Directory - Child Services and Activities

Missing Children Hotline: 1-800-426-5678

Organization: Child Line - 24 Hour Toll Free Hotline
Phone #: 1-800-932-0313
URL: www.dpw.state.pa.us/PartnersProviders/ChildWelfare/003670361.htm
Mission statement: The Mission of ChildLine is to accept calls from the public and professional sources 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Cultural sensitivity and courteous demeanor will be displayed at all times to all callers. ChildLine will provide information, counseling, and referral services for families and children to ensure the safety and well being of the children of Pennsylvania.

Activities:

Organization: Child Care Information Service
Address: 1111 Commons Blvd. Reading, PA 19612
Phone #: 610-987-2247 or 1-800-527-3038
Mission statement: Provides information and referrals for child care and how to pay for child care.

Organization: 3rd and Spruce Recreation Center
Address: 320 S 3rd Street Reading, PA
Phone #: 610-655-6349
Contact person: Heather Boyer
E-mail: heather.boyer@readingpa.org
URL:
Mission statement: Arts and Crafts-This program includes painting, seasonal craft activities, wearable art etc. Athletics and Games-Structured athletic games such as kickball, hockey, basketball & more. Free play, table sports and assorted board games are also available. Homework Center- A structured environment where you can get academic assistance, a guiding instructor or a quiet area to do school work. Monday-Friday 3:30PM – 8:00PM Ages 7-17 years old $6.00 membership fee.

Organization: 11th & Pike Recreation Center
Address: 11th and Pike Streets Reading, PA
Phone #: 610-655-6068
Contact person:
E-mail:
URL:
Mission statement: Arts and Crafts-This program includes painting, seasonal craft activities, wearable art etc. Athletics and Games-Structured athletic games such as kickball, hockey, basketball & more. Free play, table sports and assorted board games are also available. Homework Center- A structured environment where you can get academic assistance, a guiding instructor or a quiet area to do school work. Monday – Friday 3:00PM – 8:00PM Ages 6-14 years old $5.00 membership fee

Organization: Big Brothers/Sisters of Berks
Address: 303 Windsor Street Centre Park Reading, PA 19601
Phone #: 610-373-5544
Contact person: Vincent Kulbitsky
E-mail: email@bigsinberks.org
URL: www.bigsinberks.org
Mission statement: Our Mentoring agency provides positive role models for at-risk youth from single-parent families across Reading & Berks County, PA.

Organization: Boy Scouts of America Hawk Mountain Council
Address: 5027 Pottsville Pike Reading, PA 19605
Phone #: 610-926-3406
Contact person:
E-mail: hawkmtn@epix.net
URL: www.home.epix.net/~hawkmtn/home.html
Mission statement: The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Organization: Dominant Soulja's Drill Teams
Address: 862 North 8th Street Reading, Pa
Phone #: 610- 743-3865
Contact person: Rosalind Showell
E-mail: rosalind_showell@yahoo.com
URL:
Mission statement: For our team to be a positive role model for youth. For the drill team to do community outreach. For our members to receive their High School Diploma. For our members to love honor and respect themselves and others. For our drill team members to be the best person they can be.

Organization: Girls Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
Address: 1300 New Holland Rd. Ste. 106
Phone #: 610 796-7586
Contact person: Cathy Ganter
E-mail: cganter@gsep.org
URL: www.girlscouts-greatvalley.org/contactus.html
Mission statement: The purpose of Girl Scouting is to inspire girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism and service that they may become happy and resourceful citizens.

Organization: Million Youth Chess Club
Address: P.O. BOX 7944 Reading, Pa 19603
Phone #: 610-373-3061
Contact person: Michael Reese
E-mail: micharee6@aol.com
URL: www.millionyouthchess.homestead.com
Mission statement: Dedicated to providing Berks County youth with the opportunity to further develop their talents as chess players through education and competition. We believe that by engaging youth in the game of chess they can enhance their critical and analytical thinking and reasoning skills to better prepare them and address the problems of daily living.

Organization: NEAR CENTERS (Neighborhood Education Activities & Recreation)
Locations: St. Matthews UM (18th & Cotton)
St Marks Lutheran (10th & Windsor)
St. Thomas UCC (11th & Windsor)
Phone #: 610-655-6613
Contact person:
E-mail:
URL:
Mission statement: These centers are neighborhood focused youth programs partnered with faith based institutions. Activities include: arts & crafts, organized group activities, academic enrichment, special collaborative programs such as peer pressure and anti-tobacco etc. There is no membership fee required.

