About Our NonProfit Organization:

brighter thoughts, brighter days, Inc.

Our goal is to become the premier resource where healing, hope, and opportunity come together for foster youth, youth in need, and youth in crisis. By building strong partnerships and connecting resources across our community, we are committed to creating lasting positive change and encouraging every young person to embrace the belief: "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life."

Support

“The vision for BTBD, Inc. is deeply personal and rooted in both family legacy and professional purpose. Growing up, I watched my late mother, Linda Sue Thompson, and older sisters, Yolonda and Kristy, open not only their homes, but also their hearts, to children and families in need. Their compassion, strength, and willingness to provide stability during difficult times showed me early on the life-changing impact of feeling safe, supported, and cared for.

That foundation inspired my lifelong passion for serving foster youth, youth in crisis, and vulnerable families. My career began as a DHS Family Service Worker in Saline County and expanded into more than twenty years of experience across school-based settings, outpatient therapy, inpatient behavioral health, medical social work, and private practice. I also spent over fourteen years in the largest children’s behavioral health hospital in Arkansas, advancing from Therapist to Lead Therapist and ultimately Assistant Clinical Director. As Lead Therapist, I developed and led a placement stabilization and transition program designed to facilitate safe community placements for foster youth transitioning from psychiatric care.

Throughout my work, I witnessed too many children unable to return home or transition into the community because of limited placements, instability, or lack of support systems. Those experiences strengthened my belief that children thrive when they are given structure, compassion, advocacy, and individualized care in supportive environments where healing and growth are possible.

BTBD, Inc. was created from that belief and from a passion to use my experience across multiple systems to help children and families find hope, healing, and opportunity. My work is continually guided by my favorite scripture, Philippians 4:8, and the belief that the greatest barrier we often face is our mindset. At the heart of this vision is a simple but powerful message:

“Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life.”

A NonProfit Dedicated to Supporting foster youth, Youth In Need, and youth in Crisis Through Hope, Healing, and Advocacy

Our Mission

Brighter Thoughts, Brighter Days, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing advocacy, family support, and trauma-informed therapeutic services that promote safety, stability, and emotional well-being. Our mission is to uplift foster youth, youth in need, and youth in crisis by meeting them where they are, helping them heal from past trauma, build self-worth, and develop the skills they need to thrive during and beyond their time in our program.

Through community partnerships, family-centered support, and youth-focused programming, we strive to ensure that every youth in need and crisis feels seen, supported, and hopeful about their future.

Our Vision

Our vision is a future where every foster youth, youth in need and youth in crisis experiences consistent care, emotional support, and meaningful opportunities for growth. Brighter Thoughts, Brighter Days, Inc. envisions a system where all youth are empowered, families are supported, and trauma-informed care is the standard—not the exception.

We are committed to expanding access to supportive programs, transitional services, and safe, healing-centered environments that promote healing, stability, and successful transitions into stable, permanent family placements or independent adulthood.

building a brighter future together

Introducing The Linda Sue Home

Brighter Thoughts, Brighter Days, Inc. is preparing to open its first residential home, a safe, structured, and nurturing environment for adolescent girls ages 13 to 17 who need additional support to heal, grow, build essential life skills, and move toward a brighter future.

We are proud to have earned Systems Accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) on June 1, 2026, reflecting our commitment to quality, accountability, and person-centered services. On October 7, 2026, we reached another significant milestone when we received our Community Support Systems Provider (CSSP) license. We are now completing the final steps to begin welcoming girls into our first home.

The Linda Sue Home is lovingly named in honor of the late Linda Sue Thompson, beloved mother of our Founder and Executive Director, Jennifer D. Nelson. The home will serve up to five adolescent girls at a time. Our intentionally small, trauma-informed setting emphasizes emotional stability, personal growth, life skills, and meaningful connections. Our goal is to prepare each girl for a successful transition back to her family, her community, or another appropriate long-term living arrangement.

Interested in learning more? Referral sources, families, and community partners are welcome to contact us at office@changeyourthoughts.org or (501) 960-1711 for updates on our opening.

Current Needs & Start-Up Expenses

Donations received will help cover:

Administrative and operational costs associated with launching a new nonprofit organization
Adequate staffing to ensure safety, supervision, and quality programming
Trauma-informed programming, life skills development, and supportive services
Criminal background checks and compliance requirements
Staff training and professional development
Accreditation and licensing fees required to operate services

Milestones, Blessings & Brighter Days

🎉WE PASSED OUR SITE INSPECTION AND RECEIVED OUR LICENSE!!🎉

Brighter Thoughts, Brighter Days, Inc. is excited to announce that we passed our site inspection on September 8, 2026, and received our Community Support Systems Provider (CSSP) Enhanced Level License on October 7, 2026. These milestones bring us one step closer to opening the doors of The Linda Sue Home.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has prayed, donated, offered encouragement, purchased needed items, or volunteered their time to help prepare our home. Every act of kindness has brought us closer to welcoming the girls we will serve. We could not have come this far without you. Thank you!

A Special Thank You to The Home Depot in Benton

We extend a special thank you to The Home Depot in Benton for generously donating a washer and dryer to The Linda Sue Home. We are especially grateful to Ms. Amy, the store manager, for her dedication to making this gift possible. It will meet the girls’ everyday needs and also give them opportunities to build valuable life skills.

How You Can Help

As we complete the remaining steps toward opening, we still have items available on our Amazon Wish List. We are also seeking a 7-8 passenger van to provide safe, reliable transportation for the girls in our care. Brighter Thoughts, Brighter Days, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

If you would like to help, or know of individuals, businesses, or organizations that may be able to assist, please contact us at office@changeyourthoughts.org or (501) 960-1711. We would love to hear from you.

Thank you for blessing our home, believing in our mission, and helping us create brighter days for the girls we will serve.

Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life!

Browse Our Amazon Wish List

Why Your Support Matters

Every contribution—large or small—helps create a stable and supportive environment where youth can feel safe, valued, and empowered. Your generosity helps us build more than a house; it helps us create a home and an opportunity for brighter futures.

We understand the importance of transparency and accountability. As we continue to grow, we are committed to keeping supporters informed about our progress, milestones, and the impact donations are making in the lives of youth and families we serve.

Thank you for believing in our mission and investing in hope, healing, and brighter days ahead.

Donate

Your generous, Tax-Deductible donation enables us to provide essential support and resources to children and families.

We welcome community sponsors and partners who share our vision for supporting youth in need.

Please contact our Founder and Executive Director, Jennifer D. Nelson, at jennifer@changeyourthoughts.org or (501) 960-1711 to learn more about partnership and sponsorship opportunities.

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