Community Day 2025

Community Day 2025: A Beautiful Celebration of Unity, Joy & Community Power

On Saturday, October 18th, 2025, our JJC Family Services community came together for our annual Community Day — and it was truly our biggest success yet!

Families, youth, neighbors, partners, staff, and friends filled the block with laughter, music, connection, and celebration. From inflatable games and face painting, to resource tables, good food, and powerful relationship building with our local police districts — this year’s Community Day was a reminder of why this work matters so deeply. When community shows up for community, magic happens.

Our team worked tirelessly behind the scenes leading up to this day — coordinating vendors, planning activities, gathering donations, recruiting volunteers, and making sure every detail was centered around joy, belonging, and positive youth engagement. And all of that effort paid off. The energy was unstoppable. The youth had a blast. The adults laughed, talked, shared information, and made meaningful connections. Children felt seen, valued, and safe. This is the heart of JJC.

Special Thanks

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to:

• Our staff and volunteers who gave time, heart, creativity, and effort.
• Our vendors, local organizations, and community partners — your presence and resources made this day special.
• The 14th, 35th and 39th Police Districts, as well as Officer Zamichieli who brought the music energy all afternoon!
• Councilmember Cindy Bass’s team for joining us and supporting our mission.
• And a very special highlight and thank you to 14-year-old Corporal Cadet Chris Brown — our apprentice photographer whose photos captured the day perfectly. You are incredibly gifted and we hope you continue to pursue photography!

Why This Matters

Community Day is more than an event on the calendar — it is a manifestation of what JJC stands for:

connection, access, support, safety, and community empowerment.

Every handshake.
Every smile.
Every shared moment at a table or game…
builds trust. Builds partnership. Builds hope.

Looking Ahead

We are already excited and inspired as we begin thinking about next year — our 10th Anniversary Community Day celebration. And we know, with the strength of this community behind us, next year will be even bigger.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, helped us, supported us, and believed in this day.

Community Day reminds us of who we are.

Stronger Together. Always.

This page is dedicated to helping the public learn about upcoming events, and other child welfare resources available to anyone who may be in need of services whether they are children in severe circumstances, parents in need of support, or anyone wishing to make a difference in the life of a child.

If you suspect or to report child abuse please call: 1-800-932-0313

To report child abuse or suspected child abuse in Philadelphia, please call: The  Philadelphia Department of Human Services Child Protective Service: 215-683-6100

Online Child Abuse Reporting System: For mandated reporters, you can report suspected child abuse from this link:

https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS/Public/Home

JJC NEWS:

Click this link to read about the SW IPS program in the SW Globe Times

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS:

 RESOURCES:

 A majority of the children and youth we help have been exposed to and are victims of trauma and  childhood adversity.  Many of our clients have been exposed to violence. Many have symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol dependency, school interruption, etc.  Please take a moment and view the video below to learn more about childhood trauma and its impact on children. Nadine Burke Harris is an expert on the subject matter and provides great insight during this TED Talk video.

Please click on this link to view, download or print a comprehensive booklet of juvenile and parent resources put together by the 39th Police District.

EDUCATION:

• School District of Philadelphia’s Educational Options Program
  A program designed to allow adults to earn credits towards a high school diploma.
• The Office of Children and Families’ Adult Education & Literacy Services
  Free adult education classes for learners 16 and older. Course offerings include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), GED or HiSET preparation, and more.
• Education Support Center: Works with the School District to prevent disruptions to a child’s education when they are placed in DHS care. We also identify and remove educational barriers for children in the child welfare system.

COLLEGE EDUCATION:

• Juvenile Law Center’s Higher Education Guide
  An informational guide for advocates and supporters of youth in the child welfare system about how to leverage key resources available to youth with experience in foster care in Pennsylvania.
• PHEAA’s Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program
  A program which provides a waiver for tuition and mandatory fees charged by most postsecondary institutions located in Pennsylvania for youth who are or were in foster care.
• Community College of Philadelphia’s Octavius Catto Scholarship
  A program that addresses obstacles like tuition and fees as well as burdens that hit many Philadelphians, including costs associated with food, transportation and books.

