Impacting the lives of children, youth and families by offering innovative, trauma-sensitive programs rooted in faith to inspire positive change.

Leading the change for a healthy child, family and community.

• Accountability | Achieve agency outcomes efficiently with fiscal responsibility and sustainability
• Cultural Sensitivity | Recognize and integrate cultural differences
• Excellence | Perform all work and services with exceptional standards
• Faith | Commitment to nurturing the heart and soul of others
• Integrity | Maintain high ethical standards with honesty and reliability
• Respect | Honor the dignity and basic rights of all people
• Trauma-Sensitive | Commitment to support and acknowledge how trauma affects self and others

Founded by the United Methodist Church more than 95 years ago, EmberHope Youthville began in the early 1920s with a gift from the estate of Mr. Edward P. Libbey. This gift, combined with funds from the City of Newton, enabled the purchase of 30 acres to build the Kansas Methodist Home for Children. 

Over the next nine decades, we have helped even more children, teens, and families; here are the highlights:

• In 1929, Libbey Hall, which included a kitchen, library, offices, and dormitories, opened for service. Six more residential cottages were added, including a school, a chapel, and farm facilities.
• In the 1960s, we added a new name—Methodist Youthville—and a new focus: serving adolescent youth with emotional or social adjustment problems. 
• In the 1970s, a family foster home program began in Newton.
• In 1996, Kansas became the first state to fully privatize its adoption, foster care, and family preservation services. Our agency began serving youth and families as part of the Region 5 foster care/reintegration contract in Sedgwick County.
• 2013 expanded foster care into Texas.
• In 2013, United Methodist Youthville was renamed EmberHope. This new name better encompassed our agency’s expanded services.
•  In 2018, the agency underwent another name change. Now operating as EmberHope Youthville, this name change reflects a return to our historical roots and our vision for the future.

Throughout our history, we believe there are times God gathers and scatters his people. We believe He continues to shape our vision, mission, and focus as we hold true to the core values that we live out through every decision. 

As a 501(c)3 non-profit, faith-based agency, we are proud to partner with the Great Plains United Methodist Conference and USD 373, and New Hope Shelter, Inc. to spark change in at-risk youth and families.