Kansas Foster Care

Your foster parenting support community

Kansas Foster Care

Your foster parenting support community

Kansas Foster Care

Your foster parenting support community

Building strong communities starts with licensed foster families.

There are more than 6,000 children and teens in Kansas foster care. 

The need for licensed foster parents is greater than it has ever been, as children long for the loving environment of a home.

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

When children and teens cannot live with their parents, foster parents bridge the gap to meet both physical and emotional needs, including food, clothing, shelter, and care, in a safe and nurturing environment.

Watch our video with Rich Shockey who shares his time as a Kansas Foster Parent.

It’s a calling that isn’t always easy but our team will be there every step of the way.

Our team of foster care workers guide you through the process of becoming a licensed foster parent and will be there to support you.

When you are interested in learning more, reach out and a member of our team will contact you to talk about the process more and the journey to becoming a licensed foster parent through EmberHope Youthville. Through training, licensing, and preparing your home, we are with you at every step.  

We are there afterward as well, available to answer your questions, direct you towards services, and provide you with the tools and support you need.

Want to look at fostering on a part-time basis?

Become a part-time licensed respite foster family you’ll be providing respite care for full-time foster families that need a chance to recharge or go on vacation.

If you’re interested in providing respite care for a full-time foster family, fill out the inquiry form.

Take advantage of all the resources at your fingertips.

Take advantage of all the resources at your fingertips.

Kansas Foster Care workers

Your Foster Care worker will walk with you through the licensing process, provide you with support meetings and training opportunities to prepare you for your first child placement, and will provide you with support along the way.

Meet Foster Care Recruiters - Passionate About Finding Families for At-risk Youth!

Jessica Neal Kansas Foster Care Recruiter
Jessica Neal | Foster Care Recruiter & Licensing Specialist
EmberHope Youthville Kansas City
(913) 232-6060 | jneal@emberhope.org
Katie Mace | Adoption Recruiter & Licensing Specialist EmberHope Youthville
(316) 251-5944 | kmace@emberhope.org
CindyPonce
Cindy Ponce | Foster Care Recruiter and Licensing Specialist
EmberHope Youthville
(316) 251-4953 | cponce@emberhope.org
LibbySmith
Libby Smith | Therapeutic Foster Care Recruiter and Licensing Specialist
EmberHope Youthville
316-452-0631 | esmith@emberhope.org
If you know someone who may want to become a foster parent, they can reach out today to join an informational meeting or ask any questions about becoming a foster home. Connect with a recruiter above.

Training

Prospective foster families will be trained with a trauma-informed curriculum through MAPP Foundations or Deciding Together (DT) prior to becoming licensed. Licensed Kinship families will complete pre-service training through Children’s Alliance Kinship Origins. These trainings will help prepare the foster families to support foster children who have experienced trauma in their past to help them get to a place of hope and healing.Please register by clicking the trainer’s name in the list below to email them or by reaching out to Julie Breshears at jbreshears@emberhope.org.

Upcoming Training Dates

DATETIMETOPICRSVP TO TRAINERLOCATION
04/079A-12Cost of Poverty ExperienceLearn MoreSedgwick County Extension Office
04/0910 AM – 12Substance AbuseMichelle Ricklefs
Newton
04/091PM -3 PMChild and Adolescent Psychopathology; Suicide and Self harmSarah Cashon
Libbey, Newton
04/109 AM- 4 PMTBRI Intro and OverviewTricia Wells
, Jeff Pritchett
Newton
04/109 AM – 4 PMTBRI Connecting PrinciplesJoe Martin
1 Brittany
04/109AM – 1 PMCPR/ First Aid/ AEDMallory Simons
Newton
04/119 AM – 2PMMedication Administration / Signs & Symptoms of Communicable DiseasesFaith Jacobs
Newton
04/219 AM – 10:30 AMMedication ManagementJoan Williams
1 Brittany
04/141 pm – 2 pmChild Development TrainingMallory Simons
Newton
04/142p-3pLGBTQ+ Awareness TrainingMallory Simons
Newton
04/159 AM – 1 PMCPR, First Aid, AEDJoan Williams
1 Brittany
04/159 AM – 11:30Human TraffickingAllison Pate
Newton
04/151 PM – 3 PMChild Welfare and Juvenile Court ProcessMallory Simons
Newton
04/1510 AM – 2 PMSpring 2025 Best Practices in Kansas Child Welfare Law |
Spring Training in Child Welfare Law - KS Courts
KS Judicial Branch
(CEU available!)
Virtual
04/169 AM – 5PMSCM Certification Day 1Mallory Simons
Newton
04/169 AM – 127 Cs of ResilienceRita Strecker
, Julie Breshears
1 Brittany
04/1610 AM – 2 PMSpring 2025 Best Practices in Kansas Child Welfare Law |
Spring Training in Child Welfare Law - KS Courts
KS Judicial Branch
(CEU available!)
Virtual
04/179 AM – 5 PMSCM Certification Day 2Mallory Simons
Newton
4/189 AM – 5 PMSCM Certification Day 3Mallory Simons
Newton
04/219 AM – 12Milieu Management, Boundaries, and Prudent ParentingMallory Simons
Newton
04/249 AM – 4 PMTBRI Intro and OverviewWarren Sheridan
, Deneen Dryden
1 Brittany
04/259 AM – 4 PMTBRI Intro and OverviewJoe Martin

