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 IS A WORK SOURCE GEORGIA, WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) YOUTH PROGRAM. DESIGNED FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH AGES 16-24, THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST YOUTH IN GETTING THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO OBTAIN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AT A LIVABLE WAGE, IN A CAREER THEY CAN BE HAPPY AND SUCCEED IN. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ALSO HELP EACH PARTICIPANT TO 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 SUCCEED. THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO THE WIOA ELIGIBLE YOUTH AND ALSO INCLUDES THE AVAILABILITY OF GED CLASSES, ASSISTANCE WITH COLLEGE ENROLLMENT, WORK READINESS SILLS, LIFE SKILL CLASSES, RESUME ASSISTANCE, PAID AND UNPAID WORK EXPERIENCES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS, TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION OPTIONS, AND SUPPORT SERVICES AS NEEDED AND AVAILABLE TO ASSURE SUCCESS SUCH HAS HELP WITH ANY NEEDED WORKPLACE UNIFORM OR TOOLS FOR THE JOB, ASSISTANCE FINDING TRANSPORTATION IF NEEDED, AND TEMPORARY HOUSING ASSISTANCE THROUGH LOCAL NON-PROFIT AND FAITH BASED PARTNERS IF NEEDED AND AVAILABLE. INTERNSHIPS, JOB SHADOWING, REFERRAL FOR OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, ADULT MENTORING, SUPPORT SERVICES AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM AND FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR EACH PARTICIPANT DURING AND FOR NO LESS THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE CHEROKEE YOUTH WORKS PROGRAM.

SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE DRUG FREE CHEROKEE INITIATIVE IN 2004, CHEROKEE FOCUS HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER CONCERNED CITIZENS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, YOUTH, PARENTS, HEALTH AGENCIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FAITH COMMUNITY, YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC CLUBS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE RELATED ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC DRUG PREVENTION PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF CHEROKEE COUNTY RELATED TO OUR YOUTH POPULATION. DRUG FREE CHEROKEE MODELS THEIR EFFORTS AFTER THE STRATEGIC PLANNING FRAMEWORK MODEL PREVENTION STRATEGIES ARE USED FOLLOWING THE CADCA SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE THAT INCLUDE: PROVIDING INFORMATION; PROVIDING SUPPORT, ENHANCING ACCESS AND REDUCING BARRIERS, CHANGING CONSEQUENCES, PHYSICAL DESIGN, AND MODIFYING OR CHANGING POLICY TO REDUCE UNDERAGE USE OR MISUSE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, VAPES, MARIJUANA, PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS, AND OTHER LETHAL SUBSTANCES SUCH AS METH, HEROIN AND FENTANYL. 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 ONCE AGAIN 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 RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THEIR OVER- THE-COUNTER AND PREVENTION DRUG MISUSE CAMPAIGN

CHEROKEE FOCUS IS AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION GROUNDED AND FOCUSED ON THE POWER OF PEOPLE BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS THAT DEVELOP INTO POSSIBILITIES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING AND JOINT COLLABORATION, INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS GAPS IN SERVICES, RESOURCES AVAILABLE, AND ISSUES COMMON TO OUR DESIRE FOR A HEALTHY 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. THE CHEROKEE FOCUS COLLABORATIVE BODY MEETS ONCE EVERY MONTH ON THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH. THE MISSION OF THE CHEROKEE COUNTY SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION IS TO PREVENT DEATHS BY 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 BRIGHTER FUTURE. THIS YEAR MARKED THE SECOND 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.