Jessica Tollenaar Cafferty Email & Phone Number

Provide vision, leadership, and oversight for King County’s Best Starts for Kids initiative, a $900 million levy and partnership with more than 300 community-based organizations to ensure babies, children, families, and communities in King County are happy, healthy, safe, and thriving.

• Provided leadership and supervision for King County’s Best Starts for Kids child care programming, including $200 million in new investments in child care subsidy and wage boost from 2022-2027; partnered with City and State agencies to distribute $7.4 million in retention payments to more than 12,000 workers in child care settings in 2022• Led development of three emergency child care programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing grants to child care providers and informal caregivers… Show more • Provided leadership and supervision for King County’s Best Starts for Kids child care programming, including $200 million in new investments in child care subsidy and wage boost from 2022-2027; partnered with City and State agencies to distribute $7.4 million in retention payments to more than 12,000 workers in child care settings in 2022• Led development of three emergency child care programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing grants to child care providers and informal caregivers, guaranteed slots for essential workers, and subsidies for low- to middle-income families, and working closely with the City of Seattle, Child Care Resources, and School’s Out Washington• Provided leadership and content expertise on local, regional, and national child care and early learning services and policy strategies; participated in relevant work groups including those convened by the Department of Children Youth and Families; provided input in the development of a child care subsidy pilot for King County employees in partnership with the Joint Labor Management Insurance Committee• Provided child care content expertise to the King County Schools and Child Care COVID-19 task force to support development of equitable public health guidance and response, and supports for child care providers and families• Convened and facilitated the King County Children and Families Strategy Task Force, which developed twenty recommendations to expand child care access and affordability grounded in a foundational commitment to equity Show less

• Led strategy, program planning, $2.3 million annual budget, and evaluation for BSK’s child care health consultation (CCHC) strategy supporting licensed and informal child care providers across King County; secured funding for an external evaluation of BSK and PHSKC programs to document models and analyze impact• Held 18 focus groups and interviews with child care providers and analyzed findings for incorporation into RFPs; conducted internal listening tour with King County staff to… Show more • Led strategy, program planning, $2.3 million annual budget, and evaluation for BSK’s child care health consultation (CCHC) strategy supporting licensed and informal child care providers across King County; secured funding for an external evaluation of BSK and PHSKC programs to document models and analyze impact• Held 18 focus groups and interviews with child care providers and analyzed findings for incorporation into RFPs; conducted internal listening tour with King County staff to identify challenges, opportunities, and key priorities • Served as King County’s legislative subject matter expert for child care topics, especially those related to health; supported content development for Executive testimony to the Department of Early Learning and testified in support of Infant Nurse Consultation in 2018 Show less

Greater Seattle Area

Built new programming to advance leadership for women and girls in Washington State by building strategic partnerships, managing investments in innovative programs and leveraging data and trends to inform and drive work. • Managed grantmaking process and initiative investments, participating in development, implementation and assessment of annual and longer-term program plans and associated $1.1 million program investment budget • Led planning and launch of the $1 million Girls’… Show more Built new programming to advance leadership for women and girls in Washington State by building strategic partnerships, managing investments in innovative programs and leveraging data and trends to inform and drive work. • Managed grantmaking process and initiative investments, participating in development, implementation and assessment of annual and longer-term program plans and associated $1.1 million program investment budget • Led planning and launch of the $1 million Girls’ Leadership Organizations of Washington State (GLOW) initiative, supporting 14 girl-serving organizations across Washington and engaging over 15,000 girls over three years• Led partnership to develop and launch pilot political leadership training for college women at three schools in Washington; oversaw process to refine and standardize curriculum and scale up program• Produced community engagement and education events on key issues for 50-300 participants, and cultivated relationships with key stakeholders by engaging them in stewardship events and on committees and task forces• Managed strategic partnerships with grant recipients, contractors, stakeholders and other funders, and coordinated opportunities for stakeholders to share best practices and set and evaluate shared goals• Served as the organization’s content expert; maintained a current and deep understanding of best practices and emerging trends in philanthropy and leadership development, and supported public policy work Show less

Shoreline, Wa

Ran a positive, issues-focused campaign for Shoreline City Council prioritizing policies to advance social and economic equity, invest in transit-oriented development, and support working families.• Engaged thousands of residents while doorbelling and attending community events, forums and debates• Built community support over a 9-month campaign by connecting with voters through grassroots canvassing campaigns and by phone, earning over 41% of the popular vote• Raised over $29,000… Show more Ran a positive, issues-focused campaign for Shoreline City Council prioritizing policies to advance social and economic equity, invest in transit-oriented development, and support working families.• Engaged thousands of residents while doorbelling and attending community events, forums and debates• Built community support over a 9-month campaign by connecting with voters through grassroots canvassing campaigns and by phone, earning over 41% of the popular vote• Raised over $29,000 through strategic donor cultivation, cold calling and fundraising events Show less

Bellevue, Wa

Oversaw and managed over $550,000 in grants distributed annually to low-income women in Washington, and served as the primary point of contact for applicants, grantees, and service providers. With leadership, participated in program planning and evaluative work, including developing and implementing new strategic procedures for improved grantee evaluation and selection processes. Conducted in-depth policy analysis of long-term engagement of clients and impact measurement. Built relationships… Show more Oversaw and managed over $550,000 in grants distributed annually to low-income women in Washington, and served as the primary point of contact for applicants, grantees, and service providers. With leadership, participated in program planning and evaluative work, including developing and implementing new strategic procedures for improved grantee evaluation and selection processes. Conducted in-depth policy analysis of long-term engagement of clients and impact measurement. Built relationships with partner organizations, individuals, and institutions, and conducted outreach to current and former grantees. Managed social media and correspondence. Show less

Provided legislative advocacy support and led event planning at a nonprofit organization promoting funding of higher education and the University of Washington. Analyzed and translated legislation related to higher education funding, and briefed high-level administration on advocacy efforts. Drafted and distributed messaging to a base of 45,000 alumni and grassroots supporters. Coordinated event planning for national 2013 Public Higher Education Legislative Advocacy Professionals (PHELAP)… Show more Provided legislative advocacy support and led event planning at a nonprofit organization promoting funding of higher education and the University of Washington. Analyzed and translated legislation related to higher education funding, and briefed high-level administration on advocacy efforts. Drafted and distributed messaging to a base of 45,000 alumni and grassroots supporters. Coordinated event planning for national 2013 Public Higher Education Legislative Advocacy Professionals (PHELAP) conference. Show less

Taught Inclusive Pre-K classroom in partnership with physical, occupational, and speech therapists and Early Intervention Team. With staff, developed Individualized Education Plans, and conducted assessments of child development and attainment of specialized goals. Connected low-income, unhoused, and foster families with Family Resource Coordinators and other available resources.

Coordinated afternoon program, lessons, and projects and partnered with other staff to develop and help children meet social, emotional, and developmental goals. Compiled materials for accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Master'S Degree, Master Of Public Administration

Activities and Societies: Education and Social Policy Interest Group Received Master of Public Administration with Honors, specializing.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Sociology