Sheila Armstrong BA
Sheila is the administrative assistant for Positive Choices providing support and organization for an outstanding team of educators and coordinators. Sheila greets, mentors, and participates in field trips and events with the youth. Sheila enjoys being able to talk with the teens about their everyday life; she says that when they get a chance to talk to someone it helps them understand that someone else cares and that they are important too. Sheila received her bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University.

Phone: (419) 251-2304 eMail: Sheila_Armstrong@mhsnr.org

Connie Cameron RN, MSN, CNS
Connie is a child and adolescent, psychiatric, clinical nurse specialist with degrees from the Medical University of Ohio. Connie has been with Positive Choices since its inception in 1996. Connie is responsible for program development, funding, reporting, and overall project administration. Connie divides her time between managing grant funded programs that provide mental health services integrated into primary health care and Positive Choices teen pregnancy prevention program. She also provides therapy for children and adolescents at SVMMC and MCO and assists with Positive Choices programming, especially in the area of sexually transmitted diseases.

Phone: (419) 251-2453 eMail: Connie_Cameron@mhsnr.org

Andrea Cosme
Andrea focuses on developing a strong and unique bond with Positive Choices’ young ladies. She finds it fascinating to hear these young women’s views of the world, and because she is the mother of a teenage parent, Andrea has an inside look at how sex before marriage can change many lives. Andrea finds that many of the girls have no significant person to talk and be open with. Because of this, Andrea creates a trusting relationship with the girls and gives them a safe place to develop into “Super Girls” that will lead their generation into positive and structured relationships. Her number one goal as a certified abstinence educator is to change lives for the better.

Phone: (419) 251-2336 eMail: Andrea_D_Cosme@mhsnr.org

LaMar Daniels ADN
LaMar received a degree in nursing from The University of Toledo. He has a passion for working with young people and helping them become outstanding citizens. One way he is doing this, is through the entrepreneur program that he has developed for Positive Choices. Lamar considers it a privilege to let the world know it is possible for young people to achieve high standards through abstinence. His favorite part of working with Positive Choices is visiting schools and opening the minds of young people.

Phone: (419) 251-2326 eMail LaMar_Daniels@mhsnr.org

Ted DeChristopher
Ted has been a coordinator for Positive Choices since 1997 but has worked with children since retiring from the Air Force in 1969. Ted taught and coached at various schools in the area from 1980-1995. Ted believes that, given the right information, young people will choose the right path. He relies on creating strong relationships with the young people to help them realize that they posses the ability to make good decisions for their lives.

Phone: (419) 251-2456 eMail Ted_J_Dechristopher@mhsnr.org

Steve Eaton
Steve has an associate’s degree in law enforcement and has been a special investigator, a supervision officer for Lucas County Common Pleas Court and is now an abstinence educator. Steve’s reason for teaching abstinence is to help put an end to teen pregnancy while improving self esteem of the teens as well as helping them build character.

Phone: (419) 251-2343 eMail: Stephen_Eaton@mhsnr.org

Mickie Grimshaw-Andrus RN

Mickie is a registered nurse who graduated from Mercy School of Nursing. She has 17 years of experience with Positive Choices, making her one of the first instructors for the Positive Choices program.

Mickie has three main priorities at Positive Choices. One is educating parents about Positive Choices and keeping them informed about what their children are learning through Positive Choices. The second is an in-service program for the employees at St. Vincent 's, St. Charles, Mercy, and St. Anne's informing them about what Positive Choices is and giving them the option to participate in it with their children. The third is teaching the curriculum of Positive Choices to students at area schools.

Mickie loves teaching about Positive Choices and seeing participants so open to the idea of abstinence knowing it's not an easy choice, but that it is the best choice.

