Cherokee Focus Inc

CHEROKEE FOCUS IS A 501(C)(3) COLLABORATIVE WHOSE MISSION IS STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGH COLLABORATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SKILLS, AND EXPERTISE BY REDUCING AND PREVENTING YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND IMPROVING HOUSING ALTERNATIVES FOR A STRONGER CHEROKEE COUNTY.

CHEROKEE YOUTH WORKS IS A PROGRAM OF CHEROKEE FOCUS THAT WORKS WITH OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH AGES 16 TO 24. THE GOAL OF CHEROKEE YOUTH WORKS PROGRAM IS TO HELP EACH PARTICIPANT BECOME PRODUCTIVE, SELF- SUFFICIENT CITIZENS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN THAT FOCUSES ON EQUIPPING EACH PARTICIPANT WITH THE EDUCATION, WORK READINESS, AND LIFE SKILLS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN STABLE EMPLOYMENT AT A LIVABLE WAGE. CHEROKEE YOUTH WORKS PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING: TUTORING AND STUDY SKILLS DROPOUT PREVENTION STRATEGIES ALTERNATIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL OFFERINGS; GED PREPARATION CLASSES PAID AND UNPAID WORK EXPERIENCES LINKED TO ACADEMIC AND OCCUPATIONAL LEARNING. INTERNSHIPS JOB SHADOWING REFERRAL FOR OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ADULT MENTORING SUPPORT SERVICES LIFE SKILLS TRAINING FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR EACH PARTICIPANT ARE PROVIDED FOR NO LESS THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE CYW PROGRAM. DURING PROGRAM YEAR 20210, CHEROKEE YOUTH WORKS WORKED WITH STUDENTS ASSISTING THEM WITH ACADEMICS, LIFE SKILLS AND WORK READINESS. WHILE ACTIVE IN THE PROGRAM, THE STUDENT CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON GED PREPARATION, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, CAREER READINESS, RESUME BUILDING, MENTORING AND OTHER SKILLS TRAINING. CYW PARTNERED WITH LOCAL PUBLIC & PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH. THERE WERE 44 ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS WITH PARTICIPANTS BGIVEN THE OPPORTUNIYY TO DO SHORT-TERM VIRTUAL LEARNING DURING ANY PERIODS WHEN ISSUES RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC OCCURRED.

SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE DRUG FREE CHEROKEE INITIATIVE IN 2004, CHEROKEE FOCUS HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER CONCERNED CITIZENS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, YOUTH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE RELATED ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF CHEROKEE COUNTY RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION. THROUGH A COLLABORATION OF AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS, DRUG FREE CHEROKEE WORKS TO DEVELOP A RESOURCE BASE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE THROUGH AWARENESS, EDUCATION, PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND RECOVERY. THE VISION OF DRUG FREE CHEROKEE IS A UNITED CHEROKEE COUNTY THAT IS HEALTHY, SAFE, AND DRUG FREE. THIS FISCAL YEAR, DRUG FREE CHEROKEE WAS AWARDED A DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES CONTINUATION GRANT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY. THE AWARD OF THIS GRANT HAS ENABLED DRUG FREE CHEROKEE TO EXPAND OUR UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION INITIATIVE. DRUG FREE CHEROKEE ALSO DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA INITIATIVE FOCUSING ON E-CIGARETTES AND VAPING AND PARTNERED WITH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO RUN A PRESCRPTION DRUG MISUSE EDUCATION AND MEDIA CAMPAIGN. A PART OF THE DRUG FREE CHEROKEE COALITION, THE CHEROKEE YOUTH COUNCIL (CYC)IS MADE UP OF HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED STUDENTS FROM CHEROKEE COUNTY WHO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A UNIQURE PERSPECTIVE ON YOUTH DRUG PREVENTION. WHILE THE PANDEMIC PREVENTED THE TYPICAL IN-PERSON MEETINGS THIS YEAR, DRUG FREE CHEROKEE WILL CONTINUE THE PROGRAM RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH INPUT TO THE WORK OF DRUG FREE CHEROKEE AND CHEROKEE FOCUS.

CHEROKEE FOCUS COLLABORATIVE: CHEROKEE FOCUS IS AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON COLLABORATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE STRENGTH OF THIS COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP RESIDES IN COOPERATION BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES, CIVIC CLUBS, THE FAITH BASED COMMUNITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. CHEROKEE FOCUS ENCOURAGES AND MODELS INTERAGENCY, COMMUNICATION, PARTNERSHIP AND RESOURCE SHARING; THEREBY CREATING A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF SERVICES DELIVERY. CHEROKEE FOCUS PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LEVERAGING RESOURCES, SKILLS, EXPERTISE AND FUNDING TO CREATE, DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT WILL SUPPORT THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN OF CHEROKEE COUNTY THROUGH A MEANS THAT COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ONE AGENCY OR INDIVIDUAL ALONE. CHEROKEE FOCUS INITIATIVES INCLUDE: DRUG FREE CHEROKEE, CHEROKEE YOUTH CONNECTION,CHEROKEE YOUTH COUNCIL, THE CHEROKEE COUNTY SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION, AND THE HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVE. THE COLLABORATIVE MEETS ONCE EVERY MONTH ON THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH. CHEROKEE COUNTY SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION THE MISSION OF THE CHEROKEE COUNTY SUICIDE PRVENTION COALITION IS TO PREVENT DEATHSBY SUICIDE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, TO BRING AWARENESS AND EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY, TO DECREASE THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, AND TO BRING HOPE FOR A BIGHTER FUTURE. THIS YEAR MARKED THE FIRST ANNUAL LABOR4LOVE 5K RUN/WALK FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, HOSTED BY THE COALITION. THE COALITION MEETS MONTHLY. COALITION MEMBERS WORK TO PROVIDE YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES FOCUSED ON SUICIDE PREVENTION.