FOCUS Monthly Newsletter

FOCUS Monthly Newsletter

April 2025

Congratulations to Angel Roseman

FOCUS Student of the Month!

Congratulations to our FOCUS Student of the Month, Angel Roseman. Angel is a senior at Tarrant High School. She was nominated by her sponsor, Mr. Randall McFarland, who shared that “Angel is one of the brightest and most hardworking students in the school. She is always involved in extracurricular activities and is part of several school-based organizations.” Angel serves as a Youth Advisory Committee member in her FOCUS organization, and Mr. McFarland praises her for setting the bar high as a great team member, recruiter and peer leader. According to Mr. McFarland, “she will move on to become a great asset to the community.”

While leading in FOCUS, Angel has enjoyed educating others about the dangers of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, human trafficking and mental health. In turn, educating others has helped her personally. Angel enthusiastically shared, “What I love most about FOCUS is that we have the ability to change lives. It has also made an impact in my life as well. When I go out, I am more aware of my surroundings, I make better decisions, and I recognize early signs of abuse in people. Learning about mental health gave me knowledge about how to treat myself. It showed me that it is okay to take a day or two for myself. My goal was and still is to educate the generations to come, and I want to impact the lives of others so they can live happy and full lives.”

Angel, we are so proud of you. We know that you will continue to Make A Difference in the lives of others, and we wish you the best in your future endeavors.

FOCUS Student of the Month Nominations

Students are Making A Difference each day in your schools, and we would love to feature one each month in our newsletter. If you wish to nominate a student, then please email amymccreless@thefocusprogram.com. We will need the following information to share:

Name of student, school and grade level
Picture of student
Why they stand out as a FOCUS leader in your school
Hobbies or interests
Include a quote in which they explain what they love most about FOCUS, how it has made an impact in their life or their goal as a FOCUS member

Click Here to Learn More

The third annual Resources at Railroad, a community mental health and wellness fair, was held on March 18 at Railroad Park in Birmingham. Over 60 mental health vendors, community members, students and school mental health specialists showcased resources available to children and families in the Birmingham area. Dr. Kay Warsfield and Jonathan Thompson from the Alabama State Department of Education were in attendance as well as Birmingham’s Mayor, Randall Woodfin.

We would like to congratulate Emily Herring from Fairfield Prepatory High School for her hard work. Hewitt Trussville High School’s FOCUS group, under the direction of Dana Depew, also volunteered. Their teamwork made the difference, and the day was a huge success, with 900-1000 in attendance.

NEW Leadership Award Certificates Available!

Do you have students who have gone above and beyond this school year? We know you want students to strive for excellence, and we are pleased to announce that FOCUS Leadership Award certificates are now available on our home page under Printable Resources. Let’s celebrate our youth who continue to Make A Difference by going the extra mile!

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Prevention is crucial, as alcohol is the most widely used substance among young people in America, while taking the lives of about 4,000 youth each year. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, youth ages 12 to 20 drink 4.1 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States, and 14.6% reported they drank in the past month.(1) Although research shows that they drink less often than adults, when they do drink, they drink more. In fact, more than 90 percent of all alcoholic drinks consumed by young people are through binge drinking, which negatively affects brain development and leads to poor school performance, impaired judgement, injury, property damage, and physical and sexual assault. (2)

We are excited to share that The National Institutes of Health has partnered with Kahoot!, the online learning platform. You will find free Kahoot! underage drinking interactive quizzes and games as well as additional Underage Drinking Lesson Resources for your FOCUS groups and Peer Mentors/Helpers. After first previewing the materials and then forming an action plan, as described in our facilitator portal, your FOCUS leaders can use these lessons and games with younger students or during club or class meetings. We hope you will take advantage of these free resources that are sure to keep your students engaged.

1. CDC Alcohol Use (2025, January) About Underage Drinking https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/underage-drinking/index.html

2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2020, October) Underage Drinking. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/12372_NIAAA_Underage_Drinking_FS_v33--FINAL_508.pdf

April is Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Month

DID YOU KNOW:

There is a state resolution established by the Alabama State Board of Education (August 27, 1987, and October 22, 1987 meetings) that all students in Grades 5-12 receive instruction about HIV and AIDS?

