I’m Kerrie C. Blackburn, MSW, LAASW, a Washington social worker and housing program leader based in the Olympia and Yelm area. My career spans more than 19 years at the intersection of housing stability, child welfare, family reunification, poverty, and community-based services.
Connecting practice and leadership
I currently serve as Housing Program Lead / Supervisor with the Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties. I supervise 10 housing case managers, mentor staff and MSW interns, oversee grant-funded programs, and support affordable housing operations and compliance across the South Sound.
Alongside this role, I work independently through Positive Resourceful Parenting as a Child Welfare & Housing Consultant. I provide court reports, declarations, expert testimony, and safety and reunification planning focused on housing barriers in dependency and shelter care cases.
A career shaped by lived experience
Housing instability during my final year of high school and the period after graduation helped shape my commitment to this work. That experience informs my attention to dignity, access, and the practical barriers people face when trying to build stability.
My approach connects trauma-informed practice with concrete action: understanding a person’s circumstances, identifying available supports, and working with partners to address barriers.
Education and professional development
I earned my Master of Social Work from Eastern Washington University in 2008 through the advanced-standing program and Child Welfare Training and Advancement Program. In 2007, I earned bachelor’s degrees in Social Work and Women’s & Gender Studies, graduating summa cum laude.
My Washington credential is Licensed Associate Advanced Social Worker (LAASW). My professional development includes motivational interviewing, trauma- and shame-informed practice, compassion fatigue, housing compliance, and child welfare.
I am pursuing a Veterinary Social Work Certificate through the University of Tennessee, with completion anticipated in October 2026. This training builds on my experience in veterinary settings and my interest in poverty and the human-animal bond.
Teaching, mentoring, and community service
I have served as a University of Washington faculty field instructor and taught child welfare and human behavior at Saint Martin’s University. Mentoring emerging social workers remains part of my current leadership work.
My community involvement includes the Tenants Union of Washington State, Covenant Creatures, and Reunification Day event planning in Thurston and Lewis Counties. These commitments connect professional practice with housing justice, family connection, and community access.
Legislative advocacy
During the 2023–2024 Washington legislative session, I testified in support of HB 1808, concerning parentage and sexual assault, as a contracted social worker. This involvement reflects the connection between my child welfare practice and public policy.
The public HB 1808 meeting record lists Kerrie Blackburn — Contracted Social Worker among those testifying in support before the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee.
Professional connections
Learn more about my background on LinkedIn.
