After-school activities are offered Monday through Thursday during the critical hours of 3 p.m.-6 p.m., the time when a lack of constructive activity and supervision can lead to risk-taking behavior. Most students attend four to five days per week through the regular school year. Programs focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), literacy, homework help, and arts activities.

Family Focus Hyde Park is currently offering after-school programming at Ruggles Elementary and Tanner Elementary.

Family Focus Doulas provide fully subsidized, evidence-based, compassionate care to expecting moms and families. They assist with physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and after childbirth, and are with clients every step of the way to ensure they have a positive pregnancy and birth experience. Doulas educate clients through one-on-one weekly sessions beginning at 7 months gestation, as well as group prenatal classes where clients can bond and build community with other expecting parents. Doulas attend labor and delivery to support the birthing person and their families/support people, providing a whole-family approach to their care. Lastly, Doulas continue their care for up to 12 months post-partum, a critical phase to provide resources to their clients and help with the transition with a new baby.

To continue supporting new parents, our home visiting program is open to caregivers with children from newborn to 3 years old. Parents receive visits from their home visitor to ensure their child is meeting development milestones through parent-child activities and education. Our evidence-based Parents As Teachers program guides parents and children in sharing and learning activities that improve gross motor, language, fine motor, social, and emotional skills. Our monthly parent groups focus on good maternal or paternal and child health, home safety, food security, positive parenting, and school readiness.

The Extended Family Support is an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services program that provides short-term services when a relative suddenly becomes the primary caregiver for a child. The program eases the transition by providing referrals to resources, obtaining basic goods and services needed to provide the child a stable home, and obtaining guardianship of the child.

The home visiting program is open to caregivers with children from newborn to 3 years old. Parents receive visits from their home visitor to ensure their child is meeting development milestones through parent-child activities and education. Activities guide parents and children in sharing and learning activities that improve gross motor, language, fine motor, social, and emotional skills. Parent curriculum includes good maternal or paternal and child health, home safety, food security, positive parenting, and school readiness. Most home visiting programs also invite the parents to engage with other parents in the program through community events or support groups.

For questions about the Family Focus Home Visiting Program, please contact:

• Gladys Gaeta, EHS Home Base Supervisor, at Gladys.gaeta@family-focus.org or call 773-643-0452 ext. 2466.
• Danielle Thigpen, PI Home Base Supervisor, at Danielle.thigpen@family-focus.org or call 773-643-0452 ext. 2483.

Available to families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services, this program assists with family stabilization by providing services to assist with housing to help maintain, strengthen, and safeguard the function of families to prevent substitute care placement, promote family reunification, facilitate youth development, and ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children.

Located at 5467 S. University Ave, our Hyde Park Preschool serves children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. We are open Monday through Friday, 7 AM – 6 PM (and from 7 AM – 5 PM from July 1st – 1st week of August).

We offer the Head Start program as a partner of the Early Learning Network of Illinois. Our teachers are accredited, and our 8 state-of-the-art classrooms are filled with educational toys and learning tools, featuring age-appropriate centers for science, literacy, block building and construction, dramatic play and clay, paint, sand, and water exploration. We also have a large outdoor learning environment with play areas for different ages.

Our program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is a Gold Circle Quality Program as designated by Excelerate Illinois and is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the City of Chicago departments including Board of Health, Fire Department, Building, Sanitation, and Ventilation. The preschool program includes all-day classes, medical and dental check-ups, parent meetings, family literacy and STEM nights, and additional family support services.

The Hyde Park facility offers:

Judith Stofer Block Library

The library houses over 1,000 books that are available for students to check out and take home for story time with their families. By doing so, we help close the literacy gap that exists for children of circumstance residing in low-income communities.

Peggy Carr Nature Education Center

The outdoor Nature Education Center allows students to experience the wonder of nature, the lifespan of butterflies, and the migration of birds. Students witness and learn firsthand how things develop by growing their own vegetables and using them in their meals at the center.

Playground

The playground is in a secured space outdoors and has three sections for different ages of children. The private and safe environment facilitates the development of gross motor skills and remains a place where children can play, explore, learn, and thrive outside.

Building Blocks Sensory Space

We are excited to introduce our Building Blocks Sensory Space at our Hyde Park location! This welcoming space gives children opportunities to explore, move, relax, and engage their senses in a safe and supportive environment. The sensory space is designed to promote self-regulation, emotional well-being, creativity, and developmental growth, while providing children with a place to feel comfortable and supported. We are proud to create inclusive learning environments where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.

Safety and Security

A receptionist monitors the front door, and all visitors are required to check in and show photo ID. The playground area is enclosed by a tall fence, and the gates are always fastened. With 24-hour video surveillance and staff involvement, the center is always being monitored.

Parent Engagement

We know it’s important for parents to be involved in their children’s education, even in preschool. To ensure this is possible, we send home weekly progress notes, hold regular parent-teacher conferences, provide parental observation opportunities, and use an online parent portal site for parents to keep up with their child’s progress.

We also have a Parent Policy Committee, which is a group of volunteer parents who work together to support the social and academic goals of our preschools. This is an opportunity for parents to voice their concerns, meet other parents and actively participate in their child’s preschool experience.

How to enroll

For enrollment information for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years old, please contact Karina Rodriguez, Family Support Worker, at 773-643-0452, Ext 2419, or karina.rodriguez@family-focus.org.

For enrollment information for children ages 3 to 5, please contact either:

• Cristina Alexander, Family Support Specialist, at cristina.alexander@family-focus.org, or call 773-643-0452 ext. 2426, or
• Marquese Tanner, Family Support Specialist, at marquese.tanner@family-focus.org, or call 773-643-0452 ext. 2478

For general information about our preschool centers or to schedule a tour, please contact Maria Melendez, PFCE Supervisor, at maria.melendez@family-focus.org or call 773-643-0452, ext 2484.