Feeling alone or need answers? Is your friend in trouble and
you want to talk to someone? Are you trying to get a hold of a
Positive Choices educator that came to your classroom before?
Then give us a call or drop us an email. Our staff at Positive
Choices is here to help you! We pride ourselves on understanding
what teens face everyday in this confusing world. Each educator
has unique skills and a professional approach to talking about
sex and more.
Do you have a general question and don't know where to start?
Email us at info@positivechoices.com
and our friendly staff will match the best educator to reply to
your question. Try it, it's easy!
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
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Kevin
Bishop: In Memory
May 30, 1971 to November 12, 2005
Kevin graduated from Rogers High School and earned a master's
degree in education from the University of Toledo. He was a
member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Christ Congregational
Missionary Baptist Church. He taught in the Toledo Public Schools,
Calvary Christian School, Toledo Christian School and was currently
employed as a teacher at Horizon Science Academy. Kevin was
active in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization. He worked
for Positive Choices since the mid 1990's.
He touched thousands of young people's lives in a positive
way. He will be greatly missed.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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| Mark Smaw
Phone: (419) 251-2057
eMail: mark_smaw@mhsnr.org
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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
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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
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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
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