Thousands of teen parents in New York City successfully graduate high school and make the transition to the next phase of their lives with the help of the UFT’s Living for the Young Family program, and many have retiree Marjorie Wilson to thank.

Wilson was LYFE’s first social worker when the program started 42 years ago. The Retired Teachers Chapter presented Wilson with the UFT Fanny Simon Award, named for the founder of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the UFT Women’s Rights Committee, at the RTC Luncheon on May 30. The chapter issued a proclamation in her honor in March for her dedication to her career and her efforts as a retiree to help fellow retirees get services.

“It became a wonderful, wonderful program for teen parents,” Wilson said of the LYFE program, to which she dedicated her 30-year DOE career. The career social worker assisted young families while the teen parents worked toward their high school or GED diploma or vocational certificate.

Wilson, who retired in July 2012, was the first chapter leader of the UFT’s LYFE chapter — which includes teachers, social workers and educational paraprofessionals — and battled with the DOE over working conditions.

Before the creation of the LYFE program, the DOE had just one school in each borough for pregnant girls. But teen mothers were leaving school and not returning because they didn’t have day care for their babies. Thanks to the LYFE program, they can drop their babies off at LYFE centers located in more than 30 high schools citywide, allowing them to focus on academics while their babies are cared for. They also learn valuable parenting skills from the LYFE staff, such as how to bond with and read to their children.

“The social workers were able to stabilize the lives of the students and families, so they were able to go to school on a regular basis,” Wilson said. Many of the teen parents decided to pursue a college education after their LYFE high school experience.

RTC Chapter Leader Tom Murphy said the work Wilson did throughout her career to help others is inspiring. “There is so much hidden talent in the UFT of members who do good for its own sake,” he said.

Wilson said she appreciates the award. “It was just a wonderful feeling to eventually be recognized for all the years that I put in,” she said.

Wilson maintains close connections with in-service LYFE social workers, many of whom she was instrumental in hiring. They meet annually during Social Worker Appreciation Month in March. More than a dozen communicate regularly in a group chat.

“Once a social worker, always a social worker,” Wilson said. “I stay in touch with everybody, so I know who’s sick, who needs help.”