He ran away from his abusive family at the age of 15, spent time in a shelter, a group home, his grandmother's home, and another group home. When he turned 17, his case worker placed him in a foster home. On his 18th birthday, without anywhere else to go, he moved into a 4KIDS independent living home for young men who age out of foster care.
He wasn't a likely candidate for success, by the world's view. But every step of the way, God's hand was upon this young man, shaping him into who he is today. This spring, 22-year-old Francisco Nelson was named to the Board of Directors at ChildNet - the lead agency for child-welfare in Broward County.
"I am the only foster kid on any type of foster board in the United States," says Nelson. "They did a lot of research, and they said that if you are going to help a community that is more developed for foster care, then why not have someone who has been through the system and knows what it is like, someone who can bring a different point of view."
It was nearly a year before his caseworker was able to place him in a foster home – where he felt for the first time an environment of security. “It completely changed the definition of safety to me,” Nelson recalls. I had thought that safe was being away from my home, my mom, and being in a place [the group home] that was saturated with sex, fights, drugs, and alcohol – until I came to my foster mom’s home, and it was different. It was a wonderful, positive experience.” Although Nelson left his foster home when he turned 18, the close bond had cemented. He visits regularly with his foster mom. “Her family has accepted me,” Nelson shares. “I am her son, and they have all accepted that. That has really been transforming in my life.”
Nelson then moved into the 4KIDS residential living program for teens like himself needing a family and a home. Focusing on the life skills he had missed out on as a child and teenager, Nelson learned how to prepare meals, do his own laundry, handle finances, and become dependable. And he thrived. He applied to college, got a job, and today works at Broward College as a creative arts specialist and serves at ChildNet on the board.
He’s the kid who ran away from his abusive home, survived a group home, and was nurtured in his foster home. He’s the young adult who knows what it’s like to be a kid in crisis. “I’m being one voice of hundreds of kids … bringing it before a board and before the state, so we can have the best impact on our youth.” At ChildNet, Nelson will be involved in marketing and advertisement for campaigns raising awareness of the plight of foster kids and the desperate need for more foster homes.
Nelson added, "4KIDS is not just a name you hear or read about. It's a real place. If it wasn't for 4KIDS, if it wasn't for the hard work, the overwhelming amount of hours that they put up with- if it wasn't for their support, if it wasn't for the support of the community donating not only their time, but also financially, I would be lost. I would be another kid with a graveyard number. I would be another kid lost in the system. I would be another kid with a serial number across his chest in a jail cell. I deeply believe that.
But it's not only 4KIDS - the roots go deeper. It's our community, the people who fund this program, the people who continue to volunteer. Our volunteers are amazing . . . how they share themselves, how they get attached to us. It is a community-based gathering that has kept us alive."
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD . . .
plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
Nelson added, "4KIDS is not just a name you hear or read about. It's a real place. If it wasn't for 4KIDS, if it wasn't for the hard work, the overwhelming amount of hours that they put up with- if it wasn't for their support, if it wasn't for the support of the community donating not only their time, but also financially, I would be lost. I would be another kid with a graveyard number. I would be another kid lost in the system. I would be another kid with a serial number across his chest in a jail cell. I deeply believe that.
But it's not only 4KIDS - the roots go deeper. It's our community, the people who fund this program, the people who continue to volunteer. Our volunteers are amazing . . . how they share themselves, how they get attached to us. It is a community-based gathering that has kept us alive."
Theirs only one lesson in this, use your TESTimony, the story, the path, that God design for you to bring salvation to many others,
WOULD YOU ALLOW YOUR STORY TO HEAL SOMEONELSE WOUNDS?
Until i fulfill my purpose
-Francisco Nelson