The Youth Health Empower Project, a program of HIV/AIDS service organization Philadelphia FIGHT, recently welcomed a new director, who, despite her young age, has already accumulated about a decade of experience in the field.
Katie Dunphy, 27, began her position as director of Y-HEP Aug. 11, taking the reins from Robin Brennan, who headed the organization since 2005.
Dunphy’s interest in social work was initially sparked during her senior year of high school, when she spent time as part of a school project working at Planned Parenthood. Throughout her education at Muhlenberg College, she continued to garner experience within the field, and earned her bachelor’s degree in communication and sociology in 2004.
Dunphy said her studies melded well with her desire to help those who are struggling.
“I’ve always found it really important and just in my core to give back to other people,” she said. “I’d felt drawn to STD and HIV work early on in my life, and that’s just always been where my interest and focus has been.”
After graduation, Dunphy accepted a position at Planned Parenthood and remained part-time with the organization after being hired as a case manager with ActionAIDS, a position she held for about two years. She went on to work for another two years at the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia before joining the FIGHT team as a research assistant.
Jane Shull, executive director of FIGHT, said she expects Dunphy’s transition within the organization to be seamless.
“I think Katie’s going to do a terrific job,” Shull said. “We’ve known her for a while and she has tremendous energy and enthusiasm and is really committed to this program.”
Dunphy noted she was initially drawn to the position so that she could become a more active participant in a program that provides essential, and much-needed, services to the city’s most vulnerable populations.
“The thing that stands out about Y-HEP is its ability to reach the most at-risk youth,” she said. “The harm-reduction model we use is critical to be able to outreach and connect with those who are really in need. There’s somewhat of a lack in social-service agencies for that particular population and we fill that need.”
Dunphy said she’s looking to employ numerous organizational developments in order to continue to build Y-HEP’s successes.
“It’s going to be critical to strengthen the relationships we have with other organizations in the area, so I’d like to continue to develop our communication externally with the organizations we work with, as well as internally,” she said. “In the long term, I think we’ll be looking at strategic planning and goals and how our project and our team ties back into FIGHT’s larger mission.”
Dunphy said the staff at Y-HEP will play an integral role in helping the program meet its goals — and she’s confident they’re up for the job.
“The staff is so diverse and creative and able to do so many things with limited space and resources, as every social-service agency faces. Even just within the last week, I’ve been so impressed by their dedication.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].