Pamela Thomas-Nelson, Area 7 Foster Family of the Year
Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Thirty years ago, foster care looked very different than it does now. Pamela Thomas-Nelson had enough room in her home to be licensed to care for up to nine children at once.

Today, Pamela serves as a therapeutic foster parent through Centers for Youth and Families – a role that requires extensive specialized training and a deep commitment to children with a wide variety of significant emotional, behavioral, social, or medical needs.

Yet, through every challenge, Pamela leads with grace. She doesn’t take things personally. She stays steady, kind, and focused on what matters most – lifting up children and giving them hope.

When a teen mom and her baby needed help, Pamela provided furnishings in their new apartment and paid six months of rent to ease their burden and give them a chance to start fresh.

It’s this kind of generous spirit and deep commitment to helping others succeed, even after decades of service, that sets her apart from others.

Congratulations, Pamela Thomas-Nelson, our Area 7 Foster Family of the Year!