WHY?

If you take a moment to research HIV among youth and young adults ages 13-24 years, the reason for the HIV resolution by the Alabama State Board of Education is obvious. The virus which causes AIDS is being transmitted among youth and young adults in Alabama at a rate higher than the national average. There were 118 newly diagnosed cases in Alabama in 2023. Cumulative cases in Alabama number above 5,500 among youth and young adults.

In 2020, youth ages 13-24 years made up 20% of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States, but 21.8% in Alabama. It is also important to note that nearly half of young people living with HIV are unaware of their status. Adolescence and young adulthood are critical periods of human development, and an important time to lay the foundations of good health.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Join us in helping Youth Lead and End the HIV Epidemic in Alabama! Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Month will be held in April 2025, to educate the public about the impact of HIV prevention, treatment, and care campaigns of young people in Alabama.

Check out the "YOUTH HIV/AIDS AWARENESS MONTH" PLANNING GUIDE and the HIV PowerPoints on the FOCUS Facilitator Page at www.thefocusprogram.com.

When was the last time you truly checked in with yourself? Not the quick “I’m fine” answer, but a real, honest look at how you’re actually doing.

If you’re anything like me, sometimes you push through without realizing just how much you need to slow down and take care of yourself.

Life gets busy. Responsibilities pile up. And before we know it, we’re running on empty, wondering why we feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or disconnected.

Lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to prioritize my mental, physical, and emotional health, and here are five things that have been helping me (maybe they’ll help you too):

Faith: For me, my faith is my foundation. Spending time every day in prayer and scripture helps me stay grounded and centered—even in the most trying seasons. Whatever faith, spirituality, or a high-power looks for you—setting aside time to pause, reflect, or just breathe can bring clarity and peace.
Therapy: Talking to a therapist has been a game-changer. Having someone who truly understands my journey helps me process emotions, navigate challenges, and see things from a different perspective. If you’ve been considering therapy, this is your reminder: It’s okay to ask for support.
Moving My Body: After having Mason, I struggled to get back into a fitness routine. My body felt different, and time felt limited. But recently, I’ve prioritized an hour a day for the gym—and I feel stronger, more energized, and more like me again. Whether it’s working out, playing a sport (I’ve been loving tennis!), or just taking a walk, movement is medicine.
Journaling & Writing: Over the years, I’ve realized how much I process through writing. Even jotting down notes from a podcast, a sermon, or something inspiring helps me reflect and grow. If you don’t love journaling, try writing just one thought a day—you might be surprised at what comes to the surface.
Community & Relationships: Who we surround ourselves with matters. Lately, I’ve been asking myself: Am I spending time with people who uplift me? Who challenge me in a good way? Who make me feel lighter, not heavier? We weren’t built to navigate this life alone—find your people and hold them tight.

I’m still learning, still figuring things out, and still reminding myself that self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s essential.

Maybe one (or a few) of these resonate with you. Maybe you already have your own ways of taking care of your mental health.

Whatever it looks like for you, I just want to remind you: You deserve to prioritize yourself. You don’t have to wait until you’re burned out to check in and take action.

So, let me ask again—how are you really doing?

Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to hear what’s working for you these days!

With you in the journey,

Lauren

Help Starts Here

211 Connects Alabama

Dialing 2-1-1 connects you to a trained operator 24/7 that has access to a comprehensive database with a multitude of services in your community.

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Monthly Health Observances

We encourage all FOCUS schools to engage in at least one health observance activity each month. Each month has some excellent choices for students on your campuses to “Make a Difference” and to encourage their peers to participate.

April

1-30: Alcohol Awareness Month
1-30: National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
1-30: Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
1-30: STI Awareness Month
1-7: National Public Health Week – Healthiest Nation 2030: Changing Our Future Together
7: World Health Day
8-12: National Youth Violence Prevention Week
10: National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day