Newton
04/309 AM – 1 PMCPR, First Aid, AEDJoan Williams
1 Brittany
05/6Getting to Know the Family (Part 1 of 2) Strategies and Skills to address Domestic Violence in Child WelfareLearn MoreKCSDV
05/69 AM – 4 PMTBRI Intro and OverviewTricia Wells
, Jeff Pritchett
1 Brittany
05/079 AM – 1 PMCPR, First Aid, AEDJoan Williams
1 Brittany
05/121:30 PM – 3 PMMedication ManagementJoan Williams
1 Brittany
05/139 AM – 4 PMTBRI Connecting PrinciplesTBRI Trainers1 Brittany
05/1410 AM – 12Substance AbuseMallory Simons
Newton
05/141 PM – 3 PMChild and Adolescent Psychopathology, Suicide and Self-harmSarah Cashon
Newton
05/143 PM – 4 PMChild Abuse Symptoms and ReportingMallory Simons
Newton
05/159 AM -1 PMCPR, First Aid, AEDMallory Simons
Newton
05/169 AM – 2 PMMedication Administration, Signs & symptoms of Communicable DiseasesFaith Jacobs
Newton
05/199 AM – 1 PMCPR, First Aid, AEDJoan Williams
1 Brittany
05/199 AM – 12Policy & Regs, Safety & BBP, Food SafetyMallory Simons
Newton
05/191 PM – 2 PMChild Development TrainingMallory Simons
Newton
05/192 – 3 PMLGBTQ+ AwarenessMallory Simons
Newton
05/209 – 11: 30 AMHuman TraffickingAllison Pate
Newton
05/219 AM – 12Milieu Management, Boundaries, Prudent Parenting TrainingMallory Simons
Newton
05/239 AM – 4PMTBRI: Intro and OverviewJoe Martin
Newton
05/269 AM – 5 PMSCM Certification Day 1Mallory Simons
Newton
5/279 AM – 5 PMSCM Certification Day 2Mallory Simons
Newton
5/289 AM – 5 PMSCM Certification Day 3Mallory Simons
Newton
05/309 – 11 AMThe Indian Child Welfare Act: A Conversation with Experts
(CEU credits available)
KS Judicial CourtsVirtual
6/5/256p-9pMAPP FoundationsWichita Woodlawn Office
8/21/256p-9pMAPP FoundationsWichita Woodlawn Office

Register on Children’s Alliance for additional training dates. 

Respite Care

At EmberHope Youthville, we want to provide our full-time foster families with every resource they need to give their very best to the children in their care. 

Sometimes even foster parents need a break to relax and recharge.  With respite care, part-time foster families can step in for a few days and care for a child. 

NEW! Host a Foster Parent Information party to help others find their fit!

For our Kansas foster youth, there is a significant need for safe and loving homes. In fact: 

  • as of 2024, there were approximately 6,000 children in the foster care system and only 2,215 licensed foster homes in the state of Kansas
  • out of these homes, 95% only take children 12 and under. 
  • children ten and over comprise the largest age group of children in out-of-home placement, at 51.2 percent. 

With your help, we can find safe and loving homes. Do you know families who might have an interest in foster parenting? Please serve as a host and invite them to an information meeting where you can share your passion for helping youth in need. We provide treats, prizes, and information about foster parenting. 

Please help us reach more at-risk youth! Please contact your foster care worker or recruiter for details on how to get started with hosting your first information meeting.

FAQs

The purpose of these parties is to provide a space for our current families to invite friends or family who may be interested in fostering to learn more and ask questions. This is also a great place for anyone interested in fostering to join.

For those interested in hosting, the only thing you need to do is provide the space and invite your friends and family. EmberHope Youthville will take care of the rest! An EmberHope Youthville recruiter will provide details to guests, provide snacks, giveaway prizes, and a gift for the host.

There are no obligations when attending a party. We would love it if you could RSVP so we know how many refreshments we need to provide, but we also welcome walk-ins. These sessions are about an hour and are a great space to ask questions. So, feel free to stay as little or as long as you would like. 

Wichita area: please contact Kristen (316) 447‑0184 or ktaverner@emberhope.org.

Kansas City area: please contact Jessica (913) 232‑6060 or jneal@emberhope.org .

When we hold an in-person party, we will spend about an hour — 20 to 30 minutes of overview and 20 to 30 minutes for questions from participants. We will also have a bit of time to enjoy refreshments and play a couple of fun games. We can also hold virtual parties as well.

Our foster families are at the heart of our mission.

Our foster families are at the heart of our mission.

Accreditations & Affiliations

Subscribe to our Foster Care Families Email List

Subscribe to our Foster Care Families Email List

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