INFOCUS: A Conversation with Emily Herring

Join us for a conversation with Emily Herring, LICSW, as she discusses the work of Fairfield High School’s INFOCUS chapter and the positive impact she is having on the lives of her students!  Since 2020, Emily Herring, or Ms. Emily as she is commonly known by her students and APC staff, has worked with Fairfield City Schools to improve the mental health and wellbeing of her students. Ms. Emily is the Mental Health Coordinator for Fairfield City Schools and the facilitator for the INFOCUS chapter at Fairfield High School. Ms. Emily grew up in Austin, Texas, and moved to Alabama to attend Auburn University. While at Auburn, she immediately fell in love with the social work profession. Through her work, Ms. Emily grew to love working with under-resourced populations to help improve their lives and wellbeing. In 2023, Ms. Emily was awarded the Difference Maker award, which was presented by the FOCUS Program, for her wonderful work with the students at Fairfield High School. Ms. Emily and the Fairfield High School INFOCUS group have worked to implement mental health resource fairs and other initiatives in their school and the neighboring middle school.  In 2023, their hard work was featured in a story by WBRC.    INFOCUS groups are student led and adult guided groups within high schools, which focus on implementing positive initiatives on mental health and other catalyst issues that often lead to substance use in their school and community. INFOCUS aims to support student leaders, who have a lasting, positive influence on their peers and in their environment. To learn more about INFOCUS: https://apcbham.org/who-we-are/how-we-help/students-2/To learn more about the INFOCUS group’s impact: https://www.wbrc.com/video/2023/05/08/fairfield-city-schools-focusing-students-mental-health/For more content, make sure to check us out on Instagram and YouTube!https://www.instagram.com/addictionpreventioncoalition/https://www.youtube.com/@AddictionCoalition