Whitehead led the development of NTARUPT’s new virtual sex education programs to ensure teens and parents had access to sex-ed resources during COVID-19.
The Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (Texas Campaign) is excited to announce that Veronica Whitehead, M.Ed, CHES, Director of Programs for the North Texas Alliance to Reduce Unintended Pregnancy in Teens (NTARUPT) has been awarded a 2020 Rising Star Award. This award recognizes an exceptional individual under the age of 30 who has become an emerging leader in the field of adolescent health in Texas through service, leadership, advocacy, or research.
As Director of Programs at NTARUPT, Veronica oversees sexual health education programs for parents, adolescents, and youth-serving professionals with the goal of changing the stigma around talking about sex. She also manages two large initiatives – a federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grant and the Young Women’s Initiative, which gives a voice and tools to women of color aged 18-24, and has been an active part of NTARUPT’s public awareness campaign, Talk About it Dallas. In the wake of the pandemic, Whitehead led the development of NTARUPT’s delivery virtual sex education programs to ensure teens and parents had access to sex-ed resources during COVID-19.
Veronica is a compelling and knowledgeable speaker, and this year was featured in SMU Women’s TedX SMU series in her talk about “Dismantling the Myths Around Sex.” She is also a regular presenter at TWU’s School of Nursing. Veronica is a current Movement Mujeres fellow and a United States of Women Ambassador representing North Texas. She has also led to the launch of Ntarupt virtual all-inclusive sex education programs — a safe environment for Dallas teens and parents to learn about sexual health and address teen pregnancy.
“Veronica has shown great leadership and has been a tireless advocate on behalf of young people in North Texas and beyond,” says Molly Clayton, Executive Director, the Texas Campaign. “Her ongoing commitment and tireless work around this issue deserve to be applauded. She truly is a champion for adolescents and we couldn’t be more thrilled to present her with this honor.”
