CHOICE (Concern for Health Options: Information, Care, and Education)

Founded in 1971, CHOICE is a dynamic community based organization dedicated to increasing the awareness of and access to sexual health services, especially among underserved populations who traditionally experience barriers to care. CHOICE provides referrals, counseling, education, and advocacy to more than 50,000 people annually. CHOICE also helps families obtain free or low cost health care and insurance for their eligible children.

CHOICE's confidential/anonymous bi-lingual (Spanish/English) hotlines are staffed by extensively trained professional counselors who work with each consumer to unravel a complex set of circumstances, determine a variety of service needs, and help the caller develop a plan of action to remedy his or her situation.

In addition to the hotlines, CHOICE provides advocacy, training, and public awareness about sexual health issues through a growing program of community education that includes formal presentations, community events, and street outreach. CHOICE is on the list of instructional resources recommended and approved by the Philadelphia School District to provide HIV prevention and sexuality education in the City’s public schools. In addition to high school/adolescent education, CHOICE conducts a Preadolescent Program for children ages 9 to 12, which provides age-appropriate educational programming in elementary and middle schools in the Philadelphia area.