EmberHope

10/27/2026

Thank you to Dillons for bringing flu shots right to our administrative building, making it convenient for EmberHope staff who choose to receive one! 💜

Pictured over the past three years are Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Maxey and Vice President of Permanency Services Warren Sheridan receiving their on-site flu shots. We appreciate Dillons for helping us care for the team who gives so much to children and families!

10/27/2026

We are so grateful to be included in this important conversation. Thank you so much, Rotary Club of Wichita, for allowing us to come in and share with your group.

Sedgwick County Commissioner Ryan Baty said 1,506 children are in out-of-home placements in the county, which is a 50% increase over the past decade. Baty added that 70% of children

10/22/2026

🍁October Staff Spotlight🍁

For Autumn Huerter, Marketing Director, EmberHope’s mission is deeply personal. As a former youth who spent nearly a decade in foster care, she felt called to use her creativity, professional experience, and passion to serve children whose experiences reflect parts of her own journey.

In October’s second Staff Spotlight, meet the storyteller behind so many of EmberHope’s messages, photos, and campaigns. Autumn helps bring our mission to life by celebrating our teams, highlighting their impact, and inviting the community to get involved.

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‎💜How long have you been at EmberHope and/or working in child and family well-being?

I have been working at EmberHope since May of 2024, so about two and a half years. However, I have been working in marketing for 6 and a half years.

💛 What do you love most about your job and the work that you do at our organization?

As a former foster youth myself, I felt called to join the mission. I am very fortunate and grateful every day that I am able to combine my passion and my gifts to serve children who are just like me in so many ways. While my role is behind the scenes and I don't always get to connect directly with youth, I am able to touch every department in this agency, learn about their work, document their triumphs, and ultimately, tell the stories of their impact.

💜 If someone were considering joining our team, what advice would you give them?

I would tell someone to come in here with an open heart and an open mind. No two children are the same, just as no two roles within this agency are the same. Every day will look different, but each day will be so meaningful. We are showing up for something far bigger than ourselves.

💛 Over your tenure at EmberHope, what is one of your favorite memories or achievements?

I have so many wonderful memories already, but perhaps among my favorite happened within my first two weeks at EmberHope. As a journalism major in college, I always looked up to Susan Peters and her groundbreaking work covering heavy news stories, especially as a female reporter in the Midwest. All of this in addition to her incredible contributions through Susan's Kids. Lo and behold, my 7th day on the job, and I get to meet her, share my foster care story, give her a hug, and even shed a few tears together. I recorded a video for the Susan's Kids social media page that helped turn the tide of the 3rd annual Bag Drive campaign, garnering an influx of donations that directly support our youth. That, to me, told me I was exactly where I needed to be.

💜 What makes EmberHope a great place to work?

I know it sounds cliche, but the people. The people on our Development team, our foster care team, adoption team, HR, executive leadership team... just everyone here is so kind, loving, and truly cares about our children and families. Whether their work is behind the scenes or on the frontlines, I am grateful and honored to walk beside them.

💛 Feel free to share a fun fact about yourself or something someone might not know about you!

One thing that folks might know is that I am in the top 10% of reviewers for Mexican Restaurants on Google. So if you need to know where to eat Mexican food basically anywhere, let me know! Additionally, I am a big nerd, especially in regard to anime, manga, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, etc. I love going to ComiCon with my husband and daughter every year. Lastly, I am an aspiring author, and hopefully soon, you'll be able to find one of my books on a shelf near you...

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Autumn’s experience reminds us that every role at EmberHope offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Whether working behind the scenes or directly alongside children and families, our team members bring their unique gifts together with compassion and purpose.

Where could your gifts take you? Explore career opportunities at EmberHope and apply today to help create brighter futures for children and families: https://www.emberhope.org/careers-at-emberhope/

10/21/2026

Every child deserves safety, support, and someone who keeps showing up. 💜

Human trafficking happens right here in Kansas, and protecting young people starts with awareness and connection. EmberHope’s Human Trafficking & Special Response team helps communities recognize exploitation while providing education, advocacy, and consistent support for youth in our care.

On our blog, meet Roxanne Parker and Abbygail Landwehr, learn what drives their work, and discover how you can help build a safer, more informed community for children and families.

Read Awareness, Advocacy, and Hope: https://www.emberhope.org/awareness-advocacy-and-hope/

10/20/2026

A little teamwork can make a lasting difference! 💙

Thank you to the members of Heartland Credit Union who rolled up their sleeves at our Newton campus last week! By sorting, organizing, and cleaning one of our storage facilities, they helped make it easier for our team to get donated community resources into the hands of the children and families we serve.

