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The Awards

Congratulations to Our 2022 Awardees

Each year, Healthy Teen Network recognizes programs, groups, and individuals who have contributed to promoting young people’s health and well-being through personal or professional efforts.

Awardees exemplify a passion for and commitment to providing honest, affirming care and education and empowering the next generation to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Healthy Teen Network presented the awards at #HealthyTeen22, our annual national conference, on October 17-19 in Miami.

Learn more about our awards and previous awardees, below.

#StandingStrong Award
picture of Zander Moricz
Zander Moricz

Zander Moricz is the Founder and Executive Director of the Social Equity and Education (SEE) Initiative. Since 2019, he has grown the SEE Initiative into a movement of over 2,000 organizers across the United States. In his home state of Florida, the Initiative is leading the student response to hateful legislation through mass organizing and campaign work. He is also serving as a plaintiff in the "Don't Say Gay" lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis and the state of Florida. Zander is #StandingStrong, to create a world where every young person can realize their right to live their authentic sexuality. Read more...

Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award
picture of Jessica Ray Chester
Jessica Ray "J.R." Chester

Jessica 'J.R.' Chester currently serves as a Program Director for Healthy Futures of Texas. She oversees the Texas Youth-Friendly Initiative and Texas Is Ready programs. Inside and outside of this role, J.R. is an advocate for birth equity. She provides care as a certified birth doula, certified lactation counselor, child birth educator, and certified child passenger safety technician to growing families. With her background as a sexual health educator and her lived experience as a former repeat teen parent, she has made it her life's mission to help individuals and families achieve optimal pre-conception, pregnancy, birth, and parenting experiences through informed decision making, reproductive life planning, equitable access to care, education, and support. Read more...

Innovation Award

imi logo
imi

imi (pronounced eye-me) is a free, digital, research-backed mental health tool for LGBTQ+ youth. The tool was designed with and for LGBTQ+ teens, with an intentional focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming youth. imi helps LGBTQ+ youth explore and affirm their identity and learn practical approaches to cope with stress. The creation of imi was a labor of love. Hope Lab, CenterLink, the It Gets Better Project, and hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth played an active role in conceptualizing and co-designing the final product. Read more...

All About the Awards

Outstanding Former Young Parent Award

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 but few voices, standing with young families.

Being inclusive of and affirming young people who are pregnant or parenting ensures equity for all youth.

With the Outstanding Former Young Parent Award, we recognize a former young parent who has risen to the challenges of early parenting, has achieved extraordinary personal and/or professional success, and demonstrates phenomenal leadership.

The Outstanding Former Young Parent Award not only recognizes young parents, it celebrates them and their accomplishments, for themselves, and for their families.

#StandingStrong Award

The #StandingStrong Award celebrates individuals or organizations who are champions, standing up with and for the rights of all young people.

Our nation’s young people face continued and escalating attacks on their sexual and reproductive health rights, driven by ideology and partisan agendas. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health is essential to the well-being of our nation, but it takes a legion of us, #StandingStrong, to create a world where every young person can realize their right to live their authentic sexuality.

That means making decisions about their own body and relationships—and feeling good doing it. Decisions about if, when, and how to parent—or not. And the freedom to become who they want to be.

The #StandingStrong Award recognizes those who fight for young people’s access to inclusive, affirming, and truthful sexual and reproductive healthcare services and education. 

Innovation Award

The Innovation Award is near and dear to our hearts here at Healthy Teen Network because innovation helps us create solutions to meet the ever-changing lives of young people.

With the Innovation Award, Healthy Teen Network recognizes innovation and achievements in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. A creative and youth-centered approach to problem-solving starts with young people and ends with innovative solutions tailor-made to meet their needs.

There are so many different kinds of innovative solutions—from helping young people get the answers they need, to finding the right care, to feeling good about their sexuality, and so much more.

The Innovation Award celebrates individuals or organizations committed to holistic and innovative approaches to promote equity, reduce health disparities, and be inclusive and affirming of the needs of all young people. 

The nomination period for the #HealthyTeen22 Awards is now closed. We will be accepting nominations for #HealthyTeen23 Awards in the spring of 2023. Sign up for our email updates to be sure to get the call for awards announcement.

 

Previous Awardees

Cole Williams

2019 Outstanding Former Teen Parent

Judith Herrman

2019 Douglas B. Kirby Researcher of the Year

Deon Haywood

Deon Haywood

2019 #StandingStrong Award

Patricia-Haynes-Smith

Patricia Haynes Smith

2019 Spirit of Service Award

Youth Rebuilding Logo

Youth Rebuilding New Orleans

2019 Youth 360º Innovation Award

2018 Awardees

Pat Paluzzi, #StandingStrong Award

Nelly Vianna, Youth 360° Innovation Award

Miki Rutledge, Outstanding Former Teen Parent

Karin Coyle, Douglas B. Kirby Researcher of the Year

Tara Beeston, Chrissy Cmorik, & Rachel Miller, Spirit of Service Award

Shirley Nash Weber, Spirit of Service Award

2016 Awardees

Kristin Fairholm, Outstanding Former Teen Parent

Paula Braverman, Douglas B. Kirby Researcher of the Year

Young Women United, Youth 360° Innovation Award

Purple W.I.N.G.S., Spirit of Service Award

2014 Awardees

Susan Tortolero Emery, Douglas B. Kirby Adolescent Research Award

Jean Warren Lindsay, Spirit of Service Award

#NoTeenShame, Spirit of Service Award

Corey Jones, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

Georgia Public-Private Partnership to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (GCAPP), Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Mary Jo Podgurski, The Carol Mendez Cassell Award for Excellence in Sexuality Education

