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.

WCH SERVES NEARLY 2,000 CHILDREN AND YOUTH ANNUALLY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE, NEGLECT, ABANDONMENT, EXPLOITATION, TRAFFICKING, LOSS AND/OR HOMELESSNESS. WITH A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM, INCLUDING SURVIVOR LEADERSHIP, EACH INFANT, CHILD, AND YOUNG PERSON IN THE CARE OF THE WICHITA CHILDREN'S HOME RECEIVES INDIVIDUALIZED AND COMPREHENSIVE, TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES THAT ARE INTER-RELATED BUT YET CAN STAND ALONE TO PROVIDE EACH CHILD WITH A TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY TOWARDS FINDING THEIR INTRINSIC WORTH, HEALING THEIR CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, AND BECOMING EMPOWERED.VISION: BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY CULTIVATING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY CHILD IS SAFE, AND EVERY FAMILY IS SUPPORTED. MISSION: THE WICHITA CHILDREN'S HOME PROVIDES HOLISTIC SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING ABUSE, NEGLECT, LOSS, EXPLOITATION OR HOMELESSNESS THROUGH TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE CARE. OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES ARE CHILD/YOUTH CENTERED, INTENTIONAL IN ALL THAT WE DO, AND PROVIDING THERAPEUTIC CARE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHILDREN WE CARE FOR CAN HEAL FROM THEIR TRAUMAS AND TURN THEIR STRUGGLES INTO STRENGTHS. OUR INTENTIONAL APPROACH AND CONTINUUM OF CARE IS BUILT ON THAT PREMISE. WCH CHILD PLACING AGENCY: LICENSED BY THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IT GUIDES INTERESTED FOSTER FAMILIES THROUGH THE FOSTER CARE LICENSING PROCESS. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 109 LICENSED FOSTER FAMILIES WHO ASSIST US IN CARING FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE PROTECTION OF POLICE PROTECTIVE CUSTODY OR THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ADMISSION, THE FOSTER FAMILIES PROVIDE A TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE, SAFE AND CARING HOME FOR THE CHILDREN AND WORK IN TANDEM WITH WCH TO ENSURE ALL NEEDS ARE IMMEDIATELY MET. EMERGENCY RESIDENTIAL SHELTER: 24/7 TRAUMA-INFORMED RESIDENTIAL CARE IN A HOME-LIKE SETTING, LICENSED BY THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, FOR CHILDREN AGES 13-17 WHO ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF POLICE PROTECTIVE CUSTODY DUE TO SUSPICION OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT. UPON ADMISSION, THE CHILDREN IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE CRISIS INTERVENTION, SAFETY, AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS. AFTER A KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INVESTIGATION THE CHILD MAY BE REINTEGRATED WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR PLACED UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND REMAIN IN OUR PROGRAM UNTIL REINTEGRATION WITH THEIR FAMILY, OR PLACEMENT WITH A FOSTER FAMILY OCCURS. DAKHILL SAFE HOME IS KANSAS' ONLY EMERGENCY STAFF SECURE RESIDENTIAL FACILITY FOR NEWLY IDENTIFIED MINOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IT OFFERS A SAFE, HEALING AND THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THESE YOUNG VICTIMS CAN BEGIN THEIR RECOVERY PROCESS. RESIDENTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION FROM A TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT UNDERSTANDS THE MANIPULATION TACTICS THAT TRAFFICKERS USE TO LURE YOUNG PEOPLE. GARVER HOUSE, KANSAS' ONLY YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR MINOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. OFFERS TEN FEMALE RESIDENTS AGES 10- TO UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE, A TWO-YEAR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IN A THERAPEUTIC, FAMILY-LIKE SETTING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES HOLISTIC SURVIVOR SERVICES/RESOURCES AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM OF CARE TO CREATE A SENSE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND HEALING EXPERIENCES AS THE SURVIVOR EMBARKS ON THE JOURNEY OF RECOVERY FROM COMPLEX TRAUMA RESULTING FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM CREATES AND EXPANDS PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY-BASED RESPONSE TO CHILD VICTIMS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CRIME OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. POLARIS, A YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 16-UNDER 18 THAT ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OFFERS EACH RESIDENT AN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLAN OF CARE TO ADDRESS COMPLEX AND DIVERSE CLINICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES THROUGH A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL TEAM APPROACH. OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE IS DESIGNED TO