Welcome to Focus International, a web site of Focus on the Family

International strategy: Focus on the Family’s international efforts began in 1992.  While recognizing that families around the world face many of the same challenges, the cultural nuances of families can vary widely from country to country.  For that reason, Focus on the Family has partnered with indigenous ministries and individuals who share the common goal of providing family-strengthening biblical solutions and who clearly understand the unique needs of families within their respective countries.  Our global mission is specifically carried out through the development of radio presence, resource distribution, impact projects and associate offices.

Executive Summary of global efforts

• 12 International Associate Offices: Africa, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, Indonesia, Ireland, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan
• 70 Ministry Partners in 54 countries
• With broadcasts in over 25 languages airing on over 4000 media facilities around the globe, Dr. Dobson is by far the most widely listened to family professional in the world
• Since 1996, we have reached more than 2.2 million youth worldwide with our character-based, abstinence-until-marriage message
• Our growth markets for 2008 are China, India and Africa, all of which we currently have a growing presence through resources, programs and radio.  In addition, we have established an Associate Office in Durban, South Africa.

Global Programs

No Apologies (NA) is a character-based abstinence-until-marriage program that brings a fresh message of hope to a generation who are seeing an increasing rate of teen pregnancy, abortion, single parent households and divorce. The character-based curriculum specifically promotes abstinence and helps adolescents (age 12-24) identify the harmful effects associated with premarital sexual activity. 

Key Statistics: (as of end FY07)

• Focus abstinence programs began in 1996
• More than 2.2 million students have be reached worldwide with the abstinence message 
• No Apologies has been translated into 12 languages
• More than 55 countries are using the program
• More than 435,000 recorded decisions to follow Christ
• More than 1.6 million recorded pledges to purity

How to Drug Proof Your Kids (DPYK) is an education, prevention and intervention parenting program developed by Focus on the Family Australia, motivated by the increasing drug problem among young people and the frustrated attempts by parents to steer their children away from the harmful use of drugs.
Key statistics: (as of end FY07)

• Originally created and launched in Australia in 1999
• Current countries using DPYK: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, UK and USA
• More than 6,800 facilitators trained by FOF offices
• More than 62,800 parents reached with DPYK

The Truth Project is a DVD-based small group curriculum comprised of 12 one-hour lessons used as a starting point for looking at life from a biblical perspective. Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.

• Initial small groups outreach taking place in Australia, China, Egypt, and Ireland
• Plans are underway for translation of content into Arabic and Spanish

Bringing Home the Prodigals is a seminar based on the simple parable that has been called the greatest short story in the world. It is the tale of the boy who broke his father's heart and yet could not destroy the love the father had for him. And although it's over 2,000 years old, it speaks to us today with the promise of new beginnings, the triumph of love and forgiveness, the joy of reconciliation, and the call to the church to be ready when our prodigals return.  In conjunction with our strategic ministry partner, Care for the Family based in Cardiff, Wales, this message had been shared with Focus constituents all over the world.

• Seminars in 2007 were held in Ireland, South Africa, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand
• See attached summary report (link to Scott’s report)
• For more information visit www.prodigals.org.uk

Heart of Success
Rob Parsons, Executive Director of Care for the Family and best-selling author of 'The Sixty Minute Father', has turned his attention to the business community with his latest book, 'The Heart of Success'. He says, "I have tried to give it a blend of business sense, personal motivation, and also to challenge people to consider some big questions: What's it all for? For whom am I doing it? What's it all about?"

Rob tackles themes that are close to his heart, such as the importance of family, and warns against the problem of the ‘new poor’ - people who have built up a fair stock of material possessions but "... have a gnawing at their very soul that they have had little time to develop close relationships with those they love."  
Heritage Builders is a program helping to educate, train, and equip parents to become intentional about passing on a spiritual, social and emotional Heritage to their children.
Connect2 is a unique five-session course that will help strengthen marriages in the early years and help avoid some of the pitfalls later on.  The program uses exercises, group discussion and communication tools to provide insight into how relationships work.
Starting Points aims to give a sense of hope and excitement to your role as parents. Developed by Focus on the Family® Australia, this informative program is designed to support parents and caregivers in providing for the best possible outcomes in their children.  The facilitator-driven program uses a DVD as part of the presentation, which enables discussion and activities for a delightfully interactive approach.