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"You’re amazing! Thank you so much for everything! Your work is appreciated!" ~ Family Support Specialist
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"Wow! It made my heart swell!!! I am so pleased to be a part of FOTC!!" ~ Volunteer FOTC
"Focus on the Children responds verify rapidly to our requests and will ensure that a child the has necessities to feel safe and secure. Focus on the Children has been a huge support for our families in need." ~ Livingston County DSS CPS"
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[We at FOTC are especially fond of the programs we have developed relationships with, such as the Cosmetology Program at BOCES. We hope you will enjoy reading how your support empowers these students. ]
"Your program helps us make employable adults out of some of our students. Thank you. When I 1st started at boces 5 years ago, we had 72 kids (am/pm). Now we have 170 kids. We supply equipment to use in our program, however they need it to actually get the job. Our kids start shadowing in salons in October of junior year in order to lock in employment. Salons have stated that our kids are doing so much better these last years, and our results are encompassing to many things. We believe cosmetology is the place everyone “can belong”. We pride ourselves on our compassion for others and giving back to our communities." ~ Yvette Seils, BOCES Cosmetology Teacher
"A...., 11th grade. her words-she was called the smelly girl as long as she can remember because she only had 2 pants, 2 shirts, etc. when I found her in the bathroom crying, ...I requested $ for basics like underwear and socks, but you approved a shopping day online. She shopped, sent it to me, and said…. Why do I deserve this Ms. Seils? I said because good things come if you do good. She now has perfect attendance, her 1st A she’s ever had, and is shadowing at a salon (where she earns tip money). She does her hair, and has shoes that don’t hurt her feet (she especially wanted you to know that)." ~ BOCES Cosmetology Teacher
"W..., parents unemployed, almost dropped our program when they found out about kits. They are very quiet, doing well, and now working at a salon shadowing." ~ More from BOCES Cosmetology
" [A student's] dad passed recently and the help you gave, caused her to actually start participating. I think that some kids are so used to people offering help with no follow through. She was so happy." ~ BOCES Cosmetology
"B...., parents struggle with mental illness, and 'B' said she couldn’t do it to her parents. When she came up with $, stating she was giving up her senior trip money, we applied for help with you. 'B' is a senior and has locked in a job in Dansville at a salon. She reaches her 1000 hours in February, not June, and will begin work. Her job will pay $18 an hour, which she says makes her the richest person in her family." ~ BOCES Cosmetology
[FOTC works with all area school districts, DSS, DOH, DMH, CPS, Probation, Catholic Charities, and many other non profits serving Livingston County]
“...THE BEST agency to collaborate with in regards to helping our children obtain resources to better their outcomes. Even if a request is denied, FOTC has given resources and guidance on next steps or ways to make the request achievable.” ~ Public Health Assistant
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“I am a Family Services Caseworker with the Livingston County Department of Social Services and have made multiple referrals to FOTC to help children who have been removed from their parents home and placed with alternative caregivers following a finding of abuse or neglect. A lot of times, the children are removed abruptly and are not able to take with them their favorite things- including their BED. Relatives often don't have the funds to purchase big ticket items such as this (especially on short notice). When they are told that FOTC may be able to help with getting the child their very own bed with a character/color of their choice, they are truly grateful.”
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"Focus on the Children has been wonderful to work with. FOTC was able to help one of our students receive work boots in order to complete a Career and Tech program. This program is essential to this child's learning and will help this student be one step closer to getting a job upon graduation. We are extremely grateful for the help that we have received." ~ BOCES Social Worker
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"Your agency has helped countless children get warm, safe beds, cold weather gear, and membership in activities they would not normally have been able to do. We can’t do our jobs as caseworkers without the support of your agency and all the generous benefactors. Thank you so much!" ~ Children’s Care Management Program Manager
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“Focus on The Children is always professional and goes above and beyond to understand the needs for each family. They think about the entire picture when we send over a request. …Focus on the Children has been an intricate part of assisting a wide range of families, and I am happy to be able to work with them on a request basis.” ~ Public Health Assistant, Certified Lactation Counselor
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“Students come to school and may not have food, clothing, or other basic necessities. FOTC fills that gap time and time again. They provide students in need with items with care and compassion--allowing students to pick out specific items that they like and are truly person-centered. The work this agency does impacts student's lives every day. “
~ 7-12 Student & Family Support Counselor
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“This summer, two of our students, siblings, were in a serious accident requiring hospitalization and both had surgeries. The children's single mother had to miss a lot of work to be with her children and the family couldn't afford clothes or supplies for this school year. When FOTC stepped in, it eased the financial burden and allowed the children to focus on healing. We are deeply grateful for the partnership in helping support the children in this community.” ~ School Social Worker
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"FOTC has been a vital resource for my clients in helping to provide essential items that would not have been accessible otherwise." ~ Youth Case Manager, Villa of Hope
[FOTC Has two special programs, Back-to-School Program and School Nurse Support Program. The BTS program provides local schools with supplies in need and local school nurses are able to request a variety of items. Both programs provide year-round support.]
"I want to express our great appreciation for all the wonderful donations that you have sent us, they are already in use and many students have been helped out, Please thank the donors, as at times , your donations have helped students out so that they can stay at school, continue their school day and or have a change of underwear or socks for the next gym class or school day. Thanks once again for your great generosity."
~ K-12 School Nurse
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"We are so grateful for FOTC , there have been multiple children and teens who have been helped with the supplies you have supplied us with so far, we have children who come to school with either very soiled clothing, no socks or needing clean socks, underwear and the joy in their eyes when they get given new items is amazing, there are children who have very sad situations, and some have some student who have parents who are very ill (in hospice) or just unable to supply them and when they see the new items, they were very grateful, we also give them soaps, toothbrushes, brushes, deo and shampoo and conditioners, as always there are some who refuse them, but on the whole they are welcomed."
Thanks once again, you are quiet heroes." ~ K-12 MMCSD School Nurse