Wichita Childrens Home

TO ASSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND TO CREATE HEATHLY FAMILIES BY PROVIDING: ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION SERVICES; A TEMPORARY HOME FOR CHILDREN AT RISK OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR HOMELESSNESS; EDUCATION, PREVENTION AND ADVOCACY INITIATIVES.

WICHITA CHILDREN'S HOME (WCH) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1888 AS THE FIRST ORPHANAGE IN WICHITA, KANSAS TO "SUPPORT AND CARE FOR DESTITUTE AND HOMELESS CHILDREN." TODAY, WCH OFFERS RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR CHILDREN IN WICHITA AND SURROUNDING AREAS, SERVING CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 24 YEARS OF AGE IN A THERAPEUTIC CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT INCLUDES FOSTER CARE, EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR CHILDREN PLACED IN POLICE PROTECTIVE CUSTODY, MATERNITY CARE FOR FOSTER CARE YOUTH, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, ANTI-HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION (STREET OUTREACH, DROP-IN CENTER AND EMERGENCY SHELTER) AND AFTERCARE/FOLLOW-UP. WCH OPERATES THE ONLY YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR MINOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE STATE. IN ADDITION, WCH OPERATES KIDZCOPE, A BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM OFFERING FREE SERVICES TO ANY FAMILY SEEKING WHOLE FAMILY SERVICES TO ADDRESS CHILDREN'S GRIEF AND LOSS. WCH PRIORITIZES SAFETY, HARM REDUCTION, AND PROVIDING A THERAPEUTIC MILIEU THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF CARE. FOSTER CARE: YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES 0-12) ARE CARED FOR BY WCH FOSTER PARENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN HOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN. MOST CHILDREN COME TO US IN POLICE PROTECTIVE CUSTODY. SOME FIND PERMANENT HOMES THROUGH OUR FOSTER-TO-ADOPT PROGRAM.EMERGENCY RESIDENTIAL SHELTER: OLDER CHILDREN (AGES 13-17) THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA ARE CARED FOR AND OFFERED INTENSIVE SUPPORT ON THE WCH MAIN CAMPUS IN A HOME-LIKE SETTING WITH INDIVIDUAL BEDROOMS.CROSSROADS YOUTH HOMELESS PROGRAM: EMERGENCY SHELTER A 30-DAY SHELTER BED PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES RUNAWAY, HOMELESS AND AT-RISK YOUTH WHO ARE 18-24 WITH A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP.STREET OUTREACH SERVICES/DROP-IN SHELTER - THROUGH MOBILE OUTREACH AND THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE DROP-IN CENTER, HOMELESS YOUTH RECEIVE THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT THEY NEED TO STABILIZE THEIR LIVES AND ACCESS SERVICES THAT HELP THEM REDUCE THEIR RISKS, GET OFF THE STREET AND BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE. STREET OUTREACH ALSO OPERATES OUR COMMUNITY'S 24-HOUR SAFE PLACE PROGRAM FOR RUNAWAYS AND YOUTH WHO ARE IN CRISIS OR DANGER. YOUTH RESIDENTIAL CENTER: A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH (AGES 17-22) IN STATE'S CUSTODY WHO NEED SUPPORT AS THEY LEARN TO IMPROVE THEIR DECISION MAKING, COPING SKILLS, AND TO ADDRESS ANY UNDERLYING PROBLEMS WHICH ARE AFFECTING THEIR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR COMMUNITIES. BRIDGES APARTMENTS: FORMERLY HOMELESS YOUTH WHO ARE TRANSITIONING TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY LIVE IN ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS. GERARD HOUSE, MOVING ONTO MOTHERHOOD, BABY MOBILE: GERARD HOUSE SERVES PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS WHO ARE IN STATE'S CUSTODY AND NEED INTENSIVE RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT TO ENSURE THEY AND THEIR BABIES GET A HEALTHY START. MOM PROVIDES EDUCATION AND TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT TO PREGNANT TEENS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO LACK ADEQUATE FAMILY SUPPORT. THE BABY MOBILE DELIVERS NECESSITIES LIKE DIAPERS, FORMULA AND HYGIENE SUPPLIES TO TEEN PARENTS.ANTI-TRAFFICKING INITIATIVE: WCH IS A LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN, OPERATING KANSAS' FIRST AND ONLY STAFF SECURE UNIT FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AS WELL AS A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY HEAL FROM COMPLEX TRAUMA.KIDZCOPE: PEER-BASED GRIEF SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN (AGES 3 TO 18) AND THEIR CAREGIVERS THROUGH A 8-WEEK SESSION. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND SUPPORTIVE NETWORK FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN AT NO COST TO THE FAMILY.