A Little History
In 1994, Mike Kriwiel saw a need in his community: at-risk youth who needed more than services — they needed people who believed in them. That belief became Pyxis.
Founded in El Dorado, Kansas, Pyxis started with a simple idea: connect young people with positive role models and give them real opportunities — including paid work — to build confidence and feel valued in their community. Rather than treating kids as problems to manage, Mike built an organization around integration, connection, and belonging.
Three decades later, that idea has grown into a multi-service provider now headquartered in Wichita, KS, serving individuals and families across two states. Today, a team of about 100 employees supports more than 700 youth and adults each year — still guided by the same belief Mike started with: everyone deserves a path forward.
MISSION
Guiding People on a Path to a Better Tomorrow.
VISION
Great People Leading and Inspiring Each Other to Build Healthy and Peaceful Communities.
What We Do
Pyxis provides behavioral health services for youth and families, delivered by a team of caring, dedicated para-level trained support staff. Our programs focus on building real-world skills, strengthening family and community connections, and helping youth navigate challenges with confidence.
Services we provide include:
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A service which helps youth ages 3-18 build social, emotional, and life skills through both individual and group settings.
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A service focused on delivering one-on-one support for youth with more intensive needs.
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A service offering families and guardians a supported break through structured but fun group activities, often out in the community.
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Support services that create a safe daytime and/or nighttime space specifically designed for youth in the foster system that have behavioral or mental health challenges.
Who We Are
At Pyxis, people come first — always. We believe that in a world that's increasingly high-tech, what people need most is high touch: someone who shows up, listens, and genuinely invests in their life.
That belief is at the center of everything we do. For over three decades, we've walked alongside individuals and families navigating real, often complex challenges — offering not just services, but steady support and real encouragement, no matter how difficult the road ahead looks.
We call this standard CULTURE, and it applies to everyone under the Pyxis roof — staff, youth, and clients alike. It's a simple, shared reminder of how we treat one another, every single day.
