FOCUS Hispanic Center for Community Development, Inc. (FOCUS), Newark's pioneer center for Hispanic progress has a 55-year history of providing outlets for leadership and self-actualization for the Latino/Hispanic and urban poor community. Its mission is “to provide community leadership by developing a variety of health and human development initiatives which advance the community toward self-sufficiency, growth, empowerment and a better quality of life”. 

Today, it provides a variety of services to the community.  From the very young to the elderly services are provided in the areas of after-school programs for children, family support, emergency assistance, services to seniors, adult protective services, and educational and vocational job readiness training. It delivers services through two divisions: Human Services and Youth and Family Development.

FOCUS is licensed as a Child Care Center by the State of New Jersey, Department of Human Services, Division of Youth and Family Services. It has extensive experience serving the community of Newark and Essex County with a bilingual staff with credentials in various areas. Fifty percent of FOCUS’ employees are Certified Social Workers and Certified Adult Protective Specialists by the State of New Jersey. Also, among FOCUS staff, it has educators certified by the State of New Jersey with extensive experience in the field of educational administration and teaching. FOCUS offers programs that reflect sensitivity to minorities, and the underserved in the community. Its facilities are very accessible to the public and will be available to all program participants and their families.

Community Services	Basic Needs / Assistance Food Pantry / Soup Kitchen Utility Assistance Community Community Education Community Service Education Adult Education / Literacy Family & Support Services Caregiving Child Care / After School Family Support Seasonal Programs Summer Camp
Language Spoken	Spanish

Last Updated: 02/28/23