C.H.O.I.C.E. (Children Have Options In Choosing Experiences) Inc.

C.H.O.I.C.E. (Children Have Options In Choosing Experiences) Incorporated is a trusted, community-based nonprofit serving Louisville’s youth since 1987. We are licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a prevention/early intervention program for alcohol and drug abuse and have a longstanding reputation as a prevention partner in Jefferson County. For nearly four decades, we’ve empowered children and teens facing the harmful effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—including poverty, trauma, and violence.  ACEs are traumatic events occurring before the age of 18, which include all types of abuse and neglect, as well as parental mental illness, substance use, divorce, incarceration, and domestic violence. Young people living in high-poverty and high-crime areas are more frequently exposed to childhood trauma. Chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood have been linked to exposure to ACEs. Moreover, a lack of intervention for young people facing ACEs can negatively impact their  mental health, academic motivation, job opportunities, and relationship building.

At the heart of our work is the “Dare to Dream” Sports Leadership & Mentoring Program, a cross-age peer mentoring initiative, where we train high school student-athletes to mentor younger elementary students in 4th and 5th grades. Simultaneously, we offer all students group and individual counseling. C.H.O.I.C.E. delivers trauma-informed, research-based prevention and early intervention services to students ages 9–19 who are navigating the effects of trauma, poverty, and social isolation. The "Dare to Dream" program focuses on building resilience, enhancing academic motivation, and empowering our youth to become engaged, hopeful members of our city. Since 1994, “Dare to Dream” has operated in partnership with Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and has proven to increase resilience, leadership, and academic motivation and engagement. 

During the 2024-2025 school year, we were active within the following schools:

Fern Creek HS (since 1994), Iroquois HS (since 2002), Watterson Elementary ( since 1996), Young Elementary (since 2012), and Dixie Elementary (since 2024)

The C.H.O.I.C.E. “Dare to Dream” Program interrupts the trauma-to-prison pipeline by pairing high-risk elementary students with trained teen mentors, offering hope, healing, and a pathway to a better future. Our program is trauma-informed, evidence-based, and deeply rooted in community leadership. Approximately 45 percent of Jefferson County youth have experienced at least one ACE, putting them at higher risk of:

• Dropping out of school
• Behavioral challenges
• Entry into the juvenile justice system

Kentucky’s high school graduation rate is 91 percent; however, only 32 percent of adults hold an associate’s degree or higher. Our workforce participation is below the national average. These gaps limit economic mobility and reinforce cycles of poverty, especially in under-resourced communities.

Proven Program Impact

In our most recent "Dare to Dream" post-test evaluation:

• 85% of participants improved their ability to manage stress and emotions
• 78% showed increased academic motivation and performance
• 90% reported feeling more connected to their community and civic life
• 75% of students raised their resilience levels from low to normal
• 95% remained drug-free (100% opioid-free)
• 87% of graduating mentors pursued college, with 65% receiving scholarships80% of mentees rated their experience highly with their mentors

Prevention works—but only if it’s funded and scaled

The C.H.O.I.C.E. program delivers a detailed research-based curriculum for 28 weeks during school hours, centered on the valuing of self, decision making, goal setting, communication, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. C.H.O.I.C.E. provides group counseling, mentoring services, and individual services facilitated by certified and licensed professionals to reach program goals. On the journey to adulthood, young people need guidance “to understand the dynamics behind their choices, communications, motivators, behaviors, and consequences” to maximize their potential into adulthood. By developing healthy coping skills to make positive choices in dealing with life stressors, young people build self-worth and resilience to thrive into adulthood. 

C.H.O.I.C.E. is seeking donations to expand the "Dare to Dream" Sports Leadership and Mentoring program. The "Dare to Dream" program is a unique school-based cross-age peer mentoring (matches high school athletes with elementary students) that exposes students to positive youth development with an emphasis on social-emotional learning and resilience skills. All C.H.O.I.C.E. services are at no charge to participants and their families. JCPS sanctions the C.H.O.I.C.E. programming; however, grants and fundraising fund our services.