No Ending, But a Happy New Beginning for Family Focus

By Amber Lester Monday, February 22, 2010

Five months after the Colonial Services Board cut Family Focus, the program has found a new home with the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Family Focus is now Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Focus. The organization will provide similar services, but will be re-evaluated to find what works and what doesn’t, according to managers Bee Darrow and Sheree Press. Family Focus currently offers playgroups for parents with infants, toddlers and preschoolers; a preschool program with parents; and a father-focused playgroup called “Dads Make a Difference.”

Darrow, Press and their staff members have been working with no pay since Dec. 31, when the Colonial Services Board officially severed its ties with the 26-year-old program. In September, the CSB decided to preemptively cut programs, including Family Focus, after former Gov. Tim Kaine asked state agencies to reduce their budgets up to 15 percent. The program was initially set to close for good that month, but an outpouring of support from families and community members convinced the CSB to delay the closing date until Dec. 31, 2009.

Without that extra time, Darrow and Press say the program wouldn’t exist today. They credit Doris Heath, the extension agent for James City County, as the program’s lifesaver. The Virginia Cooperative Extension is an educational outreach program of Virginia’s land-grant universities: Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. While most people associate the Cooperative Extension with agricultural education, its mission statement includes educating the public about family and community development.

Heath says she used to advertise her family education classes, but could never get a decent turnout and when she saw the success of Family Focus, she stopped offering her program. She had worked with Press on projects in the past and when she learned of the program’s closing, she saw an opportunity. She suggested the Extension “adopt” Family Focus. Her program supervisor, Dr. Karen Gehrt, agreed it complemented the Extension’s mission. She also received approval from her local supervisor, Assistant James City County Administrator Doug Powell.

Family Focus will fall under the Cooperative Extension’s umbrella, but will not receive its funding from the state agency. Family Focus will still have to raise funds through grants and donations to cover its expenses. The Extension serves almost as a guarantor for Family Focus. When Family Focus applies for grants, it will be able to apply for reimbursement grants because the Extension office can front the money. When the grant money comes through, the Extension will be reimbursed for its contribution. That made all the difference, according to Darrow.

“When we learned our funding was cut, we had three options: Close the program, which wasn’t an option; try to become our own 501(c)3; or try to pursue adoption by another organization,” she says. “We didn’t know if that could really be done.”

While Family Focus always did not-for-profit work, it was never its own nonprofit organization because it was part of the CSB. It takes one year to become a tax-exempt nonprofit, classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3. The organization would also have to establish a board of directors and retain a lawyer, which takes money. When the organization was cut in December, Family Focus had around $5,000 in the bank and no time to lose. That’s why becoming part of a larger organization was the best option, Darrow says.

“One of the things we’ve had success with is finding large grants,” she says. “If we did not have the Extension office, we could not apply for reimbursement grants.”

They met with four other existing agencies before Heath came along. One said “no” right away; another wanted to help one of Family Focus’ two locations, but not the other. Now, with Heath on board, the managers are examining Family Focus – what it has been and what it could be.

Heath says it might not be possible to retain all of Family Focus’ 14 employees, but she’s currently working on filing the paperwork to get Press and Darrow on the Extension’s payroll using money they received from a donor.

The two churches that provide their locations – York River Baptist Church and St. Mark Lutheran Church – allowed them to stay without paying rent for six months and one year, respectively. The CSB also let them keep some of their equipment. Now they have to find the money to pay salaries, program expenses and rent, which is around $12,000 a month for both locations combined.

“I have faith we’re going to find the money,” Heath says. She would also like to create an advisory committee of community members to help with fundraising and program development.

After five months of scrambling to meet with donors and write grants while offering five programs, Darrow and Press are relishing their happy ending. “It’s just a miracle,” Darrow says. “We believe the program will land on its feet because of the Extension office.”

Heath downplays her role as savior of the program. “I told them [her supervisors] this is not about trying to save staff,” she says. “I believe in the program, I believe in education and I believe education changes lives.”

She applauds Press and Darrow for never giving up on finding a new home. “Even though it’s been a lot of work, sometimes you need that opportunity to take yourself out of your comfort zone,” she says.

Family Focus is still seeking donations. Click here to learn more.