A Home With A Heart
Founded in 1888, the Wichita Children's Home has been a haven for children in crisis for over 135 years. Today, we provide support to almost 1,700 children each year who have experienced abuse, neglect, abandonment, exploitation, trafficking, loss, and/or homelessness. We are also a 24/7 provider of emergency temporary residential care for youth from birth to 24 years of age in our community.
Learn About Our History
Our Vision
Building a community where every child is safe and every family is supported.
We Believe
Children can overcome their traumas and transform their struggles into strengths. Our intentional approach and continuum of care are founded on this principle.
Our Mission
The Wichita Children’s Home provides preventative and comprehensive services to children and youth experiencing abuse, neglect, human trafficking, grief, and homelessness through trauma-responsive care.
Our Approach
Recognizing the profound effects trauma has on a child's emotional well-being, behavior, and ability to form healthy relationships, our approach is rooted in the RICH relationship model of care. The RICH model emphasizes Respect, Information, Connection, and Hope, guiding our staff to build relationships grounded in empathy, trust, and compassion. These RICH relationships are essential for children and youth who have experienced past betrayal and trauma as they provide a safe space for healing and growth. We are committed to creating an environment where every child feels understood and supported, paving the way for healing relationships, personal growth, and a hopeful, brighter future.
Every Child Safe,
Every Family Supported
At the Wichita Children’s Home, our primary commitment is to create a safe place for children and youth in crisis. Our programs and services include personalized therapeutic interventions, thorough case management, and holistic care crafted to address the unique needs of each child. These services ensure that every child receives personalized support and specialized attention using a shared decision-making model. Our goal is to instill in them the courage and confidence needed to build a brighter future, inspired by the hope and support they found at Wichita Children's Home.
Admission In The Home
Children are admitted by law enforcement, social workers, parents in crisis, and, sometimes, they admit themselves. Most children and youth are brought to us due to allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment, exploitation, homelessness or running away from home. When parents are in crisis and have no one to safely care for their child, on a moment's notice WCH can be a respite. Our Foster Care program provides a safety zone for infants, toddlers and grade-schoolers thanks to foster parents who undergo specialized training and generously open their hearts and their homes 24/7. BRIDGES is a 2-phase program for adolescents ages 16-21 who need a safe and stable living environment but lack adequate family support. Youth who are “aging out” of foster care, are pregnant or parenting, homeless or facing similar challenges, get the guidance they need in a dorm-like or apartment setting as they transition to adulthood. Gerard House, with a 30-year mission of ensuring that pregnant teens and their babies get the services they need for a healthy start, continues its compassionate care under the roof of WCH.
Beyond The Home
WCH’s Street Outreach Services (SOS) focuses on engaging runaway and homeless youth with services that help stabilize their lives. With the help of many community partners, SOS operates our community’s Safe Place crisis line to ensure that youth in crisis get the help they need. SOS also conducts safety and risk reduction workshops for area middle and high school students. CrossRoads Drop-in Shelter is a place where homeless, runaway and at-risk youth can establish positive relationships with adults and be connected with the support and resources they need most. Moving On to Motherhood (MOM) is a community-based program that reaches out to pregnant and parenting teens to assist with basic needs, parenting education and life skills that can change two lives at a time for the better.
Our Directory
Board of Trustees
How Can You Help?
Giving comes in many forms—discover how you can help through wish list items, planned gifts, volunteering, donation drives and more.
Project Safe Place
Area QuikTrip® stores serve as a Safe Place
24 hours a day for children and youth who are in crisis, runaway, or are without a place to stay.
We're here for you. Any time. Day or night. Call our hotline at (316) 262-HOME.