September 18, 2025
Healthy Teen Network has presented awards for decades as part of our mission to uplift bold, innovative, and inclusive leadership in the field of adolescent health. These awards are more than recognition—they’re a celebration of people and organizations who inspire us all to think bigger, do better, and build a world where every young person can be who they are and love who they love.
The awards ceremony is always one of the most energizing moments of the conference and we can’t wait for you to meet this year’s awardees. Learn more about our awards and previous awardees.
Young Parent Achievement Awardee: Kate Westaby, PhD (she/her)
From day one, when Healthy Teen Network was founded in 1979 as the National Organization for Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting (NOAPP), we have not only affirmed but often been one of the few national organizations working to ensure young families’ access to the supports and services they need to thrive. We do this because being inclusive of and affirming young people who are pregnant or parenting ensures equity for all youth.
With the Healthy Teen Network Young Parent Achievement Award, we recognize someone who has met the challenges of early parenting, has achieved extraordinary personal and/or professional success, and demonstrates phenomenal leadership.
The Healthy Teen Network Young Parent Achievement Award not only recognizes young parents, it celebrates them and their accomplishments, for themselves and their families.
We are thrilled to announce Kate Westaby, PhD, as the 2025 Young Parent Achievement Awardee.
Dr. Kate Westaby is the founding director of the Young Parent Collective (YPC) and a researcher at the Urban Institute. Her journey began at age 17, when she became a parent while navigating high school and college. As a first-generation college student and young parent, Kate experienced the challenges of balancing education, childcare, and public systems—experiences that fueled her lifelong commitment to advocacy.
Through YPC, Kate has built a community of young parents who lead research and policy change. She launched YPC’s research lab, where young parents gain skills, co-design tools, and craft solutions that support others navigating school, systems, and stigma. Her leadership also drove YPC’s participation in Healthy Teen Network’s In/Tend Incubator, where she and other young parents developed a tool to assess attitudes toward young parents—part of a broader effort to challenge stereotypes.
At the Urban Institute, Kate’s research centers on student parents and college students experiencing basic needs insecurity. She uses participatory methods to elevate the voices of those most impacted, with a focus on building systems rooted in dignity and equity.
Kate is honored to receive the 2025 Young Parent Achievement Award, sharing this recognition with young parents everywhere who are rewriting the narrative every day.
Join Us in Atlanta!
We are counting down the days until October 6–8, when we’ll gather at In Solidarity for the #HealthyTeen25 national conference to honor these awardees and their incredible accomplishments. From inspiring keynotes to interactive breakout sessions, from networking opportunities to the excitement of our awards ceremony—this conference is a chance to connect, celebrate, and recharge.
We hope you’ll join us to applaud Kate and to be inspired by her leadership and vision.
