About Us

Cherokee FOCUS is a 501(c)3 collaborative that exists to improve the lives of the children and families of Cherokee County. Through our collaborative partnership; public agencies, non-profits and private entities strive to make a difference.

Our Mission

Building a strong community designed to strengthen and support families.

Our Vision

We are an empowered community of thriving families.

Our Values

Families are our bottom line!

Parents make a difference.

Youth can positively affect youth.

The community cares and will mobilize for action.

Organizations collaborate to strengthen and support the community.

Cherokee FOCUS is the Cherokee County collaborative in the statewide network of the Family Connection Partnership. Family Connection Partnership helps partners throughout the state to strengthen families so Georgia's children can be:

Healthy

Ready to Start School

Perform Better in School

Live in Stable Families, and

Economically Self-sufficient Families.

Family Connection Partnership links partners throughout the network, builds the capacity of partners to implement local decision-making, and leverages resources to help partners strengthen families. For more information on Family Connection Partnership and other county collaboratives, visit their web site at:

www.gafcp.org

Cherokee FOCUS

Staff

Sonia Carruthers

Executive Director and CEO

Judy Chatham

Finance Manager

JoNell Courson

Manager Cherokee Youth Works

Stacy Cooper

CYW Youth & Summer Jobs Coordinator

Marti Brock

CYW Workforce Training Specialist

Jennifer Turek

CYW GED Coordinator

Executive Board

Joan McFather Chairman

Community Representative

Ginny Krekling Immediate Past Chair

Celebration of Grace Lutheran Church

Konrad Ziegler Vice Chairman

Flint & Conley

Mike Zenchuck Treasurer

Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc.

Barbara Jacoby Secretary

Cherokee Tribune

Board of Directors

Stacy Bailey

Canton Police Department/

Drug Free Cherokee Chair

Kelvin Butts

Cherokee Department of Juvenile Justice

Amy Blanton

Embrace Coordinator/

Family Representative

Denise Bowman

Cherokee County Health Department

Elaine Bell

Southeast Restoration

Tammy Bowling

Cherokee County Health Department

Clair Campbell

Sunshine House/Pre-K Coalition Chair

Pam Carnes

Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce

Dee Dee Doeckel

Chattahoochee Technical College

Fidel Gomez

UNICO / Family Representative

Bettye Jo Isherwood

Reinhardt College/ Volunteer Cherokee Co-Chair

Cheryl Lewis

Highland Rivers Mental Health

Elosia Reynoso

Department of Juvenile Justice

Robert Rokovitz

City of Holly Springs

Lynne Saunders

Papa’s Pantry

Jane Shelnutt

Community Representative/

Volunteer Cherokee Co-Chair

Andy Summers

Best Buy/CYW Chair

Susan White

Sequoyah Regional Library System/ Collaborative Meeting Chair