"Right Choice" Program

The "Right Choice" Program is an HIV/AIDS Prevention Component of the St. Lucie County Health Department's HIV/AIDS Division. The program is funded under the "Closing the Gaps" funding initiative of the State of Florida, Bureau of HIV/AIDS to perform scientifically based HIV Prevention Interventions. Currently, the program offers two HIV Prevention Interventions:

SISTA - Sisters Informing Sisters About Topics on AIDS

SISTA is an HIV Prevention Intervention targeting African-American heterosexual females who may be at risk for contracting the HIV Virus. The SISTA program is facilitated by a certified and trained instructor to groups of African-American females consisting of no more than twelve (12) females in one cycle. Each cycle consists of five (5) two hour sessions including:

  • Ethnic and Gender Pride
  • HIV/AIDS Education
  • Assertiveness Skills
  • Behavioral Self Management
  • Coping Skills

Participants of the SISTA Intervention graduate upon completing 4 of 5 sessions, and are invited to attend booster sessions thereafter for the purpose of offering feedback to the program, and resolving any further obstacles that they have faced after graduation further inhibiting them from making successful behavioral change to reduce their risk for contracting HIV.

SISTA graduates are also invited to volunteer in assisting future SISTA classes, bringing their own success stories and knowledge that they gained through the intervention session to help others facing the same risks.

Throughout each of the SISTA cycles, participants are issued incentives such as food gift cards and other small gifts for the purpose of retaining member participation through graduation and further helping to increase each participant's level of confidence and pride and acknowledge their presence and input as being not only individually important to their future health and welfare but important to the success of the group as a whole.

VOICES/VOCES - Video Opportunities for Innovative Condom Education and Safer Sex

VOICES is an HIV Prevention Intervention targeting Black heterosexual males and females. It is a 60 minute educational class on condom use and negotiation incorporating the following outline:

  • Participants watch a 20 minute culturally appropriate video regarding condom negotiation and empowerment techniques.
  • Small group-skill building sessions (better ways to effectively negotiate condom use and proper condom use and discussion of the video tape).
  • Condom feature education, explaining different condoms on the market and their properties.
  • Distribution of sample condoms (Participants receive at least three (3) of their choice from a wide variety of stock available.

Female and male classes are normally held separately, with a maximum number of individuals per group not exceeding 8 participants. Upon conclusion of the class, participants receive a Winn Dixie gift card.

Other Services:

In addition to the SISTA and VOICES Intervention services, the "Right Choice" Program offers the following:

HIV Counseling and Testing and Linkage Services: HIV Testing is offered free of charge by the "Right Choice" program to any individual ages 13 and up. Currently, testing is performed through OraSure Swab, a painless process using no needles. Specimens are taken orally from the mouth and results are usually received within a two week period from the date of the test. The process of testing and the test results themselves are of a confidential nature, available in person to the individual tested only. Individuals are counseled individually and show ways and techniques to use condoms properly and are given other information to reduce their risk of contracting HIV. Referral information for other health and human services that the individual may need is also addressed.
Health Communication and Public Information Sessions: The "Right Choice" Program also offers HIV/AIDS prevention seminars to the public free of charge. Health and Human Service Agencies as well as businesses, community groups and other public and private entities can contact the program and make arrangements to schedule a prevention information seminar.

For more information on Prevention Intervention classes, Seminars, and HIV Counseling and Testing, contact the "Right Choice" Program at the following telephone numbers: (772)462-3810 or (772)462-3819.