Decisions, Choices and Options, Inc.

Birmingham Metro Baptist Association is excited to announce the addition of Decisions, Choices and Options, Inc., to our BMBA Partner Center. Their ministry is currently located on the first floor of the BMBA office building. Joi Wasill serves as the Executive Director.

Decisions, Choices and Options, Inc (DCO) began serving the youth of Middle Tennessee in 2002 with dynamic and engaging sexual risk avoidance prevention education programs in local school classrooms and community organizations. From their humble beginnings in one local school system, they currently serve public and private school as well as after-school, homeschool and community organizations in thirteen counties of Tennessee, eight counties of Alabama, and through multiple partnering agencies across the Southeast. Reaching over 18,500 youth and students ages 11-19 each school year, DCO effectively impacts the future of those they are privileged to serve by equipping them with necessary skills to achieve optimal health and successful life outcomes.

DCO’s mission is “preparing a generation to choose healthy behaviors that cultivate educational, economic, physical, emotional and relational success.” They believe that teens can and will make healthy life choices once medically and factually accurate information regarding the risks of sexual behavior are clearly communicated and received. DCO’s vision is to partner with schools, parents, communities and faith–based organizations to prepare and equip this generation of youth to reach their goals and become the leaders and families of our communities in the future.

DCO is a primary prevention, multi-layered curricula based on the sexual risk avoidance (SRA) education model. SRA is a proven effective approach in communicating the risks and negative outcomes associated with early onset of sexual behavior. Other preventative health education programs targeting youth in the area of risky behaviors such as smoking, alcohol, and texting/impaired driving are also based on the model of risk avoidance. DCO’s desire is to see the optimal health outcomes for all youth! Avoiding the risks 100% allows them the freedom and abilities to pursue their dreams, goals and hopes for the future. This is the guiding passion of DCO’s service to all students served: impacting their lives with the skills and knowledge to reach their destination!

DCO partners with local public and private schools, after school programs, homeschool associations and community organizations to deliver a four-tiered direct classroom instructional model based on the grade level and course requirements. All programs align with the state curriculum requirements in each course and class they teach. All of the DCO Educators are SRAS (Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialists) certified by ASCEND, the nation’s leading SRA training institute. Their holistic approach to the health, wellness and the success of adolescents has been evaluated and determined effective in reaching teens and youth by teachers, administrators, DCO pre and post tests, and independent analysis by the University of Tennessee Knoxville (SWORPS). Students consistently share with DCO Educators the impact the programs have made on their life choices and decisions to be committed to optimal health and sexual risk avoidance. In a typical school year, DCO programs are taught to over 18,500 youth.

DCO has two locations. Their Tennessee office is located at 623 East Main Street, Suite 4, Hendersonville, TN 37075 and their Alabama office is located at the BMBA Partner Center at 1449 Medical Park Drive, Birmingham, AL 35213.

You may send correspondence and contributions to Decisions, Choices & Options, Inc., Post Office Box 2302, Hendersonville, TN 37077

To learn more, visit their website at decisionschoicesandoptions.com.