EmberHope

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EmberHope EmberHope is a nonprofit, faith-based agency providing support to inspire hope in thousands of at-risk youth and families each year through our programs.

With a 90-year legacy of providing quality services to children in foster and residential care, originally known as United Methodist Youthville and later as Youthville, our organization was renamed EmberHope in 2013 to encompass our expanding services in counseling and independent living. All of our programs aim to spark change and enable people of all ages to improve their lives. 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 โ€“ Youthville residential and foster care, STRIVE independent living and FCS Counseling services โ€“ our employees use evidence-based practices focusing on the needs of the individual so they can be the catalyst of change. We are supporting a community of hope.

๐Ÿ’› Caring for your mental health matters. So do you.This World Mental Health Day, EmberHope celebrates the importance of ...
10/10/2026

๐Ÿ’› Caring for your mental health matters. So do you.

This World Mental Health Day, EmberHope celebrates the importance of compassion, both for ourselves and for one another. Children, families, caregivers, and those who support them all deserve to feel heard, valued, and supported.

Whether itโ€™s quiet time in prayer, connecting with a friend, enjoying a favorite hobby, or making space to rest, taking time for yourself is something worth prioritizing.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Leave a comment below to share your favorite way to care for yourself and your mental health. Your idea might inspire someone else to make time for themselves, too!

๐™๐™š๐™˜๐™ค๐™œ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ฏ๐™š ๐™จ๐™ค๐™ข๐™š๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™š? Weโ€™ve been digging through nearly a century of photographs from our history as Kansas Methodist Home ...
10/09/2026

๐™๐™š๐™˜๐™ค๐™œ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ฏ๐™š ๐™จ๐™ค๐™ข๐™š๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™š?

Weโ€™ve been digging through nearly a century of photographs from our history as Kansas Methodist Home for Children, United Methodist Youthville, and EmberHope, and sometimes our records don't tell the whole story. Do you recognize someone in this photo? Were you there? Do you remember what was happening?

๐˜š๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ฑ ๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ฑ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฃ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜บ.

๐—œ๐—ณ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚ ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—ด๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜‡๐—ฒ ๐˜€๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ผ ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ, ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—–๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—›๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—™๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ ๐˜€๐—ผ ๐˜„๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜€.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMd37C-BhYiiSQcFm1DTubaDkFbum7XBvqEjmJtvteecxc7g/viewform

Good food, great company, and a community that cares! ๐Ÿ’œ๐ŸฆThank you to Culverโ€™s in Derby for supporting EmberHope and to e...
10/08/2026

Good food, great company, and a community that cares! ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿฆ

Thank you to Culverโ€™s in Derby for supporting EmberHope and to everyone who came out yesterday to enjoy a meal and learn more about our programs and services. Weโ€™re grateful for the opportunity to connect and share how, together, we can support children and families.

We hope to do this again soon! In the meantime, you can help ignite hope through fostering, volunteering, advocating, or making a monetary donation.

Visit www.emberhope.org to learn more and find your way to get involved!

๐Ÿฆ Tonight is the night! Join EmberHope at Culverโ€™s in Derby from 5โ€“8 p.m. for good food and a chance to give back.Whethe...
10/07/2026

๐Ÿฆ Tonight is the night! Join EmberHope at Culverโ€™s in Derby from 5โ€“8 p.m. for good food and a chance to give back.

Whether youโ€™re grabbing dinner for the family or treating yourself to frozen custard, your visit can help support children and families. Culverโ€™s will donate 10% of sales during the event and 100% of tips to EmberHope!

๐Ÿ“ 2925 N. Rock Rd., Derby, KS
โฐ Tonight, October 7 | 5โ€“8 p.m.

Invite someone to meet you there and help turn an evening out into an evening of hope. ๐Ÿ’œ

Every role has a purpose. Every connection matters. ๐Ÿ’œEmberHope Connections staff recently gathered for Fostering Connect...
10/07/2026

Every role has a purpose. Every connection matters. ๐Ÿ’œ

EmberHope Connections staff recently gathered for Fostering Connections, a morning dedicated to reconnecting with the โ€œwhyโ€ behind their work. Through stories from guests with lived experience and time together as a team, the gathering offered a meaningful reminder of the shared commitment to helping children and families thrive.

