Family Focus director: Kelly Wray 
 
Office located inside Ballard County Middle School, 3565 Paducah Road, Barlow, KY 42024 
Phone: 270-665-8400, ext. 2026
 
 
Family Focus also has a lending library and a computer with internet access for parents/guardians to use when staff is available to help. Normal hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday when school is in session.
Family Focus news
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Family Focus again offering workshops, Christmas assistance program
Family Focus has been helping families with Christmas expenses for several years, and wants to continue the program. Remaining workshop dates are Nov. 27 and 29 at First Baptist Church's new multipurpose building at 455 Olive St. in LaCenter. Here is an outline of the guidelines for this holiday season: 
Wray presented with STAR award for prevention efforts Wray presented with STAR award for prevention efforts
Ballard County ASAP and Family Focus Director Kelly Wray was presented with the STAR award at the home varsity basketball games on Feb. 17. The award recognizes a community member who has made significant contributions to the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drug usage. 
Adult Education now offering GED classes at Barlow City Library, and Tuesday evening at Adult Ed office
Ballard County Adult Education now is offering GED classes at the Barlow City Library on Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. The library is located in the City Hall Annex (old City Hall), behind the City Hall building at 139 N. Fourth St., Barlow. 
Family Focus receives donation from James Marine at Wickliffe Family Focus receives donation from James Marine at Wickliffe
For the third year in a row, the Wickliffe employees and owners of James Marine Inc. have made a sizeable donation to the Christmas assistance program of Ballard County’s Family Focus Family Resource and Youth Service Center. A group of employees brought a check for $2,500 on Nov. 17. 
Local 680 mill maintenance workers donate funds to Family Focus weekend feeding program Local 680 mill maintenance workers donate funds to Family Focus weekend feeding program
As the workers of Verso Corporation prepared for the indefinite closure of the Wickliffe Mill, a group of USW Local 680 members from the mill’s maintenance department made decisions that will benefit over 500 school children and individuals with disabilities – many of whom are complete strangers to the members. In total, the group donated $19,000, distributed in Ballard, Carlisle, Graves and McCracken counties. 
Southern Foundation makes donation to Family Focus for Christmas assistance program Southern Foundation makes donation to Family Focus for Christmas assistance program
Terry Simmons (second from left), president of the Southern Foundation, is shown here presenting a $4,000 donation to Ballard County’s Family Focus Family Resource and Youth Service Center Director Kelly Wray (second from right) for center’s annual Christmas assistance program. Ballard County Schools Superintendent Casey Allen is at left, and Debbie Underwood, Family Focus program assistant, is at right.  
Fluor makes donation to Family Focus for Christmas assistance program Fluor makes donation to Family Focus for Christmas assistance program
Lance Waddell (left), Fluor Paducah Deactivation Project director, is shown presenting a check for $2,000 to Family Focus Director Kelly Wray (center) and Ballard County Schools Superintendent Casey Allen for use in the Family Focus Christmas assistance program.  
Family Focus receives donation from North Ballard Masonic Lodge Family Focus receives donation from North Ballard Masonic Lodge
Ballard County’s Family Focus Family Resource and Youth Service Center received an $800 donation from the North Ballard Masonic Lodge this week, to be used in the agency’s school supplies distribution for students.  
Last BCPS registration date for 2015-16 is March 13
The last spring registration date for new students at Ballard County Preschool/Head Start will be March 13 for children who are or will be 3 or 4 years old by Aug. 1, 2015.
All registrations are by appointment only, and will be held at the preschool at 455 Olive St. here. 
Make appointments now for free physicals on June 4 and 5
The Purchase Area Health Education Center in Murray will be providing free physicals for anyone in the community who needs one on June 4 and 5. These may be regular physicals or sports physicals, for children or adults, and can include cholesterol and blood glucose screenings.  
Food drive in need of donations this week

Last week’s bad weather has put a serious dent in classroom collections for the annual Family Focus food drive for Christmas baskets. The drive will end on the last day of classes, Dec. 18, so all students are being asked to make sure and bring items next week if they can. Each grade has been assigned a non-perishable food item. For a complete list, please click the "Read More..." link below.

 
Final Family Focus workshop for Christmas assistance program postponed to Dec. 11

Ballard County’s Family Focus Family Resource and Youth Service Center has been helping families with Christmas expenses for several years. Last year, approximately 300 children benefitted from the program. The organization wants to continue helping families in the community. Please click the "Read more...." link below for guidelines for this holiday season.

 
Time growing short before new GED testing goes into effect

The new GED test will begin in January 2014, so the Ballard County Adult Learning Center is encouraging all people who have begun but not finished the process to get in before the deadline.

 
Family Focus partners with Extension Service, Four Rivers, to bring Curious George to preschool Family Focus partners with Extension Service, Four Rivers, to bring Curious George to preschool
Ballard County’s Family Focus Family Resource and Youth Service Center worked with the Ballard County UK Extension Service office and Four Rivers CECC to bring Curious George (and some other fun stuff) to students at Ballard County Preschool and Head Start. 
ALC now offering evening classes
The Ballard County Adult Learning Center is holding evening classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. 
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