The Wichita Children's Home was founded in 1888 as the city’s first orphanage to “support and care for destitute and homeless children.”  Today, the Wichita Children's Home offers the only emergency, temporary residential shelter for children in our community.  The Home is open 24/7 and serves children from birth to 22 years of age.  Children are admitted by parents, law enforcement, social workers and sometimes, they admit themselves.  If a parent is in crisis and has no one to care for their child, on a moment’s notice the Home can be a respite.  Along with its’ residential program, the Wichita Children's Home provides Street Outreach Services (SOS).  This program focuses on helping runaway and homeless children.  The Home also offers BRIDGES, a program providing housing, counseling, and education for 16 to 22 years old.  For ten years, the Wichita Children's Home has recruited foster care families, focusing on children age birth to twelve years old. 

 

Our need for foster care families in the Wichita area is at an all time high.  Over 1,000 children are admitted annually to the Wichita Children's Home through police protective custody in need of foster care homes.  These children, unable to live safely with their own family and relatives, need a safe and stable environment.  Foster care families provide for children by generously opening their hearts and their homes.

 

During the month of October, the Wichita Children's Home is reaching out to families that may want to share their lives with one of our children in need of foster care.