Our Family-Centered Facilities

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Visitor Information 

Connections are made here!

Please read our visitor information, guidelines, and policies below. 

Center Usage Guidelines and Policies

Family Center Academic Year Hours:  Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM 

Operating hours in the summer semesters are reduced.

The Family Center is closed for all University recognized holidays, and when classes are not in session. View the University's academic calendar for more details, and our Operating Hours calendar for changes.

Operating Hours Calendar

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.

The Family Center is a family-centered space on campus for students and postdocs with children. The Family Center is membership-based and open to Penn students and postdocs and their families. Memberships are free! To become a member,  families must first complete the Parental Consent and Release Form. 

The Lactation Room is open to the Penn Community, no membership necessary.  

 

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

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Family Center Hours

The Family Center's operating hours vary by term. The schedule for this semester can be found on our Center Calendar.

Please contact staff for support: familycenter@upenn.edu

Academic Year Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9AM - 5PM
Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED

Summer Hours:
Monday- Friday: 10AM - 4PM
Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED

Winter Break:
Closed 

Spring Break: 
Monday-Friday 10AM - 4PM

The Family Center adheres to the University's schedule and will be closed on designated holidays and during campus-wide suspensions of normal operations. 

Penn Academic Calendar

 

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Location

Family Center 
3615 Locust Walk, Lower Level
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104

View on Campus Map 

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Facilities & Amenities

The Family Center strives to provide a comfortable and enriching space for families on campus.

Our facility features: 

  • Family Center Lounge
  • Family Reading Room
  • Private Lactation Room with Medela Symphony Pump
  • Conference Room
  • Child Nap Space
  • Kitchen Amenities
  • Toys and games (generously donated by the Hassenfeld Family Initiatives of Hasbro)
  • Children's Book Library
  • Video and Parenting Book Lending Library
  • Community Bulletin Boards

The Family Center is membership based and open to Penn students and post docs and their families. To become a member families must first complete the Parental Consent and Release Form

Memberships are free! 

The Lactation Room is open to the Penn Community, no membership necessary. 

local_hospital

Medical Policies

Coronavirus

  • The Family Center is excited to welcome visitors to our facility. For the protection of all, the Family Center adheres Wellness at Penn's guidance on campus health. 
  • The Family Center strongly encourages members and visitors to be up to date with their vaccinations.  
  • Visitors should not come to the Family Center if they feel ill or have been recently exposed or diagnosed with a communicable illness or disease.  
  • All visitors will be asked to check into the Center and provide contact information. If you are diagnosed with a serious communicable illness and were in the Family Center 48 hours prior to becoming sick or being diagnosed, we encourage you to contact us by emailing the staff at familycenter@upenn.edu.

 

 

General Medical Policy

Having ill children and family members at the center presents the very real possibility that others can be infected. While we understand that parents need to be at work or in class, we need to enforce this policy to protect all children, visitors, and staff from unnecessary exposure to communicable disease.

We follow the guidelines developed by Wellness at Penn and the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association. Parents who repeatedly fail to follow policies related to keeping children and visitors at home when they are ill will lose their Family Center membership.

Questions or concerns about policies should be sent to the familycenter@upenn.edu. 

 

 

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Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Pennsylvania's Family Resource Center values diversity and welcomes all students and families from diverse backgrounds. The Family Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in its services or in its employment practices.

Read more about diversity at Penn. 

Bias Incident Reporting Form 

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Family Center Hours

The Family Center's operating hours vary by term. The schedule for this semester can be found on our Center Calendar.

Please contact staff for support: familycenter@upenn.edu

Academic Year Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9AM - 5PM
Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED

Summer Hours:
Monday- Friday: 10AM - 4PM
Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED

Winter Break:
Closed 

Spring Break: 
Monday-Friday 10AM - 4PM

The Family Center adheres to the University's schedule and will be closed on designated holidays and during campus-wide suspensions of normal operations. 

Penn Academic Calendar

 

location_on

Location

Family Center 
3615 Locust Walk, Lower Level
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104

View on Campus Map 

store

Facilities & Amenities

The Family Center strives to provide a comfortable and enriching space for families on campus.

Our facility features: 

  • Family Center Lounge
  • Family Reading Room
  • Private Lactation Room with Medela Symphony Pump
  • Conference Room
  • Child Nap Space
  • Kitchen Amenities
  • Toys and games (generously donated by the Hassenfeld Family Initiatives of Hasbro)
  • Children's Book Library
  • Video and Parenting Book Lending Library
  • Community Bulletin Boards

The Family Center is membership based and open to Penn students and post docs and their families. To become a member families must first complete the Parental Consent and Release Form

Memberships are free! 

The Lactation Room is open to the Penn Community, no membership necessary. 

local_hospital

Medical Policies

Coronavirus

  • The Family Center is excited to welcome visitors to our facility. For the protection of all, the Family Center adheres Wellness at Penn's guidance on campus health. 
  • The Family Center strongly encourages members and visitors to be up to date with their vaccinations.  
  • Visitors should not come to the Family Center if they feel ill or have been recently exposed or diagnosed with a communicable illness or disease.  
  • All visitors will be asked to check into the Center and provide contact information. If you are diagnosed with a serious communicable illness and were in the Family Center 48 hours prior to becoming sick or being diagnosed, we encourage you to contact us by emailing the staff at familycenter@upenn.edu.

 

 

General Medical Policy

Having ill children and family members at the center presents the very real possibility that others can be infected. While we understand that parents need to be at work or in class, we need to enforce this policy to protect all children, visitors, and staff from unnecessary exposure to communicable disease.

We follow the guidelines developed by Wellness at Penn and the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association. Parents who repeatedly fail to follow policies related to keeping children and visitors at home when they are ill will lose their Family Center membership.

Questions or concerns about policies should be sent to the familycenter@upenn.edu. 

 

 

language

Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Pennsylvania's Family Resource Center values diversity and welcomes all students and families from diverse backgrounds. The Family Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in its services or in its employment practices.

Read more about diversity at Penn. 

Bias Incident Reporting Form