Jennifer Lake
founder and Executive Director

Jenn has been personally and/or professionally involved in the world of foster care and adoption for nearly 20 years. She holds a Master’s of Science in Family and Community Development from Oklahoma State University and a Graduate Level Trauma Certificate from Lock Haven University. She is a graduate of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC), credentialed through the International Coach Federation (ICF) as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). Jenn has been a trainer, facilitator, event speaker, and workshop presenter for nearly twenty years. Early in her career, Jenn was a classroom teacher in both the public and private sectors and holds an Education (B.S.) degree, with a focus in family studies, from Messiah University.

In 2016, Jenn began her professional career in Family Advocacy, while on staff at a private foster care and adoption agency, where she recruited, trained and supported foster and adoptive families on their journey to, and after permanency . 

In 2019, Jenn earned the title of TBRI Practitioner through the Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development out of Texas Christian University. As stated by the Karen Purvis Institute for Child Development, “TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children.” Additionally, Jenn is a Making Sense of Your Worth Facilitator through the HALO Project and a Cultivating Connection Facilitator through Empowered to Connect.

Jenn is a passionate champion of caring for orphans, vulnerable children, and the families that love them. She lives in Williamsport, PA with her husband and their three teenage children. Their family was blessed with the gift of adoption in 2004 when God joined them with one of their sons.

In addition to her family, Jenn loves having coffee with loved ones, getting lost in a good book, freedom and flexibility, hiking, wide-open spaces, and opportunities to be creative.

Emily shover
Hope chest coordinator and church engagement specialist | lycoming county

Emily is a Pennsylvania native and grew up in the church as a pastor's daughter. She attended Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, PA where she obtained her B.A. in Psychology with a counseling concentration. After graduation, Emily moved to Rhode Island where she lived for three years. This is where her work in the world of foster care began. While Emily isn't a foster parent herself, she has acted in various supportive roles for foster and adoptive families and is very passionate about loving and caring for children from hard places. She also hopes to become a foster parent some day. Emily is currently pursuing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Trauma Certification for children and adolescents through Commonwealth University. 

At Dwell, Emily is the Church Engagement Specialist and Admin for the Lycoming County office. In this role, Emily works to engage churches by finding their "something" to champion children from hard places as we are called to do. Emily is excited to be a part of the Dwell team and to be providing support to a community she loves.

When she isn't working, Emily loves spending time with her two dogs, Sammy and Ollie, running, cycling, and listening to a good podcast. Also be sure to ask her about her hundreds of house plants, she is always more than willing to give plant care pointers! 

Colby kolb
marketing and community engagement specialist

A Montoursville, PA native, proud wife and mother, Colby serves as our Marketing & Community Engagement Specialist.  Her passion for Dwell developed as she walked alongside friends, supporting them on their adoption journey from China. Colby shares it was a privilege to be part of their story, and it reinforced her belief in the transformative power of love and community.

When Colby is not crafting marketing magic for Dwell, you can catch her sipping a cup of coffee, cooking up a storm with her two awesome kids, dreaming of summer weather by the pool, and embarking on spontaneous day trips. Rooted in faith, Colby believes, just as the Lord cares deeply for us, we can extend that care to those in need.

Lynn Warwick
TBRI Practitioner
church engagement specialist and care coordinator | Columbia/MONTOUR CountIES

Lynn has been passionate about foster care and adoption for as long as she can remember. She and her husband, Taylor, have been foster parents for five years and have welcomed twelve children into their home, two of whom are now part of their forever family. Dwell Orphan Care was introduced to her by a kind stranger in Target. This encounter and introduction can only be described as divine intervention.

Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science in Bible and a Bachelor of Social Work from Cairn University. She completed her TBRI Practitioner Training in 2022 and is honored to be able to share the tools of Trust Based Relational Intervention with others. She credits TBRI for many of the changes and healing she has personally seen in her own children from hard places. Of all jobs she has held and continues to hold, being a mom and teacher to her kids is her favorite. At her core, she is one who has been deeply loved and who desires to deeply love the kids and birth families in her life - in return.