HEAL, PROMOTE POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH AND HELP OUR RESIDENTS FIND THEIR "NORTH STAR. GERARD HOUSE, A TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM MATERNITY GROUP HOME, IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PREGNANT AND PARENTING YOUTH AND THEIR CHILDREN WITH LONG-TERM HOUSING IN A TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE, HOME-LIKE SETTING, WITH 24-HOUR ON-SITE STAFF. GERARD HOUSE PROVIDES SERVICES TO SUPPORT YOUTH TO DEVELOP SKILLS, INCLUDING PARENTING SKILLS, NECESSARY TO TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE AS HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE ADULTS AND PARENTS AS THEY MANAGE THEIR TRAUMA RECOVERY AND BUILD A STABLE LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. WCH OFFERS ON-SITE DAY-CARE FOR OUR YOUTH'S CHILDREN WHILE THEIR PARENT WORKS, ATTEND SCHOOL, OR RECEIVE SERVICES. FOLLOW-UP AND AFTER-CARE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED. BRIDGES, A TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM (BUILDING RESPONSIBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE DEVELOPMENT OF GOALS AND EMPOWERMENT SKILLS) FOR YOUTH 16-UNDER 22 YEARS OF AGE. PROVIDES EACH RESIDENT WITH THEIR OWN FURNISHED APARTMENT FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS. BRIDGES HAS 24-HOUR ON-SITE STAFF PROVIDING THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO SUPPORT YOUTH TO DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MOVE TO INDEPENDENCE AS PRODUCTIVE ADULTS AS THEY MANAGE THEIR TRAUMA RECOVERY AND BECOME SELF-ACTUALIZED. MANY OF THE YOUTH SERVED HAVE "AGED-OUT" OF FOSTER CARE, ARE PREGNANT/PARENTING, OR PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS. FOLLOW-UP AND AFTER-CARE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED. PROJECT SAFE PLACE PROVIDES 24-HOUR ACCESS TO IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES FOR YOUTH IN CRISIS BY UTILIZING OUR HOTLINE (262-HOME) AND COMMUNITY SITES SUCH AS AREA QUIKTRIP STORES, WICHITA YMCAS, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, CITY BUSES, FIRE STATIONS, LIBRARIES, POLICE SUBSTATIONS, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND PARKS AND RECREATION BUILDINGS, TO EXTEND OUR CARE, ENSURING IMMEDIATE HELP FOR YOUTH IN CRISIS IS NEVER TOO FAR AWAY.CROSSROADS STREET OUTREACH SERVICES (SOS) IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN CONNECTING HOMELESS YOUTH WITH HELP AND NEEDED HOLISTIC RESOURCES. SOS IS DESIGNED TO TAKE RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO THE HOMELESS AND AT-RISK YOUTH. AFTER DEVELOPING A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE YOUTH OUR SOS TEAM ENCOURAGES THE YOUTH TO MOVE INTO OUR EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTER. CROSSROADS HOMELESS DROP-IN CENTER OFFERS HOMELESS AND AT-RISK YOUTH, 18-24 YEARS-OF-AGE, A SAFE SPACE WHERE THEY HAVE FULL ACCESS TO FOOD, HYGIENE SUPPLIES, SHOWERS, CLOTHING, LAUNDRY FACILITIES, MAIL, HEALTH CARE, AND COMPUTERS/INTERNET. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE HOMELESS AND AT-RISK YOUTH WITH IMMEDIATE CRITICAL SERVICES AND HAVE THEIR MOST BASIC NEEDS MET GUIDED BY TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE PRACTICES AND CARING STAFF. CROSSROADS EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTER OFFERS THE COMMUNITY'S ONLY 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND TEMPORARY HOUSING EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOUTH 18-24 YEARS-OF-AGE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE MAIN REASONS WHY YOUNG PEOPLE SEEK OUT CROSSROADS IS DUE TO "AGING-OUT" OF FOSTER CARE, TRAUMA, DESTABILIZATION, DISTRESS, AND VICTIMIZATION. OUR PROGRAM GOALS ARE TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT EACH YOUTH AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR LONGER-TERM GOALS FOR SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND INCREASE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH. OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF OUR CARE-- AFTER CARE AND FOLLOW-UP SERVICES ARE OFFERED.KIDZCOPE, THE ONLY ORGANIZATION PROVIDING CHILDREN'S LOSS AND BEREAVEMENT SERVICES TO SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS. THE GOAL OF KIDZCOPE IS TO HELP CHILDREN (AGES 3-18) UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OF THEIR GRIEF, EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS, NURTURE HEALING, HONOR MEMORIES, AND FIND PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT AS THEY NAVIGATE THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL CHANGES FROM THE DEATH, SEPARATION OR LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. WCH'S KIDZCOPE PROGRAM PROVIDES NO-FEE, PEER-BASED BEREAVEMENT SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS THROUGH EIGHT-WEEK SESSIONS FACILITATED BY EDUCATED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.