The Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy announced that Katie Campbell, Hays CISD’s Parenting Education Program (PEP) coordinator, is the 2019 David C. Wiley Award winner, according to a release.
Since joining Hays CISD 13 years ago, Campbell expanded the PEP Program to serve pregnant and parenting students across three campuses and has created a new service delivery model. The new model includes a parenting class for high school credit, child care and case management in collaboration with Early Head Start, and additional community partnerships to provide counseling services and other resources to students. Campbell has shifted the focus and culture of the program from “at-risk” to “positive youth development.”
In addition, Campbell has developed and maintained partnerships with Texas State University and its Strengthening Relationships/Strengthening Families Program, which provides additional resources and support to the PEP program. This partnership provides opportunities for undergrad and graduate student interns to serve as mentors and case managers, giving them real-life experience working with children and families. Campbell holds a permanent seat on the Hays CISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) and was instrumental in bringing a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum to Hays CISD along with training for teachers who would be implementing the curriculum.
“The Texas Campaign is thrilled to recognize Katie because of her ongoing work on behalf of young people in Texas,” said Molly Clayton, executive director of the Texas Campaign. “She is a caring and dedicated professional who has devoted her career to helping teen parents thrive and succeed, and her leadership serves as a platform for others doing this important work.
This award, presented at the Texas Campaign’s annual Symposium, recognizes individuals who have made contributions to the field of teen pregnancy prevention in Texas through service, leadership, advocacy, or research. The Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is a statewide nonpartisan organization established in 2009 that aims to reduce teen pregnancy through research, advocacy, collaboration, and training.