She is super excited to join Dwell as the Hope Chest Coordinator — Columbia County and serve the community that she loves so much.

alison storm
Hope Chest Coordinator | Columbia CountY

Born and raised in PA, Alison has degrees in Education and Anthropology. For nearly a decade, Alison served as a direct support professional, offering assistance to individuals with special needs. After a brief departure, she's grateful to be back in a role that resonates with her authentic desire to serve others.

As our Columbia County Hope Chest Coordinator, Alison coordinates donations at our Bloomsburg location. Additionally, Alison curates Hope Bags for children entering foster care in Columbia, Mountour, and Northumberland counties as well as Foster Family Care Packages for the entire family unit.

Her role extends to fostering collaboration with volunteers and the community, as well as educating others on Dwell's mission to positively impact the lives of children in foster care.

Outside of work, Alison's downtime is filled with simple joys—whether she's exploring thrift stores, hiking, traveling, or enjoying the company of her fiancé, pup, and two kitties at home.

Jody Russell
Care Coordinator AND TBRI PRACTITIONER | Lycoming/Clinton COUNTIES

Jody has personally been touched by the fostering/adoptive world. In 2017, Jody and her husband, Aaron, began their foster-to-adopt process. Jody and Aaron were blessed to complete a respite stay for two sibling brothers and instantaneously felt that they would become a part of these special boys’ lives. In December of 2018, the boys were placed with them permanently, with final adoption occurring in August of 2019.

Jody has turned to and incorporates the principles of TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) to navigate daily life with her boys. Knowing the outcomes and results of TBRI, Jody was fortunate enough to complete extensive training to become a TBRI Practitioner in April of 2021. She is passionate about sharing this information with other foster and adoptive families as well as classroom teachers. As Dwell’s Care Coordinator, Jody has the privilege of organizing monthly Mom’s Night Out for local foster, adoptive, and kinship parents. Having intentional time to connect and support other mothers on a similar journey is a passion of Jody’s.

She is a tenured professor at Lock Haven University where she teaches in the Health Science Department and practices clinically as an athletic trainer. Jody has over 20 years of experience teaching in higher education and has taught Physical Education at the high school level. “Teachers spend so much time with our kiddos and it is important that they are provided the tools and necessary support to understand how to address the needs of vulnerable children. The journey is not always easy but being equipped with the principles and tools of empowering your kiddos, connecting with them, and correcting behaviors in a way that disarms their fear makes every day a bit easier and the rewards that much sweeter.”

Jody and her husband live in Lock Haven, PA with their two adoptive sons, 2 cats, and 2 mini Bernedoodles. She earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Penn State University, a M.Ed. in Health and Physical Education from Valdosta State University, and a B.S. in Physical Education from Salisbury University. As a family, they enjoy traveling (especially their trips to Maine), outdoor adventures, and pool time.

Katie Williard
TBRI Practitioner

Katie’s experience in the adoption and foster community started when she and her husband chose domestic infant adoption to build their family in 2015. After experiencing the process, and then meeting and building a relationship with their daughter’s first family, she realized the desperate need for education and support for families in open adoption. With a passionate belief in Grace and connection, she advocates for radical openness, first family care, and, above all, truth and wholeness for adoptees and foster children.

Katie holds a bachelor’s degree from Lycoming College and works as a writer. She completed TBRI Practitioner training in April of 2021. She values time with her family above all else and enjoys quiet days outside in her garden. She’s annoyingly passionate about grammar and not-so-annoyingly passionate about yoga, writing, music, old books, and coffee.

heidi Mnkandhla
TBRI practitioner

Heidi is a loving wife and mother of 6 young children. Yes, her hands are full but she considers herself blessed and honored to be their mom. Two of her children were adopted through kinship. She is passionate about discipling her children in Christ through everyday life. Along with mothering, which is already a full-time job, Heidi is a pastor’s wife and serves alongside her husband in various ways at City Church in Williamsport, PA.

Heidi has earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Liberty University in Virginia. She completed her TBRI Practitioner training in April of 2021. She is passionate about offering support to foster and adoptive parents through the local church.

In the little spare time she gets, she enjoys reading or watching movies. Her favorite snack is Oreos dipped in peanut butter (don’t knock it till you try it!). She is passionate about fostering and adopting and is excited to see how God is going to use her for His Glory through orphan care and serving the community.