Seattle’s Child is proud to partner with the state Department of Children, Youth and Families Strengthening Families Washington to honor outstanding caregivers doing important work on behalf of children. Throughout February, we’ll introduce you to Unsung Heroes from around the state. Enjoy their stories.
Tracie Jefferson, Puyallup
Tracie Jefferson stepped forward to be a strong and courageous voice for children through her role in helping form the nonprofit Keeping Kids Safe. As a foster parent, Tracie listened closely to the concerns of foster parents, social workers, GAL, visit supervisors, and combined in-home service providers — those working on the front lines with children and families. As child near-fatalities and fatalities continued to rise, she heard the urgent cries of “boots on the ground” professionals and refused to stay silent.
Using her strong social connections, Tracie helped bring these voices together to elevate shared concerns about high critical incident rates and child safety gaps. Her leadership is grounded in deep knowledge of parenting and child development, particularly the impact of trauma and unmet developmental needs on children. Tracie understands that parents cannot safely parent while in active addiction and recognizes the profound harm caused when children lack emotionally present and regulated caregivers.
Tracie consistently advocates for children’s social and emotional well-being. She emphasizes that children need caregivers who are emotionally available, responsive and safe. She firmly believes and lives out that it is the responsibility of adults and systems to protect children, not the burden of children to survive unsafe environments.
Through advocacy, collaboration and unwavering commitment to child safety, Tracie Jefferson exemplifies the protective factors DCYF seeks to honor. Her work has had a meaningful impact on children, caregivers, and the broader child welfare community. She is truly deserving of recognition as an Unsung Hero.
— Kristina Johnson
NOTE: Seattle’s Child is running these stories unedited, as written by the people who nominated them, in keeping with the DCYF Unsung Hero process.
