About
Sparking a Community of Hope.
An ember ignites, creating a spark, which symbolizes the point at which a life is ready for change. Long after the fire fades, an ember burns waiting for an opportunity to spark a new flame. An ember is the first breath. If there is an ember, there is hope.
EmberHope is a nonprofit, faith-based agency providing infrastructure and support to inspire hope in thousands of at-risk youth and families each year. Through our programs – Youthville residential and foster care and FCS Counseling services – our employees use evidence based practices focusing on the needs of the individual so they can be the catalyst of change.
Mission
Sparking change to improve lives.
Vision
Improve the lives of at-risk youth and families by offering innovative programs rooted in faith to inspire hope.
Values
Integrity – Maintain high ethical standards with honesty and reliability
Culturally Sensitive – Recognize and integrate cultural differences, values and attitudes
Accountable – Achieve results efficiently with fiscal responsibility and compliance with the law
Respect – Honor the dignity and basic rights of all people
Excellence – Perform all work and services with exceptional standards
Promise
Innovative programs and services in a caring environment.
Church Support
Our agency began in 1927 by the United Methodist Church as an orphanage and has evolved into a 501(c)3 nonprofit, faith-based agency committed to developing innovative programs that inspire change in at-risk youth and families. Throughout the years, EmberHope, previously named Youthville, has maintained strong ties to United Methodist Church. We are supported by and continue to partner with the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church.
We are blessed with support from the following congregations:
UMC District Offices:
Dodge City District
Five Rivers District
Flint Hills District
Hays District
Hutchinson District
Kansas City District
Parsons District
Salina District
Topeka District
Wichita East District
Wichita West District
Community of Hope Partners:
Dodge City First UMC
Garden City First UMC
Great Bend First UMC
Hays First UMC
Hutchinson First UMC
Employment
History
In the early 1920s, the United Methodist Church recognized the need for a residence for homeless and abandoned children. The mission was adopted to provide shelter and care to these children. The church’s mission quickly became a reality when Mr. Edward P. Libbey of Newton left the bulk of his estate to the project, and the City of Newton followed by leading fundraising efforts. These efforts led to the purchase of 20 acres of land for an orphanage, which became the site of the Kansas Methodist Home for Children.
Libbey Hall, named after Mr. Libbey, was built in 1929. The campus also included an orchard, barns, a farmhouse, stables, granaries, cow lots and chicken houses. Over the next three decades, a chapel and residential cottages were also built.
In 1960, the board of trustees changed the agency name to Methodist Youthville. They also approved a plan that focused on providing services to adolescent youth with emotional or social adjustment problems. That same year, our organization was asked to assume management of the Bronco Busters Boys Ranch in Dodge City.
In 1971, the board of trustees officially changed the agency name to United Methodist Youthville, Inc.
In 1972, the agency began a family foster home program in the Newton community.
In 1996, Kansas became the first state in the nation to fully privatize its adoption, foster care and family preservation services. Our agency also began serving youth and families as part of the Region 5 foster care/reintegration contract.
Our organization expanded into mental health services in 2007 by acquiring Family Consultation Service.
In 2011, we began serving families in Washington state through a parenting support contract with the state.
In 2012, Youthville Family Consultation Service became FCS Counseling.
After eight decades of providing quality services to children in foster and residential care, Youthville was renamed EmberHope in 2013 to encompass our expanding services in counseling and behavioral health, as well as the launch of a new program, STRIVE independent living.
Our Youthville foster care program also expanded in 2013 by adding services in the state of Texas.
All of our programs aim to spark change and enable people of all ages to improve their lives. We are supporting a community of hope.
In 2016, our Functional Family Services expanded from Sedgwick County to include Western Kansas.
Leadership

Nickaila Sandate
President and CEO
Susan Kensill
Chief Financial Officer
Lisa Capps
Chief Development Officer

Lori Gonzales
Chief Program Officer

Amy Tuttle
Vice President Foster Care – Kansas

Kim Seal
Senior Executive Assistant
Locations
- San Antonio
3201 Cherry Ridge, Suite C-304, San Antonio, TX 78230 | T 210.441.0625 | F 210.541.0545
Certifications
Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) Certified
The ChildTrauma Academy acknowledges that this provider has completed NMT Training Certification through the Phase II level. For more information on NMT Training Certification and the NMT Assessment Process, click here. More information on the ChildTrauma Academy is available on The ChildTrauma Academy website at: http://www.childtrauma.org/