Family Focus Evanston began in 1976 as the original drop-in center for parents in Evanston, Illinois. As the flagship location of all Family Focus, Bernice Weissbourd invited parents of young children to come together to provide support and camaraderie for another to promote early childhood development.
Forty years later Family Focus continues to serve the Evanston community. Services available include early childhood home visiting, Family Advocacy Center, after school, Grandparents raising Grandchildren, and community partnership initiatives such as the Foster Street Urban Agriculture program.
Family Focus, Inc. offers innovative, community-based programs that help parents, grandparents, and foster and adoptive parents, gain confidence and competence as the primary educators of their children. Family Focus has eleven centers in Chicago and surrounding communities.
Be sure to follow Family Focus Evanston on Facebook!
Available Programs
After-School Programs
Family Focus Evanston offers after-school programs at the Evanston center only. Please contact the center if you are interested in enrolling your child in the program.
Doula
Doulas are experienced professionals who provide physical, emotional, and educational support before, during, and after childbirth. A doula does not replace medical personnel such as a doctor or midwife but supports the pregnant participant person with pre- and postnatal care, connections to healthcare and supportive services, and labor coaching. Using a doula helps create a safe environment to give birth, assists with breastfeeding and lactation, and provides a support system for families to help with anything unexpected.
Home Visiting
Immigration and Citizenship Support
Family Focus provides immigrant families and individuals with bilingual services to provide pathways to success including assistance with the citizenship process by accredited staff, DACA renewal, interpretation services, ESL and GED classes, citizenship classes, referrals to healthcare, education, and employment resources, and more. Family Focus Aurora is also an Illinois Welcoming Center and provides comprehensive case management services for immigrants and refugees to help eliminate barriers that immigrants may have. Services include connecting individuals to state and federal resources and information, educational workshops and information, and linguistic support.
Family Focus Evanston is also an Illinois Welcoming Center and provides comprehensive case management services for immigrants and refugees to help eliminate barriers that immigrants may have. Services include connecting individuals to state and federal resources and information, educational workshops and information, and linguistic support.
Family Advocacy Center
Fatherhood
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Summer Camp
Other Community Initiatives:
Foster Street Urban Agriculture Program: Established in 2016, our garden program is a collaboration between Family Focus Evanston and The Evanston Food Exchange. During the spring, summer, and fall seasons, children in this program learn about planting fresh produce, urban agriculture, entrepreneurship, how to cook with garden produce, how to harvest food, and how to sell their harvests at local farmers’ markets. For more information about the program, please contact Center Director Vanessa Allen at vanessa.allen-gaves@family-focus.org or our Master Gardener Mrs. Anne Sills at annemsills2@gmail.com.
Food Pantry and Clothing Closet: Family Focus Evanston has a food pantry and clothing room available for Evanston residents in need. The rooms operate thanks to the dedication of our amazing volunteers. The Giving Storeroom provides nonperishable food items, and the Valerie D. Summers Clothing Closet has clothing, shoes, toys, strollers, and other baby items. All items are provided by generous community donations. To stay up to date on the hours and calendar for the Storeroom and Closet, please follow Family Focus Evanston on Facebook.
How to donate: Due to COVID-19 protocols, the clothing closet is not accepting donations at this time. Only nonperishable food items are being accepted for the Giving Storeroom. If you would like to donate nonperishable food items, please contact us to make an appointment from Monday-Friday between 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
How to access: Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Giving Storeroom and clothing closet are only operating by appointment. If you are not already a Family Focus Evanston program participant, you must register to access the services.
To make an appointment or get more information about the Giving Storeroom or the Valerie D. Summers Clothing Closet, please contact Alexander Brown at alexander.brown@family-focus.org or Vanessa Allen-Graves at vanessa.allen-graves@family-focus.org.

Contact us about program enrollment or other general inquiries
Evanston, IL 60201
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847-475-7570