EmberHope Youthville – Newton

The many events put on by development are engaging and impactful. I also enjoyed my time volunteering. The many people I have engaged with have been encouraging, kind, and knowledgeable. As a former foster youth myself,… I can see the difference they're making in the lives of those they serve.

The employees truly care about the children and communities they serve.

Crazy the worker here just pulls up and park in handicap spot and walks in no problem. don’t get it but if someone else did it ! It would be a problem. Crazy because that is for people that are actually handicap

They don't care about their kids

My family’s experience at EmberHope was deeply concerning, and I feel compelled to share it so other parents can make better, informed decisions. During my child’s stay in their PRTF program, on a weekly basis I… observed and reported ongoing safety issues, including but not limited to, repeated incidents of peer aggression in my presence that was not addressed. My child and I also experienced significant disorganization, including missed or delayed appointments and poor communication, which our insurance provider also noted and had severe concerns regarding the treatment plan. This was brought up on every treatment plan, counseling session, and every weekly group I attended, and at no point did this issue get rectified. I raised concerns regarding the several racial incidents occurring within the cottages as well as the school environment and did not feel that they were handled adequately. In fact, they told my child to ignore the racial slurs and never once redirected the children throwing the racial slurs her way. Most concerning to me was my child’s rapid increase in self-harming behaviors during placement. When admitted, my child had fewer than 50 documented self-harm marks. Upon discharge, there were over 178. In a facility designed to provide safety and stabilization, this outcome was devastating. I also expressed concerns about additional safety measures and were told by Allison Pate and Shawna- the director of counseling services that they were not considered necessary and Allison stated, "We will not be doing anything different and if you don't like it you can move your child." At every turn we were met with resistance and neglect from staff. Additionally, my in-home child was threatened by current patients in front of staff without intervention, which further intensified my safety concerns. Every child deserves a treatment environment that prioritizes safety, dignity, and healing. Based on our experience, I strongly encourage parents to thoroughly investigate all other options and ask detailed questions about safety protocols, staff training, supervision policies, and crisis intervention procedures before making a placement decision. If your family is looking for help, do not choose EmberHope.

The location is well kept and has a lot of history. Emberhope has been around for nearly 100 years and I think that speaks volumes for the work that they do. The staff is friendly and genuinely care about the well being… of children and families.

If I could do 0 I would!! Do NOT license with Emberhope for foster care!!

Poor communication, lack of support services. Inconsistent information given multiple times by multiple different people. Takes months to meet a case worker, transportation was cancelled, and “supervised” visits are… being unsupervised. Extremely unprofessional organization who should do better not only for the families but for the children in care. Do better and do your job.

Drove right to location. No problems👍

This place gets away with waaaay more than they should. I’ve had 2 entirely different case teams so far in the last 8 months because on the first case team (which last for 6 months, and was coming to a close) they fired… my case worker Ashley kingari for doing the right thing and the day after she got fired she killed herself. All files completely deleted and no records kept. The new case team doesn't want to acknowledge that and started me and my daughter at ground zero in the process. My due process, and my parental rights and my constitutional rights have been completely violated time and time again. Be aware. I’ve been calling news stations to shed light on this because I know I can’t be the only one. These people need to be exposed.

I do not recommend this agency. I am almost completed with all my courses and now they want my fiance to do the same thing when he wasn't even part of the case at all. he did not come in until after I was sentenced due… to the case. The man I'm with has nothing to do with the case. Plus they will lie to you to take classes that you don't need. They will even give you hair and ua for no reason when you are only ordered every 90 days. They will keep on sending you through everything and still try to keep your kids. I agree with some parents on here saying that they are only for the money.

The staff and grievance procedures are never met and never clear on why they are only allowing communication supervised and yet allowing protection orders being violated and providing personal info and getting upset I… shared the information. I was never told I couldn't share what details I felt needed addressed to assure safety of my children. This place should be held responsible for any outcomes from damage form emotional separation trauma. They aren't willing to be clear on the procedures and are quick to lash out and get short with you over a simple confusion. They twist words of family members and don't even clearly give directions. Very unwillingly to help you create a positive plan together it's there way or the highway and that is very disappointing.

This place has a really bad problem with kids in their care running away.

This place doesn't keep kids safe.

I was in this place from 97 and these places do nothing to help family they almost always make things worse.

They are doing every well with my daughter.

🌻 My wife & I've have always been drawn to the good work and the Mission of EmberHope YouthVille. They have proven they are a premier placement facility for the State of Kansas.

Beyond horrible and irresponsible in their dealings. No one knows what the other is doing, there communication is non-existent, there is no accountability for those who work for them and while I know there are employees… there who do care, as a company they are a joke. Another broken agency causing more confusion in the foster care system.