History - Friends Association

History

In 1814, Quaker and African American women led by Friend Ann Yarnell began to organize an effort to provide homes for orphaned coloured children living on the streets of Philadelphia. This was the beginning of Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children which is the oldest continuously operating child welfare agency in Pennsylvania. Guided by Quaker principles, which recognize the inherent value of each individual in our society, this agency has provided homeless children of all races with care and support through individual and innovative programs for over 180 years.

Today at Friends Association our programs focus on:

Keeping children with their birth families through the provision of emergency housing and support services.

Strengthening at-risk families to achieve self-sufficiency and retain their independence.

Providing safe, nurturing families for children when an alternative home is absolutely necessary.

Developing and providing permanent adoption homes for children who cannot be reunited with their birth families.