In the early 1920s, the United Methodist Church recognized the need for a residence for homeless and abandoned children. The mission was adopted to provide shelter and care to these children. The church's mission quickly became a reality when Mr. Edward P. Libbey of Newton left the bulk of his estate to the project, and the City of Newton followed by leading fundraising efforts. These efforts led to the purchase of 20 acres of land for an orphanage, which became the site of the Kansas Methodist Home for Children.
Libbey Hall, named after Mr. Libbey, was built in 1929. The campus also included an orchard, barns, a farmhouse, stables, granaries, cow lots, and chicken houses. Over the next three decades, a chapel and residential cottages were also built.
In 1960, the Board of Trustees officially changed the agency name to United Methodist Youthville. They also approved a plan that focused on providing services to adolescent youth with emotional or social adjustment problems. That same year, Youthville was asked to assume management for the Bronco Busters Boys Ranch in Dodge City. Youthville offices then began to spring up across the state.
In 1996, privatization impacted the child welfare system in Kansas. Youthville was granted the Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) state contract for foster care/reintegration services in western Kansas (Region 4) and Sedgwick County (Region 5). Youthville currently retains the Sedgwick County state contract which serves over 1100 children each day who have been removed from their homes by SRS due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect. In addition, Youthville recruits, trains, and licenses over 350 foster care homes statewide and continues to offer extensive psychiatric residential treatment at the Newton and Dodge City campuses.
Today, Youthville cares for over 1800 children every day and is committed to its mission of Giving Children Back Their Childhood.