ThinkSmart Florida - Do The Right Thing

ThinkSmart Abstinence Education started in 1999 as a community-based, federally funded program designed to educate the youth of Central Florida about the three primary benefits of abstaining from sexual activities until marriage.

Abstinence allows youth to avoid Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Abstinence allows youth to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
Abstinence gives youth the opportunity to learn how to develop healthy, long-term relationships which will prepare them for marriage.

Our Students:
ThinkSmart’s curriculum is especially designed for students ranging from 6th to 12th grade and is intentionally adapted so as to achieve grade-level appropriacy.

Our Program:
ThinkSmart teaches two programs: Relationships Under Construction and Baby Think It Over.

Relationships Under Construction is authored by Catherine Wood, an abstinence education expert educator and writer who has worked in the field since 1987. Her curriculum addresses the whole person (moral, physical, intellectual, emotional and social) and educates youth about the risks of sex before marriage while giving them practical tips on how to develop healthy, long-lasting relationships.

Baby Think It Over uses a life-sized and computerized infant simulator (Baby), invented by Mary and Rick Jurmain in 1994, to give youth a hands-on opportunity to understand a real baby’s need for attention and care.

The project involves an infant simulator (Baby) that will cry randomly day and night. Over a 24 hour period the Baby will cry from five to fifteen times. Each time the Baby cries, the student must insert a care key into the baby's computer (located in the baby's back) to simulate tending (feeding, changing diapers, etc.). The tending time may vary, but will total about two hours each 24 hour period. An internal computer keeps track of any lack of care or abuse.

It records any abuse, which includes rough handling, dropping or hitting. After one of those episodes the baby will cry for a period of time and cannot be stopped.
It records the number of minutes the Baby was not tended after it began to cry.
It shuts down if the computer is removed from the Baby for more than five minutes.
The Baby it records the number of times the head was not properly supported.

Students wear a care key on a non-removable bracelet. No on else can care for the baby. When the Baby is returned, the computer is opened (it has a lock) and the care or lack of care will be available see.

ThinkSmart Instructor Bios:

Jennifer Dawson

Education/College Attended: University of Central Florida

Favorite Food: Pizza and my Grandma’s authentic Italian cooking!

Hobbies: I love spending time with my friends. I am blessed to have great people in my life. I love going to church, reading, watching movies and spending time with my family.

Favorite Holiday: Does my birthday count???

Why she likes teaching Abstinence Education: I love the abstinence message. At first it may seem like you are missing out on all those “fun” things, but in fact you are gaining the freedom to choose your own future. I hope to help teens make the best choices for their lives. I know they will never regret choosing abstinence!

Random Fact: I lived in a hut on the island of Butaritari in the Republic of Kiribati for two years. I had no electricity, no iPhone, no running water, and I had the best time of my life!

Silliest thing she’s ever done: I participated in the Miss Butaritari pageant, I made a downright fool out of myself! I couldn’t understand the questions they were asking me…so I just danced to make everyone laugh!

Amy Kosiewski

Education/College Attended: Valencia Community College

Favorite Food: Pasta!

Hobbies: Girl Scouts!

Favorite Holiday: Christmas

Why she likes teaching Abstinence Education: I love helping teens make positive differences in their lives that ensure an awesome future!
Random Fact: In Tokyo, they sell toupees for dogs!

Silliest thing she’s ever done: I don’t do silly things!

Milagros "Millie" Perez

Education/College Attended: Universidad De Turabo

Favorite Food: Arroz con Gandules, Lecho y Pasteles

Hobbies: Gardening, Listening to Music, Dancing

Favorite Holiday: Christmas

Why she likes teaching Abstinence Education: I want to help teens in our communities understand the consequences of their actions.

Random Fact: I love to travel.

Silliest thing she’s ever done: When I was around 10 years old my older siblings dared me to put a cooked bean up my nose, so I did. Then I couldn’t get it out. Everyone was laughing except me. My mother had to get it out with a needle.

Mauricio Moreno

Education/College Attended: Southern Adventist University

Favorite Food: Pizza

Hobbies: Carpentry, Soccer, Basketball

Favorite Holiday: Christmas

Why he likes teaching Abstinence Education: It gives me great pleasure to know that I can give a better quality of life to students with our abstinence education. I truly believe that I am making a difference in this generation, and also for future generations to come. As Steven Cojocaru says, “I’m just a Vessel of information.”

Random Fact: I was born and raised in Chile, South America.

Silliest thing he’s ever done: I ate earth worms for a reading program in a school I was working at.

Renee Rodriguez

Education/College Attended: Valencia Community College

Favorite Food: Watermelon

Hobbies: Reading, Watching Movies, Working in my Garden

Favorite Holiday: Christmas

Why she likes teaching Abstinence Education: I BELIEVE in the message and think everyone should practice abstinence until marriage. They will have less stress in their lives.

Random Fact: I am really down-to-earth and love to laugh.

Silliest thing she’s ever done: Tried to put the iced tea in the microwave….too much multi-tasking.

Laurey Nelson

Education/College Attended: University of Oklahoma (BFA) and Southwestern College (MA)

Favorite Food: Italian food and Rocky Road Ice Cream

Hobbies: Preaching, Dancing, Singing, reading the Bible and spending time with my husband

Favorite Holiday: Easter

Why she likes teaching Abstinence Education: I fervently believe in this message and think that everyone, regardless of age, should practice abstinence until marriage. While personally practicing abstinence until marriage in my own life, I feel a great need to spread the word and impart this truth to every student I meet. By choosing abstinence from all sexual activity until marriage, people will truly experience freedom and be on the road to healthy relationships!

Random Fact: I was a commercial hand model for 8 years….HI FIVE!!

Silliest thing she’s ever done: I once dressed up as a bunch of grapes on Halloween when I was younger. My mom pinned about 40 purple balloons on my shirt and leggings and I had a little stem for a headband. My friend and I were running from house to house to get candy and I tripped and fell, popping almost all of my balloons. From that point on, I looked like a bunch of raisins.

ThinkSmart Florida's Health Education program covers:

Consequences of Sex Before Marriage
Teen Pregnancy
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Building Healthy Relationships
Setting Goals

Schools
Community Centers
Youth Groups
After-School Programs
Parent Workshops
Church Functions
Guest Speaking