Family Focus Aurora officials share services with Aurora Lions
Family Focus Aurora officials updated Aurora Lions Club members on the agency's services at the club's May 2 biweekly meeting.
Christina Campos, assistant director, and Gabriela “Gabby” Gaytan, lead parents educator, explained how Family Focus serves Aurora area residents. Campos said the nonprofit offers innovative, community-based programs and services to help parents, grandparents and foster/adoptive parents gain confidence and competence as children's primary educators.
Since 1983, nurturing children and strengthening families has been the agency's mission. With Aurora locations at 550 Second Ave. and 1444 N. Farnsworth Ave., Campos said the agency is among 17 that operate a welcoming center under the Illinois Welcoming Centers, a state-funded project to help immigrants and limited English proficient individuals navigate state services.
Family Focus service areas include children and family support services, parents as teachers, healthy families and family advocacy center; educational support services including youth development, parent mentoring, GED classes and immigration services.
Aurora Lions President Susan Koepke said, “Family Focus Aurora will play a vital role in disseminating information about Aurora Lions Club's vision screening services and provide valuable support to families aligning with our shared mission of serving children and families.”
Koepke added, “Gaytan performs home visits and works a lot with newborn to 3-year-old kids. 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.
“A parent curriculum teaches maternal or paternal and child health, home safety, food security, positive parenting, and school readiness. Most home visit programs also invite the parents to engage with other parents in the program through community events or support groups.”
After remarks, Koepke presented Campos and Gaytan with a $500 ceremonial check.
Founded in 1922, Aurora Lions Club is celebrating its second century of community service. Open to men and women, the club meets on the first and third Thursdays at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 27 S. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora. Prospective members are invited.
For more information, call (630) 921-1307 or visit www.auroralionsclub.org.
With the motto “We Serve,” Lions volunteers focus on supporting causes including hearing and vision impairment, hunger, the environment, diabetes and childhood cancer. Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Some 1.42 million members in more than 48,000 clubs serve in over 200 countries and geographic areas worldwide.
Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects and extended service impact through the Lions Clubs International Foundation. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit lionsclubs.org.