Who We Are

Jill is the Founder and President of The Pitre Promise Project, a child-safety and advocacy nonprofit dedicated to supporting caregivers who step in to protect children in unsafe environments.

Jill’s advocacy began through lived experience. She became the full-time caregiver of a young child placed in her home under a court-ordered protective arrangement. Over more than 500 days, she cared for the child while navigating a legal process that issued eight protective orders, yet still failed to ensure the child’s long-term safety. When her legal representation abruptly withdrew, Jill refused to give up. She taught herself legal procedure, drafted her own filings, and represented herself through motions, hearings, and appeals.

Her courageous fight exposed deep systemic gaps in accountability, documentation, and transparency within family-court and child-protection systems. Recognizing how many families face these same failures without support, Jill created The Pitre Promise Project so no caregiver stands alone when advocating for a vulnerable child.

• Human Trafficking 101
Louisiana Child Welfare Training Academy (LCWTA)
Polaris Project – National Human Trafficking Hotline Training

• Mandatory Reporter Certification
Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS)

• Suicide Prevention & Crisis Response
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
– Talk Saves Lives
– AFSP Volunteer 101
– Participation in suicide-prevention committee work

• Trauma-Informed Education
Louisiana Child Welfare Training Academy (LCWTA)
Training in ACEs, trauma responses, student safety, and trauma-informed communication to support children and families.

Jill’s philosophy is rooted in resilience and truth. She believes that when one person stands up against injustice, it empowers others to do the same and that real reform begins with transparency and courage. Through public speaking, media appearances, and community outreach, Jill continues to share her story as a symbol of strength and perseverance. Her message remains simple, powerful, and unwavering:

“Protect the child. Empower the caregiver. Reform the system.”

 Ron  serves as Vice President of the Pitre Promise Project, where he focuses on accountability, transparency, and systemic improvement within family-court and child-welfare systems. He brings a strong commitment to protecting children, supporting caregivers, and ensuring that legal processes operate fairly and lawfully.  Ron works closely with research, policy, and advocacy teams to review court practices, identify procedural failures, and support reform-focused initiatives aimed at preventing harm to children and families. His role includes contributing to strategic planning, assisting with documentation and review efforts, and helping translate lived experiences into actionable reform goals. Guided by a belief that courts must serve justice rather than compound harm, Ron is dedicated to strengthening oversight, elevating community voices, and advancing meaningful change through collaboration, integrity, and persistence.  

Certifications

Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana

• Bachelor’s Degree in Government
• Associate’s Degree in Legal Assistant Studies 

 Professional Skills & Experience 

• Legal writing and document preparation 
• Legal, political, and policy research
• Political campaign work and public policy support 
• Certified Parliamentarian (Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised) 

Suicide Prevention & Crisis Response

Participation in suicide-prevention committee work

 Tracy serves as Treasurer of Pitre Promise Project, Inc., where she supports the organization’s financial oversight, accountability, and long-term sustainability. As a former small business owner and retired hairdresser, Tracy brings practical financial management experience, operational insight, and a strong work ethic to her role on the Board.  Having survived domestic abuse in a prior marriage, Tracy is deeply committed to advocating for child safety and supporting families impacted by trauma. Her lived experience strengthens her dedication to ensuring that vulnerable children are protected and that caregivers have access to meaningful support.  Tracy is a mandated reporter in West Virginia, Maryland, and Louisiana, reflecting her continued commitment to child protection and compliance with state reporting laws.  In addition to her board service, Tracy currently operates a small handcrafted candle business, where she creates and pours scented candles for purchase. Her entrepreneurial spirit and attention to detail reflect the same care and intention she brings to her advocacy work.  Through her service as Treasurer, Tracy contributes to the organization’s mission of protecting children, empowering caregivers, and promoting accountability within systems that impact child safety. 

