Child Welfare Workforce Month, celebrated annually in September, recognizes the invaluable contributions of child welfare professionals, who advocate for the well-being of children and families. TFI Family Connections (TFI) would like to celebrate the dedicated social workers, case managers, administrators and support staff for their tireless commitment to ensuring safety, stability and hope for their daily impact in their communities.
TFI is proud to spotlight Travis Wackerly, a devoted recruiter and advocate for child welfare. His story – from personal family moments to his community-driven passion – reflects his ongoing mission to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families.
Passion & Personal Journey:
Travis’s dedication to child welfare stems from his own family’s experience. As a foster and now adoptive parent to two brothers, ages 9 and 10, Travis and his wife have personally opened their hearts and home to children in need.
Despite owning a successful music and event services business, Travis was inspired by witnessing his children’s story of hope and belonging and chose to dedicate himself to supporting foster care initiatives.
His Path & Impact at TFI:
After initially applying to foster care agencies seeking meaningful roles, Travis’s genuine dedication caught TFI’s attention. He was brought on as a recruiter, where his relatable experiences and honest approach helped foster trust with prospective foster families.
Travis notes, “I enjoy being a recruiter and talking to people. I would never ask others to do something I have not personally done. That’s why my conversations come across as honest and heartfelt.”
Beyond the Job:
Travis’s work extends beyond his role as a recruiter. He actively networks with agencies like Oklahoma Human Services (OHS), attends recruiter meetings and participates in community events such as Shine Life and other outreach efforts.
He’s also a creative advocate. He developed a music-driven campaign called “See the 1,” emphasizing that every statistic represents a single child with hopes and dreams. Travis personally funded the campaign, production and video-making. See it HERE.
What’s Your Why:
A pivotal moment for Travis was witnessing his son’s growth and understanding of fatherhood and compassion. His son’s reflections on mental health and desire to help others inspire him every day to keep pursuing this meaningful work.
Travis states, “My son’s story motivates me. I want more children to be able to tell their own stories of family and belonging. My son can tell his story and if I can help other kids do that, I know I’ve done what I can.”
Overcoming Barriers & Insight for Future Child Welfare Workers:
Travis acknowledges that working in child welfare can be demanding. He is candid about his own mistakes and views them as learning opportunities and recalls a time when his son was overwhelmed and yelled at him and Travis yelled back. Looking back on that moment, he knew that he wanted to make a better choice in the future.
His advice highlights the power of helping one child at a time: “Children have hopes and dreams of a brighter future —they need a supportive home and someone to care for them. Remind yourself that even helping one child in need will create a ripple that can last a lifetime.”
Instead of looking at the big statistics, think of the one child you can help. “If you can keep your mindset that way, you can stay in this career for a lifetime. One kid can make a difference in your life, and you can make a difference in theirs,” remarks Travis.
It’s because of child welfare workers, like Travis Wackerly, that children and families can make progress and build stronger, healthier futures. They are the heroes behind success stories with some of our community’s most vulnerable children and families. Their impact shapes brighter futures for children and strengthens families every day.
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