Guidelines

To join the Family Center, fill out and electronically sign our Parental Release & Consent Form. 

Joining the Family Center allows eligible students and postdocs to register for Back Up Care benefits (restrictions apply). Names of students who are registered with the Family Center are shared with the vendor so they can verify your eligibility.
 

Parental Release & Consent Form

Family Resource Center Guidelines and Policies

The Family Resource Center (the "Family Center") welcomes all Penn students and postdoctoral fellows with children and their family members. Our mission is to create a space where student and postdoc families from the University of Pennsylvania community can access resources, information and supportive programming.

PLEASE NOTE: THE FAMILY CENTER IS NOT A DAYCARE CENTER. WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED OR AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE SERVICES, AND WILL NOT PROVIDE OR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OR SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN WHO ARE ADMITTED TO THE FAMILY CENTER.

GENERAL VISITOR POLICIES

• The Family Center is excited to welcome visitors to our facility. 
• Guests must be accompanied by the Family Center Member family or staff during their visit. Guests cannot remain in the Center after the Member family or staff has left for the day; everyone must leave together. 
• The Family Center strongly encourages members and visitors to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.  
• Visitors should not come to the Family Center if they feel ill or have been recently exposed or diagnosed with COVID-19 or another contagious illness. See our medical policy for more details.
• You must accompany your child(ren) at all times while visiting the Family Center, including trips to the bathroom. Parents and caregivers may not leave their children with Family Center staff.
• The Family Center is not responsible for any property brought into the Family Center. A lost and found box may contain misplaced items.
• Family Center property is not to be removed from the facility. Violators will be assessed replacement costs for any lost or missing items. If it is determined that the removal of any item(s) was deliberate, the offender will no longer be admitted to the Family Center.
  • Families must assume responsibility for damaged items caused by neglect, reckless, or willful actions, and pay for replacement or repairs.
  • All violation of these rules or similar incidents (injury, theft, inappropriate behavior, etc.) must be promptly reported to the Family Center staff.

In the case of an emergency, please notify the Family Center staff immediately and call 911 or the University of Pennsylvania Police at 215-573-3333. There is a first aid kit in the Family Center.

USAGE POLICIES:

• Families who want to utilize the Family Center facility regularly must be registered members of the Center. Memberships must include the names of all family members and caregivers who will utilize the facility as the designated caregivers.
• All individuals, families, and children use the Family Center at their own risk and assume full responsibility for personal injury to self and family members, and further release Penn and the Family Center for injury, loss, or damage arising out of the use of the facility or other third parties. Each child's parent or other legal guardian must register and electronically sign the Family Center's Consent and Release form prior to using the Family Center for the first time.
• Each child admitted to the Family Center must be accompanied and supervised by the child's parent, legal guardian or Designated Childcare Provider. Each Designated Childcare Provider must be designated as such by the child's parent or legal guardian in a signed Family Resource Center Parental Consent and Release. A signed Release naming the Designated Childcare Provider must be on file with the Family Center in order for a child to be admitted under the supervision of a Designated Childcare Provider.
• All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied and supervised at all times by a parent, legal guardian, or designated childcare provider. No adult may supervise more than three (3) unrelated children at one time at the Family Center. (In the context of this policy, “unrelated” means NOT the provider’s child, stepchild, grandchild, or foster children.)  
  • In the event a child is left unattended, or an adult otherwise violates these requirements, the child and accompanying adult may be required to leave the Family Center immediately.
• The Family Center reserves the right to refuse entry to any person, or require any admitted person to leave the Family Center immediately, in the event that a member of the Family Center's staff determines (in their sole discretion) that the person's behavior (or the behavior of a companion of such person) is overly disruptive or aggressive, and violates any Family Center rules, any University policy, or is otherwise inappropriate. If that person is caring for a child, the child will also be obligated to leave. One violation is enough to suspend privileges. Any staff decisions to revoke usage privileges may be appealed by writing a letter to the Director of the Family Resource Center.
• The Family Center will be closed on all University holidays and for occasional maintenance. Refer to the Family Center calendar for specific dates.
• In accordance with university policies, no open flames are permitted in the Family Center space – i.e., no birthday candles. Violations to this policy resulting in fire/wax damage or labor necessary for repair or cleaning will be charged to the responsible individual/group. 

MEMBER POLICIES

• Families who want to utilize the Family Center facility must be registered members of the Center. Memberships must include the names of all family members and caregivers who will utilize the facility as the designated caregivers. Email familycenter@upenn.edu to update your caregiver list throughout the year. 
• Parents/caregivers must accompany their child(ren) at all times while visiting the Family Center, including trips to the bathroom. Parents/caregivers may not leave their children with Family Center staff. 
• Family Center members may bring one guest family to accompany them during their visit to the Family Center. “Guests” of families include friends/non-immediate family members who are visiting the center with the student/spouse/designated-caregiver. 
  • Guests must be accompanied by the Family Center Member family during their visit. Guests cannot remain in the Center after the Member family has left for the day; everyone must leave together. 
  • No adult may supervise more than three (3) unrelated children at one time at the Family Center. (In the context of this policy, “unrelated” means NOT the provider’s child, stepchild, grandchild, or foster children.)  
  • Members are responsible for the behavior of their children and guests; guests must adhere to all posted Family Center policies and usage guidelines. 
• Please wipe items with sanitary cloths after your child is finished playing with Family Center toys. These cloths are provided by the Family Center.
• Users of the Family Center must return all items to their proper locations.
• Members are not permitted to host private parties in the Family Center. We certainly encourage FRC members to celebrate milestones with other FRC members, but we are unable to accommodate requests to host private parties. All gatherings must adhere to our Center Usage Guidelines and Policies, including Center hours. 
  • PLEASE NOTE: In accordance with university policies, no open flames are permitted in the Family Center space – i.e., no birthday candles.  Members will be responsible for all charges associated with labor necessary to repair fire damage and/or remove any candle wax from the floor, carpet, or furniture. 

Please reach out to Family Center staff if you have any questions or to update your membership information: familycenter@upenn.edu