A heartfelt 'thank you' to Hillside Christian Church for graciously hosting the gathering! EmberHope is grateful for your hospitality and support of this meaningful time together.

Read the blog for reflections from Connections President Dee Nighswonger, and flip through the photos below for a glimpse of the morning!

๐Ÿ”—: https://www.emberhope.org/reconnecting-to-our-why-fostering-connections/

๐Ÿ” Donโ€™t forget to join us tomorrow! Make your dinner plans count with a visit to Culverโ€™s in Derby to support EmberHope....
10/06/2026

๐Ÿ” Donโ€™t forget to join us tomorrow! Make your dinner plans count with a visit to Culverโ€™s in Derby to support EmberHope.

From 5โ€“8 p.m., 10% of sales during the event and 100% of tips will be donated to EmberHope, helping support children and families served by our organization.

๐Ÿ“… Wednesday, October 7
โฐ 5โ€“8 p.m.
๐Ÿ“ 2925 N. Rock Rd., Derby, KS

Bring your family, invite a friend, and enjoy a meal that helps ignite hope. Share this post to help spread the word!

In recognition of Pastor Marsha Haneyโ€™s service as both a devoted pastor at St. Markโ€™s United Methodist Church and a val...
10/06/2026

In recognition of Pastor Marsha Haneyโ€™s service as both a devoted pastor at St. Markโ€™s United Methodist Church and a valued member of EmberHopeโ€™s Board of Directors, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for her service and dedication.

Pastor Marsha consistently leans in, shows up, and gives generously of herself in support of children, youth, and families as a board member, as she does for her congregation and community. It takes a special person to serve with such faithfulness, care, and compassion. She is a beautiful example of what it means to put faith and love into action and to live with the belief that caring for others is a purpose we all share.

We are deeply grateful for Pastor Marshaโ€™s commitment, presence, and heart for St. Mark's UMC, EmberHope, and the community.

Join us in the comments to recognize Pastor Marsha during Pastor Appreciation Month. ๐Ÿ’œโ›ช

Words have power. Letโ€™s use them to remind others: You matter. You belong. You deserve kindness. ๐Ÿ’œOctober is National Bu...
10/05/2026

Words have power. Letโ€™s use them to remind others: You matter. You belong. You deserve kindness. ๐Ÿ’œ

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and at EmberHope, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and accepted for who they are.

Each of us can help build that sense of belonging by modeling respect, including someone who feels left out, and listening when a young person shares a concern.

Start a conversation with a child or teen in your life: What does kindness look like to them, and who can they turn to when they need support?

A warm welcome and so much hope for the work ahead! ๐Ÿ’œOn Thursday, October 1, community members, donors, and stakeholders...
10/05/2026

A warm welcome and so much hope for the work ahead! ๐Ÿ’œ

On Thursday, October 1, community members, donors, and stakeholders gathered at Crestview Country Club in East Wichita to welcome Dee Nighswonger, our new EmberHope Connections President.

The evening offered an opportunity to connect, celebrate, and share a commitment to child and family well-being in Sedgwick County. As Dee shared:

โ€œIt's exciting to spend time with so many community members that care as deeply as I do about child and family well-being here in Sedgwick County! I ended the night filled with so much hope for the work ahead and the incredible potential we have to come together as a community to serve vulnerable kids and families together.โ€

This reception was made possible entirely through the generosity of Sunflower Bank. We are deeply grateful for their support and for Crestview's wonderful hospitality!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to walk alongside EmberHope. Your partnership helps turn that shared hope into meaningful support for children and families. ๐ŸŒฟ

A little friendly competition, shared purpose, and whole lot of hope. ๐Ÿ’œOn September 26, teams, sponsors, and volunteers ...
10/02/2026

A little friendly competition, shared purpose, and whole lot of hope. ๐Ÿ’œ

On September 26, teams, sponsors, and volunteers gathered at The Sandbox in Derby for Cornament for Hope, turning a Saturday of fun into meaningful support for children and families impacted by foster care.

Thank you to everyone who played, gave, volunteered, and helped make the day possible!

๐Ÿ“ธ Click through the photos to see the fun, then visit our blog to learn more about the event and how you can keep making a difference with EmberHope.

๐Ÿ”— https://www.emberhope.org/tossing-bags-building-hope/

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Newton, KS

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