EMPLOYMENT:

• Pennsylvania Department of Labor’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
  Vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment.
• Philadelphia Youth Network’s WorkReady
  A citywide effort to address the skills gap by convening partners, employers, leaders of youth-serving systems and youth to build a coordinated approach to preparing young people for future employment.

EXTENDED FOSTER CARE AND RE-ENTRY:

• Juvenile Law Center’s Extended Foster Care in Pennsylvania
  State policy on extended foster care in Pennsylvania.

HEALTHCARE:

• Obtaining Health Insurance in Pennsylvania
  Information on the various types of health insurance and different markets.
• Department of Public Health’s City Health Centers
  City health centers providing primary health services and STI testing and treatment.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE:

• Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities’ 24-Hour Suicide Crisis and Intervention
  A 24-hour telephone hotline to assist people and their families dealing with behavioral health emergencies: (215) 685-6440
• Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities’ Addiction Services
  Addiction services and supports that are individualized, built with and around each person and family.

HOUSING:

• City of Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services
  A website on Philly’s homeless housing system, including information about why people are homeless, how many, and what strategies exist to combat homelessness.
• Department of Human Services’ Youth Rental Assistance and Support Program
  A program that provides rapid rental assistance and housing support to 60 youth per year who are facing homelessness due to obstacles, such as job loss or unresolved college housing.
• Turning Points for Children’s Housing Prep
  An educational program that serves 18-22 year olds in need of housing assistance. Youth receive 3 months rent and security deposit after successful completion of the program.

LIFE SKILLS:

• Achieving Independence Center
  A support center dedicated to providing real life tools for youth who want to make an investment in their future. Youth work with AIC Coaches to create a customized service plan that will help them to achieve their goals.
• E3 Services
  Services that provide critical academic skills and employment readiness training to 16 to 24-year-olds in Philadelphia who are out of school or work. E3 also functions as an access point for re-engagement services in Philadelphia.
• LifeSet
  A transition program for young adults, ages 17-23, who are leaving the foster care, juvenile justice, and mental health systems, or who would otherwise find themselves without the necessary skills and resources to live successfully at this critical junction in their young lives.

LGBTQ+:

• Attic Youth Center
  An organization aiming to reduce the isolation felt by LGBTQ youth by providing a sense of community and developing programs and services to counteract the prejudice and oppression that LGBTQ youth often face.
• Project Home’s Gloria Casarez Residence
  LGBTQ-friendly affordable homes for young adults (ages 18-23 at entry) who are homeless, have experienced homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, including those aging out of foster care.
• Valley Youth House’s Host Homes
  Homes providing LGBTQ+ young persons, ages 18-25, who are experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia with a safe, welcoming, and affirming private and dedicated space for 1-6 months.
• Galaei’s SPLAT program works to support youth. It does this through empowerment and leadership development of queer youth of color.
• Mazzoni Center provides comprehensive health and wellness services in an LGBTQ-focused environment.
• Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs works to uplift the voices of all LGBTQ+ community members and continue to foster an inclusive environment for all LGBTQ+ Philadelphians.

TEEN PARENTS:

• Department of Human Services’ Parent Cafes
  A 12-week parent support group.
• School District of Philadelphia’s Education Leading to Employment and Career Training (ELECT)
  Free case management and supportive services to expecting or already parenting teen mothers and fathers 21-years-old and younger.
• Maternity Care Coalition Healthy Families America – FREE teen and young adult parent support program for foster/former foster youth that will visit you where you live, provide baby supplies and parenting tips, and help support pregnant/parenting young adults.

MORE YOUTH RESOURCES:

• Ordering a Birth Certificate
  Information on ordering a birth certificate through online, telephone, in-person or mail services.
• Social Security
  Range of services offered by Social Security, including an application for obtaining a social security card.
• Juvenile Law Center’s Resource Library
• Youth Matters: Philly