Beginning in 1985, a group of adoptive parents, foster parents, and adoptees – a mixed bag of personalities who were all driven to create a better way to provide adoption services – began planning a new agency. We researched the agency regulations required by New York State, and it took us two years to develop the entire agency structure and design.
Family Focus moves to its first office in Little Neck, Queens NY, and begins expanding our outreach throughout Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. We hold orientation meetings in libraries and other community spaces, and attend adoption fairs.
Family Focus begins providing training to adoption professionals across the US and Canada on transition and lifetime commitment, adoption ethics, and other important dynamics of adoption developed by our agency.
Maris Blechner receives the North American Council on Adoptable Children Activist Award, recognizing outstanding service and achievements in the area of adoption and child welfare.
The agency has its first finalized adoption.
Agency changes its name to Family Focus Adoption Services (FFAS).
FFAS begins to develop our Empowered Transition process, empowering children to make decisions about their own adoptions.
FFAS expands its reach to provide services for children in most of NY State
FFAS responds to the increased need for placement of children during the crack cocaine epidemic.
First Family Focus Covenants signed. What are Covenants? Find out here: Adoption From Foster Care
Family Focus Adoption Agency opens for business, operating from the basement of our founding Executive Director, Maris Blechner, and hires our first employee, Jack Brennan. On the very first day, the agency received its first urgent home visit request.
Jack Brennan receives the North American Council on Adoptable Children Activist Award.
FFAS receives the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angels In Adoption Award, honoring individuals or entities from their district that has made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children in need of homes.
Jack Brennan receives the 2009 National Child Labor Committee’s Lewis Hine Award, recognizing unheralded professionals and volunteers who devote extraordinary time and energy to helping children and youth.
FFAS receives the Human Rights Campaign All Children-All Families Seal of Recognition. ACAF is an initiative seeking to enhance LGBT cultural competence among child welfare professionals and educate LGBT people about opportunities to become foster or adoptive parents for waiting children. Rich Buley-Neumar was certified as an ACAF trainer to work with other agencies on earning their seals.
FFAS establishes the Chocolate Milk Club (CMC). Find out more about the CMC on our Donations page.
Jack Brennan becomes Executive Director
FFAS begins piloting our Relationships Are Decisions (RAD!) Program.
FFAS establishes Growing Adults Through Empowerment (GATE) and Guide to Adulthood Program (GAP) for emerging adults who are aging out of the foster care system, and Alumni Program for anyone who was a child in any of our programs.
FFAS moves its office to Castleton, NY.