Dawn Scott with Keene, 5, and Jackson, 7.

Each issue during this 20th anniversary year, Little Rock Family is catching up with friends who’ve helped make up our history of strengthening families in Arkansas. Since May is National Foster Care Month, we thought it would be the perfect time to check in with local media mom Dawn Scott, who advocates for foster children in Arkansas.

Life’s been busy for the THV 11 anchor since she and her family were featured in the December 2008 issue of Little Rock Family. On being a parent to Jackson, 7, and Keene, 5, Dawn shares, “Life changes. It’s constantly evolving and pushing you to be the best parent you can be—helping your children to be better citizens. We’re out of diapers and past tantrums now, but we have full time school, less time together. And, boys and girls are SO different.”

“Parenting is a privilege not for the faint of heart for sure, but it’s a true gift. I’m thankful for it even on the hard days. I get to watch and help guide them along and see them laugh, even cry, and become little humans.” She says, “I try hard when I’m with them to really be with them. Phones down. No computers. I give them my full focus and really am in the moment with them. They know we care enough to stop them if they’re acting up, but that we’re also in their corner to cheer for them.”

When it comes to juggling family and career Dawn affirms, “It’s never easy, but I work for a very kid- and family-friendly television station. They allow children to be around on snow days or other days out of school. It makes it easy for the kids to understand what I do. They know I do something that matters and that helps the community.”

Since early 2010, Dawn has been passionately involved in Arkansas’ foster child program. Her ongoing series “A Place To Call Home” regularly introduces viewers to children in the state’s foster care system in hopes of finding them a forever home. “I recognized how important it was to just be there for kids and that the most important thing was for someone to give them time and love.”

“The programs are evolving with more features, more community members and outside groups involved,” Dawn says. “The use of social media has impacted our reach. We’ve expanded our 30 minute specials to what they are now. We’ve humanized these children who need our help (for viewers). They have emotions. They want a family and to be loved. We also hold an annual Christmas party. This year, members of the community, a group of attorneys, the Museum of Discovery and the Knowledge Tree all pitched in.”

“We focus on wherever the need is. In the last 6 to 8 months, we’ve featured teens. Second Chance Ranch shared that there have been multiple adoptions because of THV 11,” she says. When asked about what her hopes are for the future of the foster care program, she says, “My huge vision is that there’s some national adoption television program, a no child waiting show almost like ‘America’s Most Wanted.’ My dream would be that every child has a chance to share their story in video if they want to. Of course, ideally, my wish is there would be no waiting child and no group homes.”

Dawn’s work with foster kids has impacted her as a mother. She shares, “You have to set an example for your children to get up every day and make the most of the day. I explain to my children there is no mommy or daddy for the foster kids. It was hard for them to understand at first and then they saw they were kids just like them. I saw the looks on their faces. Jackson and Keene know they are really lucky to have two parents who love them and who are there for them. We say many prayers of thanks.”