The Delaware County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, which is co-chaired by two Crozer-Keystone employees, received the Leslie Nearman award for outstanding prevention efforts from the Pennsylvania Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The award was presented recently during the Pennsylvania Coalition’s annual conference.

Joanne Craig, administrative director of Crozer-Keystone Women and Children’s Health Services, and Kate Blackburn, administrative director of the Crozer-Keystone Wellness Center, serve as co-chairs of the Delaware County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition (DCTPPC). 

“The PA Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is connected to local groups across the state. We’re pleased that they viewed our work as award-worthy on a state level,” Craig says.

DCTPPC member Sallie-Elizabeth Clayton of Project ELECT/TAPP accepted the award at the conference. “I was proud to accept the award on behalf of our Coalition. We have done a lot with very few resources, and we just keep getting stronger,” Clayton says.

Founded in January of 2004, DCTPPC has worked to prevent pre-teen and teen pregnancy through education, awareness and accountability of the issue. DCTPPC is a collaboration of 20 organizations with 65 members who are advocates for comprehensive sexuality education, research-based programming and policy, and access to reproductive health care for adolescents.

The Coalition works to increase awareness of issues related to teen pregnancy by hosting networking events for youth service providers, coordinating school- and community-based workshops for teens, making presentations for parents and other concerned adults, and developing educational materials. 

For example, in May 2008 the DCTPPC acknowledged national Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month by coordinating an event with two Delaware County high schools, several members of the Delaware County Communities That Care network and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Youth took part in presentations on contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, and they were able to complete a survey on the national campaign’s website designed to have teens consider how they would respond to various situations related to sex and pregnancy. Through the Coalition’s efforts, nearly 200 youth participated in events over the course of the month. 

In addition to the Leslie Nearman award, the Coalition was recognized by the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents with the Excellence in Teamwork award for the Northeast Region.

DCTPPC strives to partner with groups throughout the county to host workshops on topics related to pregnancy prevention, such as the HPV vaccine, teens and dating violence, or talking with teens about sex. Presentations can be created for youth or adult audiences.

For more information about the coalition, or to schedule a presentation, contact Blackburn at (610) 497-7422 or kate.blackburn@crozer.org.