOR" FOR A MORNING. A DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE AT MT. BETHEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WITH THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF ATLANTA, A BARBEQUE WITH THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AT HOLY CROSS CHURCH, AND A THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION AT VILLA RICA CHRISTIAN CHURCH WITH THE WEST GEORGIA ELVES WERE ALSO POPULAR. FOCUS AND LEKOTEK HELD A LARGE HOLIDAY PARTY FEATURING SANTA AT EASTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AS WELL AS A MORE INTIMATE HOLIDAY PARTY FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE MEDICALLY FRAGILE AT ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH. FOCUS ENSURES THAT THE FAMILIES WHO ATTEND THESE EVENTS HAVE A WELCOMING AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE TAILORED TO THE ABILITIES AND NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN. CAMP TWIN LAKES IS THE SITE OF TWO FOCUS FAMILY CAMPS, ONE IN AUGUST AND ANOTHER IN OCTOBER. THE CAMPS INCLUDED 3-DAYS AND 2-NIGHTS OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, SUCH AS SWIMMING, A FAMILY POOL PARTY DANCE, BOATING, ARCHERY, ROPES COURSE, AND A NATURE TRAIL. A SCAVENGER HUNT, TALENT SHOW, T-SHIRTS, AND CRAFT ACTIVITIES CELEBRATED THE "SCIENCE: DISCOVERING OUR WORLD" THEME. THE WEATHER WAS TOO COOL FOR SWIMMING AT THE SECOND CAMP, BUT CAMPERS ENJOYED A HAYRIDE AND BONFIRE WITH S'MORES. WHILE THE ACTIVITIES ARE FUN AND ACCESSIBLE, THE BEST PART OF CAMP IS THE CHANCE FOR FAMILIES TO CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER IN AN INFORMAL SETTING. THEY SHARE AND DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING WITH A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY AND GAIN STRENGTH IN AN UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY. IN POST-CAMP SURVEYS, PARENTS GAVE SOLID "A" RATINGS TO CAMP ACTIVITIES BEING FUN FOR THEIR FAMILY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND BE WITH LIKE FAMILIES, THE CHANCE TO ENGAGE IN ADAPTED OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND THE COST OF CAMP COMPARED TO A WEEKEND AWAY ON THEIR OWN.

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