Dawn Whitcomb’s heart has always been set on adoption.
“I may not be able to help every child,” she says, “but I can help some.”
In 2016, she reached out to Children’s Home of York (CHOY) to make that dream a reality. She didn’t have a perfect plan, a partner, or all the answers, but she had the determination to open her heart and her home to a child in need.
Opening the Door to Foster
Dawn’s journey began when a relative’s infant entered foster care in another state. Hoping to step in, she completed CHOY’s foster parent certification process, including Pennsylvania foster parent requirements and training on understanding trauma and navigating the child welfare system.
When that placement fell through, Dawn opened her home to other children in Pennsylvania.
As a single parent, CHOY became her village. They handled the paperwork and appointments, connected her with services and gave her the confidence to focus on being a mom.
Meeting D. and B.
When siblings D. (then almost 6) and B. (nearly 4) arrived, Dawn quickly saw the different ways children can carry trauma.
Her son, B., craved affection. “He just wanted to be held,” she remembers. Even now, at 11, he’ll run across a ballfield to give her a hug. Her daughter, D., needed time and space to feel safe.
What mattered most was that both children knew that Dawn was there for them. Then came the moment many adoptive parents dream of.
One night, D. looked at her and asked, “Can we call you Mommy?”Dawn told her she could use whatever felt comfortable. D. sprinted off to find her brother.
“We can call her Mommy!” she shouted.
Love and Challenges
Dawn is open about the realities of her foster to adopt journey. Like any parent, there were challenges she didn’t expect.
She knew fostering a child with ADHD might mean restlessness, but she didn’t expect that it could also mean difficulty with emotional regulation. “For my daughter, it’s going from zero to ten, anger or sadness, with no middle ground,” she explains.
When D. struggled with reading in first grade, Children’s Home of York quickly stepped in. They secured a neuropsychological evaluation and connected the family with specialists. Within six months, her daughter was reading with confidence.
From the start, CHOY also lined up therapy to support the children’s transition. That foresight turned potential crisis into coaching moments and gave Dawn the tools to keep her family moving forward.
After a year and a half, Dawn finalized their adoption. They were officially home.
Her Advice to Others
Dawn knows that the fear of the unknown, the length of the process, questions about costs and complexity, and the possibility of reunification hold many people back.
But her advice: “If your heart tells you to foster, just do it.”
“No parent is perfect,” she adds, “but every child deserves someone present and steady in their life.”
Why CHOY?
For Dawn, Children’s Home of York made all the difference.
“Children’s Home of York was absolutely amazing, and I’m so glad I chose them. I always knew where we were in the process, what was next, and who to call. Friends of mine in other places felt like things were chaotic. With CHOY, it was organized, seamless, and supportive every step of the way.”
From navigating insurance and finding providers to lining up therapy, CHOY offered everything from practical help to ongoing encouragement.
A Final Picture
Dawn’s journey is a reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out. Single parents, couples, and families of all kinds can change a child’s life through foster care and adoption in Pennsylvania. What matters most is showing up and being willing to say yes—because a child is waiting for someone like you.
If you’re feeling that same tug Dawn did, maybe you’re closer than you think.
Learn more about foster care and adoption in Pennsylvania with Children’s Home of York
Email: Htrimmer@choy.org | Phone: 717-755-1033 | Visit: https://childrenshomeofyork.org/foster-care/