Health agency adopts historic home for children

KVC Health Systems and the Niles Home for Children said Friday that the two organizations have joined forces.

Niles, a 133-year-old institution at 1911 E. 23rd St., had been searching for a partner to provide financial stability and allow it to continue offering a range of child-focused behavioral health services.

Niles currently offers day-school programs for children at kindergarten through high school education levels. With the KVC support, it intends to re-open its former residential treatment services.

Niles was founded in 1883 by Samuel Eason, an African-American bricklayer who opened his own home to orphaned or homeless children in the 18th and Vine area of Kansas City.

The Niles name will be retained.

KVC, based in Olathe, offers a range of community- and home-based behavioral services in several states. Services include substance-abuse treatment, family counseling, foster care and adoption assistance, child-abuse prevention services among its range of mental health work.

This story was originally published November 18, 2016 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Health agency adopts historic home for children."