Tami Molle, director of the Focus Society for Family and Children support services in Lloydminster, spoke about the role of the non-profit at the Rotary Club of Lloydminster Monday luncheon. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
The Focus Society for Support Services is a little-known support agency for families and youth who are experiencing trauma or are at risk.
The non-profit receives referrals through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services and both Lloydminster school divisions as well as provides fees for services to help children not under court-ordered protection in the province.
Tami Molle, director of family and children support services, brought the Rotary Club of Lloydminster up to speed on what the Focus Society does as a guest speaker at their Monday lunch.
“I just want them to know what we do and get our name out there and let them know what kind of supports we have,” said Molle.
The Lloydminster branch has 14 employees serving about 90 families in its district.
“We work with children that are maybe living in foster care or in group homes and have experienced some mental health issues or living with families with addictions and stuff,” explained Molle.
The Focus Society is all about supports for families and children.
“If they are going through trauma, we help them seek out some counselling,” said Molle.
Once they get a referral, they meet up with them and find out what their needs are.
“We work with them to achieve goals that are set out through the ministry,” said Molle
She says families can call her at 780-875-3544 or they can contact the Ministry of Social Services in Saskatchewan.
“They will make the referral and contact me and set up services,” she explained.
Molle says for families in financial trauma, they try to hook them up with low-income housing and food hampers and stuff.
“We work with other non-profits like The Olive Tree and the Salvation Army and get those supports to them,” she said.
Molle came with CEO Robert Snow, who works in Vermilion.
Snow noted the need for support continues to ratchet up due to social factors such as financial stress from inflation and all types of addictions.
“We’ll help families find work and work on resumes with them. We’ll also build life skills they might be needing growth in and help youth and children find the education they need,” said Snow.
The job Snow does is also rewarding for him as a former paramedic for 22 years.
“I know from my background in paramedics that when I retired as a paramedic and took the role as CEO, I was pretty impressed by how much I get out of it,” said Snow.
He says drug addiction, for example, doesn’t just traumatize that person, but the whole family as well.
“There’s mental and emotional sides of it,” he said, along with family violence and financial trauma.
Snow says the main goal at Rotary was for him and Molle to share what Focus does and give them some background on who they serve in the district communities.
“Our main goal is just getting the awareness of what we do out there, which is surveying families and children in crisis,” he said.
Molle also told Rotary the Focus Society started an Invest in Our Youth campaign in May.
“That is set up for families that can afford our services and are not mandated through the courts,” she said.
