Family Focus, Evanston

In 1976, Bernice Weissbourd and her mostly volunteer staff opened a small
drop-in center for parents with young children in a room at Miller School in
Evanston – and Family Focus was born. More than 80 other agencies and
organizations from across the country sent representatives to witness
family support in action at this new center. Through her work with Family Focus,
Bernice is credited with focusing national attention on the critical first three years
of life and the need to provide support for young children and their families.
Under Bernice’s guidance, Family Focus grew quickly, opening new centers and
developing new programs in response to community need.
Today, there are eight Family Focus direct service centers throughout the greater
Chicago metropolitan area. Our centers are located in the Chicago neighborhoods
of Englewood, Hermosa and Lawndale and the nearby communities of Aurora,
Bensenville, Cicero, Evanston and Highland Park, with outreach services
which extend into surrounding communities.