A Letter From The Director

Dear Prospective Family,

Thank you for your interest in Friends Child Care Center.

Founded in 1978 by the Quaker organizations within Friends Center, FCCC is rooted in the values of peace, equality, and community. These principles continue to shape our nurturing, inclusive environment and guide the way we care for and educate young children.

I first joined FCCC in 1990 as a pre-service teacher, and my journey in early childhood education has only strengthened my belief in the importance of high-quality early learning. After returning to FCCC with expanded experience, I was proud to have all three of my daughters benefit from the rich intellectual and social foundation offered here. The alignment of Quaker values with our family’s approach to parenting made their time at FCCC especially meaningful.

Our dedicated staff—many of whom have been with us for more than a decade—bring creativity, expertise, and heartfelt care to every classroom. We support them with strong benefits, ongoing professional development, and a positive work environment.

Family involvement is an essential part of our community. From potlucks and celebrations to volunteer opportunities, we cherish and encourage your partnership.

We hope your experience at FCCC will be as rewarding and fulfilling as it has been for so many families—mine included.

Warm regards,
Raechel O’Neal Coats

Director, Friends Child Care Center

Our Mission & Vision

FCCC provides an enriching environment of love, security, and community for children from 3 months through Kindergarten. Through developmentally appropriate experiences, children learn respect for others, build self-confidence, and strengthen essential social skills.

They develop curiosity about the world and learn to appreciate people whose backgrounds or perspectives may differ from their own. Children grow emotionally, physically, socially, and cognitively, building a strong foundation of competence and confidence that prepares them for everyday experiences and, ultimately, for school.

Our Mission:

Friends Child Care Center is guided by the Quaker belief that there is that of God in every person. This belief inspires daily life at the Center and affirms the individual value of each child, teacher, and parent. Our approach to learning is broad yet simple: children learn to get along with others as they discover the joy of learning what they want to know.

Friends Child Care Center provides quality child care for young children whose parents are Friends Center employees or who live and work in the Philadelphia area. We strive to reflect the cultural and economic diversity of our urban community and encourage children in their ability to be caring, curious, and responsible individuals.

We wholeheartedly embrace this mission and affirm our responsibility as a Board to provide leadership and governance that allow Friends Child Care Center to continue to thrive—remaining responsive to the changing world around us while living faithfully by our core values.

Our vision for FCCC includes:

A positive, trustworthy, and secure environment at Friends Center
A commitment to child-centered care and learning, supported by developmentally appropriate educational goals
An affirming and supportive work environment for teachers

Anchor 1

Our Philosophy

The program at Friends Child Care Center is grounded in active learning. We offer developmentally appropriate activities that support social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth—both large and small motor development—based on each child’s age and individual readiness. Our environment provides loving support, intellectual stimulation, and opportunities for meaningful exploration.

Our primary emphasis is on social development and learning through active play. Friends Child Care Center partners with families by providing a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children can grow, learn, and thrive.

In particular, we believe:

In teaching nonviolence, seeking peaceful resolutions to conflict, and respecting every person as a matter of principle and practice.
In the power of love, laughter, and learning.
In offering a rich, interest-based curriculum that provides children with meaningful choices.
That every child should feel loved, capable, and valued.
That each child has unique learning needs—and it is our responsibility to meet those needs.
That parents are essential partners in supporting a child’s growth and development.
That our program should be a safe, welcoming, and engaging place for children.
That every child should take pride in their religious, racial, and cultural heritage.
That children should learn to respect diversity and honor the differences among people.
That when children feel loved and capable, they have the foundation to grow into confident, well-rounded adults.

Philosophy