2012 Awardees

Peter L. Benson, Researcher of the Year Award

Leah Herbert, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

GENESISTER (Boulder County Public Health), Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Amy Schalet, The Carol Mendez Cassell Award for Excellence in Sexuality Education

2010 Awardees

Kristin Anderson Moore, Researcher of the Year Award

Janet P. Realini, Spirit of Service Award

Mark Strama, Spirit of Service Award

Laura Buxton, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

Michele Vaughn, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

BrdsNBz (SHIFT NC), Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Elizabeth Schroeder, The Carol Mendez Cassell Award for Excellence in Sexuality Education

Lorraine Vogel Klerman, Lifetime Achievement Award

2008 Awardees

Carol Cassell, Outstanding Researcher Award

Diane Denish, Spirit of Service Award

Alfredo Vigil, Spirit of Service Award

Linda Lopez, Spirit of Service Award

Kathy Harms, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

The Denver Teen Pregnancy Prevention Partnership, Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

The Freshmen Focus Program (Palmetto Health Community Services of South Carolina), Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Elizabeth Schroeder, The Carol Mendez Cassell Award for Excellence in Sexuality Education

2006 Awardees

Claire D. Brindis, Outstanding Researcher Award

Lillian Harris, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

No Kidding: Straight Talk from Teen Parents, Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Wesley Shelter, Outstanding Intervention Program Award

SHINE Program, Outstanding Prevention Program

Juanita Weber, Outstanding Individual Professional

2017 Awardees

Joseph Yusef, Outstanding Former Teen Parent

Abraham Wandersman, Douglas B. Kirby Researcher of the Year

Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy, Youth 360° Innovation Award

Ariana B. Kelly, Spirit of Service Award

Delores Goodwin Kelly, Spirit of Service Award

2015 Awardees

Aisha Mix, Outstanding Former Teen Parent

Lesley Del Rio, Outstanding Former Teen Parent

Richard P. Barth, Douglas B. Kirby Researcher of the Year

University of Michigan Health System, Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Brandon Scott, Spirit of Service Award

B’More for Healthy Babies, Spirit of Service Award

Middle Grades Partnership Students, Spirit of Service Award

 

2013 Awardees

Ralph DiClemente, Douglas B. Kirby Adolescent Research Award

Otis S. Johnson, Spirit of Service Award

Lisa Carter, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

Gender Matters (EngenderHealth), Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Barbara Kemp Huberman, The Carol Mendez Cassell Award for Excellence in Sexuality Education

2011 Awardees

Freya Lund Sonenstein, Researcher of the Year Award

Chelsa Wagner, Spirit of Service Award

Lilah Fisher Wise, Spirit of Service Award

James Wagoner, Spirit of Service Award

Todae Charles, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

Afterschool Health and Sexuality Education Program (Planned Parenthood of New York City), Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Héctor Sánchez-Flores, The Carol Mendez Cassell Award for Excellence in Sexuality Education

2009 Awardees

John Santelli, Outstanding Researcher Award

Michael Carrera, Spirit of Service Award

Michele Ozumba, Spirit of Service Award

Tchernavia Ranesfore, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

The Lucas County, Ohio Youth Development/Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Response-Ability Pregnant and Parenting Program (RAPPP), Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Sharon Rodine, Healthy Teen Network Pioneer Award

2007 Awardees

Laurie Schwab Zabin, Outstanding Researcher Award

Robert Chew accepting on behalf of HBO, Spirit of Service Award

Karen Pittman, Spirit of Service Award

Loren Harris, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

Future Promises, Outstanding Emerging Innovation for Young Families Award

2005 Awardees

Barbara W. Sugland, Outstanding Researcher Award

Ounce of Prevention Fund, Spirit of Service Award

Henry A. Waxman, Spirit of Service Award

Jo Lerberg, Outstanding Former Teen Parent Award

Home Based Contraception Program, Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award

Bette J. Gifford, Outstanding Individual Professional

The “Must-Attend” Conference

Each year, the Healthy Teen Network Conference is the go-to network for connecting youth-supporting professionals with the opportunities, training, and tools they need to empower the next generation to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Our vast membership network of more than 5,600 affiliates is made up of diverse adolescent sexual and reproductive health professionals.

At Healthy Teen Network, we know youth-supporting professionals do their best when they’re connected to great opportunities and resources—and with others working in sexual and reproductive health. And when they are well-supported, we see more positive outcomes for the youth they serve.

As a conference sponsor, you can join us in doing this important work.

Sponsorship opportunities include Premier Sponsorships and Boost Your Brand Sponsorships.

What We Have Heard

Don't just take our word for it, here are what some of our attendees have to say about past conferences.

Premier Opportunities

Sponsorship is win-win for everyone. You get exposure to conference attendees; they get the capacity-building sessions and networking opportunities they need to provide the very best sexual health education and services. Learn more.

Boost Your Brand

Grab the spotlight with these exhibiting and advertising sponsorship opportunities. Attend the conference and showcase your services and resources by hosting an exhibit table, with our all access pass. Can't make it to Portland? Send us your content and we'll share it out on our social media platforms. Learn more.

What's Next?

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