At the heart of Smart Choices project is a five step interactive process that uses real life scenarios and role playing to make healthy and informed choices. The five steps are 1) Be Aware; 2) Ask Questions; 3) Check Things Out; 4) Make Informed Decisions; 5) Take Action. Each step uses practical examples to introduce and teach useful tools like situational awareness, questioning, research, decision making and action planning. Together they create the Smart Choices method that enables individuals to avoid “crossing the street without looking both ways.”
The method is based on Jewish teachings and shows Jewish students how relevant and insightful those teachings are to coping with real life issues. As an ancillary benefit, those youth find that they no longer need to turn elsewhere for answers, reinforcing the pride they feel in – and their identification with – their heritage.