Phone: (419) 251-1298 eMail: Mary_Grimshaw-Andrus@mhsnr.org

Jammal Lee

Jammal is the "Must Have" speaker of the next generation. He is an amazing, energetic, and talented young speaker. He began presenting the message of abstinence at the age of 17, and has shared his inspiring testimony with thousands of youth from across the nation. He relates well with youth on a personal level, as he shares his experiences facing many of the same struggles and temptations that youth encounter. Jammal has accepted the responsibility of not only teaching the abstinence message, but also, living it in his everyday life. His commiment in his private life has carried over into his professional life. His contribution to the abstinence movement makes him a vital asset to Positive Choices.

Phone: (419) 251-2423 Email: Jammal_Lee@mhsnr.org

Adan Madrigal                          
Adan has worked as an Abstinence Educator, with St. Vincent Mercy Medical Centers Positive Choices Program since October of 1999.  During his career, Adan has impacted thousands of young people in many different environments, from incarcerated youth, to youth in the foster care system, in the inner city, and in rural and suburban communities.  He credits his drive and passion to his family and the strength and courage of this generation.

Phone (419) 251-2340 eMail: Adan_X_Madrigal@mhsnr.org

Mary Merritt RN | BA
Mary obtained her degree from Chicago State University. Mary has been with Positive Choices since 1996 as a group leader and a coordinator. As a registered nurse, a mother and a grandmother Mary understands the frustration and complication parents have raising their children. Because of the strong media influence on youth today, Mary feels the need to help people see and sort out reality from fiction. Her main goal is to help the teens live a happy, healthy lifestyle so that they can pass the same knowledge on to their children and for generations to come.

Phone (419) 251-2332 eMail: Mary_Merritt@mhsnr.org

Marla Percy MA | LPC | CCDCI
Marla has been with Positive Choices since 1999. She is a certified abstinence educator and an Ohio Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC I). Marla has a master;s degree in counseling and is working on her doctorate. Her primary focus with Positive Choices is the extremely at risk teens, including those residing in mental health facilities. She feels the most important thing to do to help this group of teens is to develop a relationship with the participants to help them overcome their issues of mistrust.

Phone: (419) 251-2337 eMail: Marla_Percy@mhsnr.org

Mark Smaw

Phone: (419) 251-2057

eMail: mark_smaw@mhsnr.org

Kathy Okuley BEd | LSW
Kathy is the program coordinator for Positive Choices and has a degree in movement therapy from The University of Toledo. She later received a bachelor's degree in education. She served in a variety of capacities, and ultimately as Youth Service Coordinator at the Friendly Center. She joined St. Vincent’s as a case manager for Growing Up With Healthy Connections, a substance abuse prevention program for six to eight year olds through the Family Care Center. In 2000, she became Program Coordinator for Positive Choices. She holds a state license in social work and has almost completed her master’s degree in Urban Education. Kathy says that the staff at Positive Choices is an interesting, fun, talented and passionate group. The thing she loves most about her work is what Positive Choices is able to do for the teens and adults they work with. Kathy says, “Our message is clear – wait until you get married to have sex. Waiting has no risks. I love Positive Choices because I love our young people and want them to be as healthy and happy as possible.”

Phone (419) 251-2302 eMail: Kathleen_M_Okuley@mhsnr.org

Shakela Watkins | MS

Shakela graduated from the Ohio State University in 2001 and received her Master's degree from Bowling Green State University in 2007. She is inspired by youth who choose to make positive decisions in life, in the midst of what seems to be popular opinion. Shakela would like to assist youth in focusing on their futures to recognize how decisions that they make now will impact their lives in the present and future.

Phone (419) 251-2135 eMail: Shakela_Watkins@mhsnr.org

Dr. Alean Zeiler
Dr. Zeiler developed a teen pregnancy prevention program in 1988 through St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. The goal was to prevent premarital sexual activity by providing education and counseling related to sexuality for teens and their parents. In 1996 the program was renamed Positive Choices and Dr. Zeiler has been the medical advisor ever since and ensures current and medically accurate information for the program. Dr. Zeiler has also worked with the Medical College of Ohio to provide training for medical students in abstinence education encouraging residents to incorporate abstinence education intro adolescents’ primary care.

Phone: (419) 251-2415 eMail: alean_zeiler@mhsnr.org