Children and families across Pennsylvania are facing growing mental and behavioral health challenges, something Children’s Home of York is responding to every day to meet those needs with compassionate, trauma-informed care.
This week, CHOY welcomed Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro and York City Mayor Sandie Walker to our campus for a visit focused on our organization’s role in supporting children and families through trauma-informed behavioral health, foster care, adoption, and community-based services.
During the visit, First Lady Shapiro and Mayor Walker toured CHOY’s campus, met with leadership and clinicians, and learned more about the organization’s growing continuum of trauma-informed services, including the Spark Center outpatient mental health clinic.
“When you spend time with the team at Children’s Home of York, you see how deeply committed they are to helping children feel safe, supported, and cared for,” said Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro. “Organizations like Children’s Home of York are stepping in to support children and families through incredibly difficult circumstances, and that commitment makes a difference for entire communities.”
Their visit comes at a time when the need for youth mental health support continues rising across the state. According to Mental Health America, Pennsylvania ranks among the top 12 states for children diagnosed with mental health or behavioral conditions, while more than 57 percent of Pennsylvania youth ages 12-17 with major depression do not receive mental health treatment.
At CHOY, those challenges are reflected in the growing number of children and families seeking help every day. The Spark Center, which opened in late 2025 is currently serving more than 100 clients, providing outpatient mental health services designed to help children and families access support earlier and closer to home.
Meeting with the First Lady of Pennsylvania and York City Mayor Walker was an important opportunity to elevate awareness around the realities many families are facing and the growing importance of accessible behavioral healthcare services for children and youth in our community.
“At Children’s Home of York, we see every day how early intervention and trauma-informed mental health care can help children and families through crisis,” said Ron Bunce, President & CEO of Children’s Home of York. “Spark Center and our broader continuum of trauma-informed care ensure children and families have the stability and support they need to move forward. We’re grateful to First Lady Shapiro and Mayor Walker for taking the time to better understand the needs facing families in our community and the importance of services that help children heal and families thrive.”
For more than 160 years, CHOY has supported vulnerable children and families across York County through trauma-informed programs focused on healing, stability and safety. Today, that mission includes expanded mental and behavioral health services to ensure children and families can access the support they need when they need it most.