Bloom Our Youth, Inc. Foster Care Director, Pamella Talley, won the “Most Outstanding Child Welfare Service Professional” Award at the Georgia Conference on Children and Families (GCCF) hosted by Together Georgia on October 14, 2022 in Augusta, GA. GCCF is the largest annual interdisciplinary event in Georgia designed to bring together the community that serves children and families. Bloom Our Youth, Inc. (d.b.a. Bloom) is a leading provider of foster care services in metro Atlanta. Bloom’s programs include: foster parenting, training and support for families, and The Bloom Closet, which supplies free clothing and essentials to more than 5,000 foster children annually.

Talley has worked with Bloom since 2015, and her commitment to excellence, knowledge of best practice in child welfare, and ability to manage a top-notch foster care program were cited as reasons for her winning this prestigious award. Under her leadership, Bloom’s foster care program has grown from a small initiative to a nationally-accredited, A+ rated program that annually serves more than 125 foster children, including those who are therapeutic, medically fragile, and pregnant or parenting.

“Pamella is a rare gem in the field of social work, and leads the way when it comes to keeping children safe and her staff motivated with their eyes always on the prize: providing the utmost support for families and ensuring the safety and well-being of each child in care,” comments Becky Davenport, Bloom President/CEO.

GCCF Participants represent the full spectrum of disciplines and organizations serving Georgia’s children and families which includes child advocacy, juvenile justice, social service, education, legal counsel and the faith-based community. The conference provides a forum to improve competencies, learn from experts in the field and network with other professionals who have a wealth of experience.