CHOICE Program Objectives

The CHOICE program encourages at risk students to pursue careers in healthcare, by encouraging awareness of career opportunities and planning that leads to post-high school and post-college eduction for healthcare careers. The project is structured around a series of live theatrical vignettes presented four times a year to students, including one family night presentation. The program fully integrates the established established New York State C.D.O.S. (Career Development and Occupational Studies) Learning Standards and metrics.

CHOICE Sponsors

CHOICE was co-developed by Business Theatre Works and the Buffalo Ensemble Theatre. It is supported by the Community Health Foundation of Central and Western New York, a non-profit private foundation, the mission of which is to improve the health and health care of the people of Western and Central New York.

Participating Schools

For the 2004-2005 school year, five Buffalo schools are participating:

Buffalo Public Schools

• Buffalo Traditional School (P.S. 192)
  450 Masten Avenue
  Buffalo, NY 14209
• Hutchinson Central Technical High School (P.S. 304)
  256 South Elmwood Avenue
  Buffalo, NY 14201
• Grover Cleveland High School (P.S. 202)
  110 14th Street
  Buffalo, NY 14213

Buffalo Charter Schools

• Pinnacle Charter School
  233 Oakgrove Drive
  Buffalo, NY 14204
• Enterprise Charter School
  275 Oak Street
  Buffalo, NY 14205

Four CHOICE programs are currently offered:

1. The Choice Of Responsibility
   In an emergency room waiting area, a young woman waits to hear about the condition of her grandmother.
2. Warrior
   The famed Courtland Park Warriors, a high school basketball team, celebrate the return of their star player after a knee injury
3. Career Day
   During lunch at Crestmont Junior High School, a group of students discuss the outcome of a Parent-Student Career Day Program
4. Oh, Give Me A Home
   In the Palmer home, a family wrestles with the dilemmas of providing continued care for their aging mother.