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| Right Choice of West Tennessee 
Whether serving as a board member, staff, or volunteer, we’ve each had the cause of preventing teen pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) indelibly impressed on our hearts.Since 2002, Life Choices has been the recipient of two federal grants (currently our funding is through Community-Based Abstinence Education - CBAE) that have enabled us to teach abstinence in public schools through our project Right Choices of West Tennessee.
All middle/high school systems that we serve have provided letters of agreement/support for our program. We use an approved curriculum for all grades, and all of our reports to the federal government have received 100% satisfactory approval. Unfortunately, after the change in the federal administration, we received a letter stating that CBAE funds would be replaced with funding for safe-sex education, and that our grant would no longer be available after September 29, 2010--one year short of the originally intended date of expiration.Though that federal funding has expired, we are implementing a strategic development plan which utilizes funding from grants, private and corporate donations, school fees, and partnerships.
We are on target and intend to continue providing the same excellent educational program in the 2010-2011 school year, though initially the number of schools we serve will be drastically reduced. However, as funding is secured, we intend to rebuild and expand the program.
Office Relocation
Part of the transition of closing the federal program is a move of the Right Choices of West Tennessee office from Newbern to the Life Choices facility in Dyersburg located at 575 Mall Blvd.
Right Choices Background
Right Choices of West Tennessee is character development program for teens in grades 6—12. Using an abstinence/healthy relationship curriculum approved by the Department of Education, Right Choices educates students within the public school systems about waiting to have sex until marriage as well as the benefits of a stable and faithful marriage.
This program is not a ministry, and complies with the legislative definition of abstinence education in Section 510 of Title V of the Social Security Act. Right Choices of West Tennessee was funded until September 30, 1010 the CBAE (Community-Based Abstinence Education) Grant through the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.
When the program was launched in the 2003—2004 school year, only 68% of students served by Right Choices were committed to abstaining from sexual activity until marriage, compared to 80% of students making that commitment in 2006-2007.
Additionally, in 2003—2004, 77% of those students indicated an understanding of the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from premarital sexual activity, compared to 89% in 2006—2007.
"As the father of 3 children who have been through the Right Choices program I have great appreciation for its impact on them. Having spent a weekend away with each of our 2 oldest boys I was very impressed with what they had learned by participating in Right Choices. It was obvious that they had gained much knowledge yet found the learning process to be fun while getting across the point. As a parent I am thankful that Right Choices is in our schools and that there is a dedicated staff that connects with young people in such a positive way. While Right Choices doesn't replace the responsibility each of us has to our children as parents, it sure makes our challenges a lot easier to deal as we try to make a difference."
Jimmy Smith
Attorney, Union City TN
" We are starting our school year [2008] with fewer pregnancies than in recent years. Perhaps Right Choices has been- at least in part- a contributing factor. For sure, I would like to think that!!"
Dianne Homra
Counselor, Lake County Board of Education
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