Amber Hendrix, MSW, is a dedicated child welfare professional and advocate committed to protecting vulnerable children and strengthening investigative systems that serve families. With a Bachelor and Master of Social Work and experience in government-based child protective investigations, Amber has worked directly with families navigating complex cases involving abuse, neglect, and systemic barriers.  Her professional background includes conducting investigations, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, assessing child safety and risk factors, and advocating for trauma-informed, culturally responsive interventions. Amber is currently pursuing her Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) credential to expand her impact in policy reform, investigative practice, and systems-level advocacy.  Driven by a deep commitment to justice and prevention, she is passionate about strengthening accountability within child welfare systems, improving investigative standards, and amplifying the voices of children who cannot advocate for themselves.  Amber’s long-term vision includes advancing policy change within government systems, supporting frontline investigators, and contributing to reforms that prioritize child safety, transparency, and equity. 

Ronnie is a natural leader with a strong commitment to community service, advocacy, and action. Known for his ability to organize, coordinate, and bring people together, Ronnie ensures that Pitre Promise Project events run smoothly, professionally, and with purpose.

With a background in organizing community gatherings, managing logistics, and working hands-on with both adults and youth, Ronnie thrives in roles where planning and execution matter. His strengths include coordinating volunteers, managing event details, problem-solving under pressure, and engaging directly with the public to spread awareness about PPP’s mission.

Ronnie brings to the team:

• Strong event planning and operational coordination
   
• On-site leadership and volunteer management
   
• Experience working with community organizations and local supporters
   
• A grounded, steady presence during high-pressure situations
   

But what makes Ronnie invaluable isn’t just what he does, it’s why he does it. Ronnie believes that protecting children is a community responsibility, and that awareness grows when people come together. His motivation comes from seeing families supported, caregivers empowered, and children placed in safe, stable environments. By creating meaningful events,  from fundraisers to awareness campaigns. Ronnie helps turn advocacy into action.

At the Pitre Promise Project, Ronnie’s mission is clear:
Create events that inspire engagement, build connection, and drive real change.

• Mandatory Reporter Certification

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

Jaci Loveless Brasher serves as the Research Director for the Pitre Promise Project, where she leads investigative research and documentation to expose systemic failures within family courts and child-protection environments. Her work is fueled by a deeply personal understanding of how the system can fail the very children it is designed to protect.

After navigating her own complex family court battle, Jaci witnessed how critical evidence is often ignored, how children’s voices are suppressed, and how caregivers fighting for safety are left without support. Rather than stay silent, she chose to take action.

Jaci now dedicates her skills to:

• Collecting and organizing case data and documentation
   
• Identifying patterns of judicial misconduct and systemic failures
   
• Researching legislation, policy, and reform initiatives
   
• Supporting families by organizing facts and timelines for court
   

Her strength lies in seeing what others miss  the details, patterns, and connections that expose the truth. She has a unique ability to break down complex cases and transform chaos into clarity, helping families feel supported and empowered.

Jaci’s motivation is simple:
To unite and rescue children in danger.

Her research drives PPP’s advocacy, giving families a voice and transforming their experiences into evidence that fuels change. Through compassion, courage, and unwavering determination, Jaci ensures that no family walks through the darkness alone.

 Kaylyn Hakanson is the Media Director for the Pitre Promise Project and the host of the podcast You Can’t Break Us, a platform dedicated to giving a voice to survivors, advocates, and families who have endured injustice within the court and child-protection systems.

With a strong background in digital media, content creation, and storytelling, Kaylyn uses her platform to shine a light on what many experience silently. Her work focuses on exposing truth, empowering voices, and amplifying the stories of families fighting for safety and justice.

Kaylyn is driven by purpose, not publicity. Her passion for child safety and accountability stems from witnessing firsthand how easily powerful systems silence those who speak out. Through podcasting, media strategy, and digital storytelling, she transforms pain into power and awareness into action.

At Pitre Promise Project, Kaylyn oversees:

• Media strategy and public messaging
   
• Podcast and digital storytelling outreach
   
• Social media awareness campaigns
   
• Content that educates, informs, and mobilizes the community
   

Kaylyn believes that awareness is the first step toward reform. By creating space for people to be heard, she helps ensure that no family has to face injustice alone, unheard, or unseen.

She stands firmly on the truth that:
You can try to break us — but you won’t.