FOCUS

 The FOCUS Program is supported by the State Department of Education, Governor's Commission on AIDS, community-based organizations, and Anniston City Schools. Anniston High School has maintained a FOCUS chapter for the last 8 years. The program promotes student-led prevention of adolescent risk behaviors. The FOCUS program helps to develop student leadership qualities among Anniston High School participants. Students have and will make presentations to their peers throughout Anniston High School about the importance of reducing the types of risky activities that lead to teen pregnancy; sexually transmitted diseases; and emotional consequences.

Our program is extra-curricular and the students meet monthly after school to plan and implement strategies for focus group training, peer helping, peer mediation, peer tutoring, violence prevention, and positive decision making skills. Other features of the program include planning monthly health observances, a yearly school health fair, and service learning.

**Every year the Focus Program hosts two events tailored specifically for students. The recurring events include the Rally for Awareness held in the Spring and the Alabama Youth Council held in the Fall. Our student leaders are selected to attend these two events and bring fresh new ideas to begin implementing for upcoming school year.**  **On September 14, 2010, the members of the FOCUS Program attended the Alabama Youth Council at Hewitt-Trussville High School. The keynote speaker was Ben Glen, "The Chalk Guy." View pictures below of AYC.** .