"I want to thank you and
the Positive Choice Students for all the great information you
imparted with our 8th grade students. They loved the program.
I would like to have you back again next year."
"I think that it is a very good program. It teaches
you many things that you should know. I think that the program
has probably saved people from doing the wrong thing. I think
that it should be going to every school it can."
"I think the Positive Choices Week was a great program.
It was better than all of the other programs because teenagers
were talking to us and it made it a lot more fun. They knew
what we are going through right now."
As parents, teachers, youth workers, guidance counselors, school nurses, and administrators, you see first hand the effects of rising preteen and teenage pregnancy rates. And you know that one bad choice can change a child’s life forever. At Positive Choices, our team of abstinence educators and teen mentors is dedicated to introducing young people to a new way of approaching the challenges and choices that they face as sexually aware young people. We offer an array of programs, speakers and classes for students, educators and parents. We hope that this web site will help you, your school or your agency make a difference. Decide now to become a leader in helping our youth make good choices and healthy lifestyle decisions.
Positive Choices was developed by St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Pediatric Services based on over 15 years of experience in teen pregnancy prevention for high-risk youth. The overall goal of Positive Choices is to reduce sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and births in teenagers residing in northwest Ohio. The purpose of Positive Choices is to provide the tools for teens to make healthy decisions by providing adolescents with factual information and practical skills. The information is presented by adult and peer educators through both in-class and after-school programming that is age and gender specific, and culturally appropriate. The program also includes peer mentoring and parent involvement to ensure that teens understand the consequences of premature sexual activity and that they have support from both their parents and peers as they incorporate newly acquired skills into their daily lives.
- in-school education based on nationally recognized, evidence based curricula;
- ongoing after-school and summer education and supportive activities,
- peer education and mentoring
- parent involvement
The Positive Choices educational sessions and activities emphasize assets and character traits that support responsible decision making in all aspects of their lives. Positive Choices staff includes a diverse group of 16 male and female, certified abstinence educators most with over five years of experience. Their knowledge, experience, and passion for the message and the youth they serve make Positive Choices the premier abstinence education program in northwest Ohio.
“Shaniqua” attended Positive Choices for two years. She began hanging out with girls who were sexually active. “Shaniqua” would share with her group leader conversations she had with her new friends. She began to feel the pressure, but claimed she wanted to remain a virgin. Her sister got pregnant as a teenager and she did not want to start her life with the responsibilities of a baby. Marla, her group leader, responded to this dilemma by spending more time in conversation with her. “Shaniqua” took this information to her new group of friends, who in turn began to alter their behaviors. The influence of support and good information for making positive choices is often an ever-widening circle, influencing not only the participants but those around them.
Click Here to read more success stories! Disclaimer on Information Provided by Positive Choices |
