Kaitlyn R. Jones is joining the OPEEP Team as an Education Program Specialist, bringing a deep commitment to health justice, community partnership, and systems-level change. Originally from Connecticut, Kaitlyn is a three-time Buckeye, earning her Bachelor of Science in Public Health-Sociology with a minor in Dance, followed by dual master’s degrees in Public Health and Social Work, from The Ohio State University. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Certified Community Health Worker (C-CHW) through the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Throughout her career, Kaitlyn’s work is grounded in maternal, child, and infant health and housing policy advocacy across local, state and federal levels. She has led and supported initiatives focused on strengthening outcomes for families, advancing health equity, and translating research into actionable policy and practice. Her background spans program development, evaluation, and community-engaged research, with a consistent focus on centering lived experience and building solutions that are both data-informed and people-driven.
During her time at the University of Colorado’s School of Public Health, Kaitlyn served as an Evaluation Specialist with the Community Organizing for Prevention team at the Injury and Violence Prevention Center. Her work ensured youth voices and lived experience shaped research design, evaluation processes, and innovative community dissemination efforts. Kaitlyn also mentored emerging evaluators and helped deepen the team’s shared commitment to equitable evaluation practices, reinforcing her belief that meaningful prevention work must be community-driven, transparent, and rooted in justice. Most recently, Kaitlyn was a Program Coordinator at the Zickler Family Prenatal Pediatrics Institute at Children’s National Hospital, where she led the development of the Nest Supportive Care Program, a retreat-based model designed to support families preparing to welcome a baby with complex medical and developmental needs. That work strengthened her belief that education, preparation, and supportive environments can be transformative.
My “WHY” in OPEEP
I am drawn to working with incarcerated individuals because my commitment to social justice is both personal and professional. Through my experiences in community organizing, violence prevention, maternal and child health, and policy advocacy, I have seen how systems can either limit opportunity or create pathways for restoration and growth. As a lifelong learner, I believe deeply in the power of education as a tool for empowerment, particularly for women navigating complex histories and systemic barriers. In this new role, I am looking forward to creating supportive, engaging learning spaces that foster confidence, skill-building, and self-determination all while collaborating with colleagues who are equally committed to dignity, second chances, and meaningful impact.