We are grateful for partners who give their time and energy to help hope take shape in everyday ways. Thank you, Heartland Credit Union, for putting your care for the community into action!

Ready to make a difference? EmberHope welcomes volunteers year-round, from corporate partners and church groups to individuals eager to lend a hand. Discover how you can get involved: EmberHope.org/volunteer

10/20/2026

🍂October Staff Spotlight🍂

This month, we are proud to introduce Will Klassen, HR Coordinator, for Staff Spotlight! Will began his journey with EmberHope as a college intern in 2023 before officially joining the staff in May 2024. Today, he brings care and dedication to everything from behind-the-scenes compliance work to welcoming new employees, helping team members feel connected to our mission and valued as people. Get to know Will in his interview below:

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💜 ‎How long have you been at EmberHope and/or working in child and family well-being?

I have been at Emberhope in total a little over 3 years. I had the pleasure to start as an intern in September of 2023 while I was still in college and I was officially employed here in May of 2024 after getting the contract.

💛What do you love most about your job and the work that you do at our organization?

There are several things I love about my job. I like being behind the scenes doing compliance work, but I also like getting to communicate to all the new hires of our shared mission and values and how as an agency we really care about them as people not just employees I also love the amazing HR team I get to work with!

💜If someone were considering joining our team, what advice would you give them?

If someone was considering joining the Emberhope team, some advice I would give is to be patient and hang with it. The work our agency does is some of the most difficult work, but it can also be some of the most rewarding if you give it time and let the hope you instill in our children and families grow and ignite.

💛Over your tenure at EmberHope, what is one of your favorite memories or achievements?

One of my greatest achievements was being a part of and graduating from the first emerging leaders' course at Emberhope. I had the opportunity to present to our Executive Leadership Team some ideas that the team I was a part of had for increasing employee retention and it led to some changes here at Emberhope.

💜What makes EmberHope a great place to work?

The thing that makes Emberhope a great place to work is the people. You won't meet a more passionate and dedicated group of people anywhere else.

💛Feel free to share a fun fact about yourself or something someone might not know about you!

A fun fact about me is that I know lots of "useless knowledge" about a variety of subjects like the kind of things that make people ask me, "how or why I know that". Additionally, I am a big nerd and like movies, videogames, board games, Legos, etc.
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Will’s story is a reminder that every role at EmberHope helps ignite hope for children and families. Whether your passion is working directly with youth or supporting those who do, your talents can help move our mission forward. Visit https://www.emberhope.org/careers-at-emberhope/ to explore career opportunities and find your place on a team united by faith, compassion, and purpose.

10/10/2026

💛 Caring for your mental health matters. So do you.

This World Mental Health Day, EmberHope celebrates the importance of compassion, both for ourselves and for one another. Children, families, caregivers, and those who support them all deserve to feel heard, valued, and supported.

Whether it’s quiet time in prayer, connecting with a friend, enjoying a favorite hobby, or making space to rest, taking time for yourself is something worth prioritizing.

💬 Leave a comment below to share your favorite way to care for yourself and your mental health. Your idea might inspire someone else to make time for themselves, too!

10/09/2026

𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚?

We’ve been digging through nearly a century of photographs from our history as Kansas Methodist Home for Children, United Methodist Youthville, and EmberHope, and sometimes our records don't tell the whole story. Do you recognize someone in this photo? Were you there? Do you remember what was happening?

𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMd37C-BhYiiSQcFm1DTubaDkFbum7XBvqEjmJtvteecxc7g/viewform

10/08/2026

Good food, great company, and a community that cares! 💜🍦

Thank you to Culver’s in Derby for supporting EmberHope and to everyone who came out yesterday to enjoy a meal and learn more about our programs and services. We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect and share how, together, we can support children and families.

We hope to do this again soon! In the meantime, you can help ignite hope through fostering, volunteering, advocating, or making a monetary donation.

Visit www.emberhope.org to learn more and find your way to get involved!

10/07/2026

🍦 Tonight is the night! Join EmberHope at Culver’s in Derby from 5–8 p.m. for good food and a chance to give back.

Whether you’re grabbing dinner for the family or treating yourself to frozen custard, your visit can help support children and families. Culver’s will donate 10% of sales during the event and 100% of tips to EmberHope!

📍 2925 N. Rock Rd., Derby, KS
⏰ Tonight, October 7 | 5–8 p.m.

Invite someone to meet you there and help turn an evening out into an evening of hope. 💜