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Our Philosophy
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We believe that there is Black leadership
in Alabama. That with fundamental resources, Black leaders can organize
themselves, educate themselves, and work together at all levels
in the community for the positive development of African Americans.
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We believe that low-income people do have
a very real interest in their community and in community improvement.
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We believe that low-income people can
and should make decisions about programs that affect their community
and their personal lives.
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We believe the
overriding goal of any program aimed at improving living conditions
in the low-income community must be one that builds and strengthens
the capacity of low-income people to manage and control their own
resources.
Our Guiding
Principles
- VISION
- PROACTIVE PLANNING
- NURTURING
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- RESPONSIBILITY
- MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
- RISKING
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Our History
In 1972
the American Friends Service Committee and the Selma Project convened
a meeting of low-income child care providers and child care advocates.
Motivated by the desire to care for children more effectively, and the
need to care for poor and minority children in settings close to home,
this unique group of people organized the Federation of Child Care Centers
of Alabama (FOCAL). Since that time we have grown from a small group
of child care operators and concerned citizens to a statewide organization
of over 300 members.
FOCAL
presents the perspective of poor and minority families and providers
to the decision-making process for child care in Alabama. FOCAL has
become much more than an advocate for child care. It is a voice for
the people - people commissioned and Committed to the empowerment
of Black people in their own communities.
Over the
years the movement for quality child care has grown more complex; it
is at once technical, political, social, economic and spiritual. FOCAL
has had to carefully craft new approaches to the many problems of child
care in the state. We have responded to the critical need to forge new
approaches in the development of strategies which identify internal
barriers to development. These bar-tiers include those born out of internalized
oppression as well as external barriers linked to economics, politics
and physical conditions of poverty. Thus, we have a history which includes
the development of programs that respond to needs beyond the parameters
of child care per se.
Today
FOCAL's staff serves approximately 100 child care centers and a network
of family child care providers who touch the lives of more than 5000
children and families. Hundreds of people attend FOCAL's workshops
and training conferences.
FOCAL's history is that of an organization which seeks
to measurably improve the quality of life for Black and poor people
in Alabama through leadership and community development.
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