Northern Home for Children
and Family Services

5301 Ridge Ave.
Philadelphia, PA  19128

215.482.1423 

Northern Home for Children and Family Services was founded in 1853 to provide residential care for homeless children, generally orphans of the civil war. In the 1960s the residential program changed to house only boys. Today, the agency provides an emergency shelter and longer-term residential program (up to one and one half years) for abused and neglected boys age ten to fourteen. Additionally, NHCFS works with children and their families in the community, providing foster care placement, family therapy, and even school based services. The agency is located in the Roxburough section of Philadelphia, not far from Villanova, on a large campus. 

Volunteer opportunities through NHCFS may be of particular interest to Human Services majors, Education majors, and Psychology majors as well as anyone interested in mentoring and spending time with ten to fourteen year old boys. 

Contact:     Kevin Webber, Recreation Director and Volunteer Coordinator,  ext. 1299 

Email: kwebber444@aol.com
               

Volunteer Opportunities:  Available 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday 

Tutoring

Individuals and groups of up to five volunteers can work with children one on one age 10 to 14, directly supporting them in academic areas where they need assistance, including computer skills. 

When: Between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.; at least one hour of volunteering per week for a semester is requested. 

Recreational

One to five volunteers can come to spend time with the kids in order to play games and be role models. A recreation room is on campus, as are large athletic fields. 

When: Between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday; a minimum of one hour per week for a semester is requested. 

Special Projects

Groups of volunteers – up to one hundred people – can come give a morning, afternoon, day… for projects designed for organized groups, like painting, cleaning, fundraising, recreational events, etc. 

Internships

Internships are available for students, with a letter requesting internship and a letter from a professor or academic dean. 

IMPORTANT:

Child abuse clearances and criminal background checks are required in order to volunteer consistently at NHCFS. The agency will pay for these clearances if the commitment is consistent; volunteers can begin while papers are processing.

 

Directions to Agency