Cherokee Focus Inc

Cherokee FOCUS is a 501 (c) 3 collaborative that exists to improve the lives of children and families of Cherokee County.

Our 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 FOCUS Website

Help us better serve our community through our different programs!

Cherokee Youth Works

Cherokee Youth Works is a workforce development program for youth ages 16-24.   Our goal is for our participants to be fully prepared to enter the workforce and achieve their potential to become productive, self-sufficient citizens who contribute to their community. 

CYW currently has life skills, work readiness and GED preparation programs. Through our classes we prepare our participants by giving them the resources and knowledge to handle things that they might experience in life. The program also provides opportunities for work experience and job shadowing as well as providing students with assistance as they progress into college or trade programs.

Drug Free Cherokee

Drug Free Cherokee is a local community coalition with a mission of developing a drug free Cherokee County through a collaboration of resources for individuals and families. Community representatives work together to develop and implement initiatives to prevent drug and alcohol use among the youth of our community. 

Over the years the DFC coalition has established the Cherokee County Youth Council, which includes local 9th - 12th grade youth. These young leaders develop an annual strategic plan for preventing and reducing alcohol and drug abuse among their peers and act as advisors to the coalition.

Through the help of the Cherokee County Youth Council, DFC began the Cherokee Youth Challenge; alcohol sticker shock campaigns alerting adults to the penalties for providing to minors; the prom campaign to discourage adults from providing alcohol to minors during prom season, spring break and graduation celebrations; and the 100% tobacco free campaign to reduce the use of tobacco among students.

Cherokee County Suicide Prevention Coalition

The mission of the 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.

The Cherokee County Suicide Prevention Coalition (CCSPC) was launched in August 2019 by individuals and professionals in our community in response to the rise in deaths by suicide.