Organization: Olivet’s Boys & Girls Club of Reading and Berks County
Address: 1161 Pershing Blvd. Reading, PA 19611
Phone #: 610-373-1314
Contact person: Jeffery
E-mail: jeffrey@olivetbgc.org
URL: www.olivetbgc.org
Mission statement: Builds character through everyday leadership and guidance in behavior and attitude. Young people of all nationalities, races and creeds join together in wholesome recreation and companionship. Trained professional staff act as positive adult mentors and role models.

Organization: Teen Corner
Address: suite 412 Goggleworks Reading, Pa 19601
Phone #: 610-374-4088
Contact person: Cheryl Okofor
E-mail: mali.institute@verizon.net
URL:
Mission statement: The institute will install rites of passage in teen groups as a tool for reaffirming cultures, gaining self-knowledge, confidence-building, learning responsibility and teamwork. The journey of life is examined and exposed for its self-fulfillment needs. The component of the institute is designed for both peer and adult mentoring. This organization has its own show on BCTV and offers many fun events such as bowling and dances.

Services:

Organization: Berks County Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP)
Address: County Services Center 633 Court St. 15th Floor Reading, PA
Phone #: 610-478-3271 Ext. 6584
Contact person: Sheila Bressler
E-mail:
URL: www.co.berks.pa.us/berks/cwp/view.asp?a=1159&q=443159
Mission statement: To assess, develop, improve, and evaluate a comprehensive, coordinated, and collaborative system of services for children, adolescents and their families with multi-system needs.

Organization: Bureau for At-Risk Youth
Address: 645 New York Avenue Huntington, NY 11743
Phone #: 1-800-99-YOUTH
Contact person:
E-mail:
URL: www.at-risk.com
Mission statement: The Bureau for At-Risk Youth provides award-winning guidance and prevention materials for K-12 schools, youth service and juvenile justice organizations.

Organization: Center for Children's Law and Policy
Address: 1701 K Street NW Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20006
Phone #: 202-637-0377
Contact person:
E-mail: info@cclp.org
URL: www.cclp.org
Mission statement: The Center for Children’s Law and Policy (CCLP) is a public interest law and policy organization focused on reform of juvenile justice and other systems that affect troubled and at-risk children, and protection of the rights of children in those systems.

Organization: Children's Defense Fund
Address: 25 E Street NW Washington DC, 20001
Phone #: 1-800-233-1200
Contact person:
E-mail: cdfinfo@childrensdefense.org
URL: www.childrensdefense.org
Mission statement: The Children's Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

Organization: Children's Home of Reading
Address: 1010 Centre Avenue Reading, PA 19601
Phone #: 610-478-8266
Contact person:
E-mail: contactus@childrenshomeofrdg.org
URL: www.childrenshomeofrdg.org
Mission statement: Caring for the needs of children and families in crisis, and preparing them for success in life.

Organization: Community Juvenile One-To-One Program
Address: 501 Washington Street P.O. Box 302 Reading, PA 19603
Phone #: 610-371-4550
Contact person: United Way of Berks County
E-mail:
URL:
Mission statement: Volunteers work on a one-to-one basis with needy or at risk youth up to 17 years of age.

Organization: Headstart
Address:
Phone #: 610-987-8453
Contact person: Judith A. Blimline
E-mail: judbli@berksiu.org
URL: www.headstart.seta.net
Mission statement: Our mission is accomplished by involving parents in the total operation and administration of the program and supporting the growth of children, families and staff through encouragement, nurturing, education and empowerment.

Organization: Keffer Park Field House
Address: 3rd & Exeter Streets Exeter, PA
Phone #: 610-655-6239
Contact person:
E-mail:
URL:
Mission statement: Arts & crafts, billiards, bumper pool, table tennis, table games and planned tournaments and contests. Monday-Friday 3:30PM – 7:30 PM For children ages 6-14 years old No membership fee.

Organization: Models for Change
Address:
Phone #:
Contact person:
E-mail: help@modelsforchange.net
URL: www.modelsforchange.net
Mission statement: Models for Change collaborates with selected states to advance juvenile justice reforms that effectively hold young people accountable for their actions, provide for their rehabilitation, protect them from harm, increase their life chances, and manage the risk they pose to themselves and to public safety.

Organization: Ophelia Project
Address: 718 Nevada Drive Erie, PA 16505
Phone #: 888-256-KIDS (5437)
Contact person:
E-mail: ophelia@opheliaproject.org
URL: www.opheliaproject.org/main
Mission statement: The Ophelia Project serves youth and adults who are affected by relational and other non-physical forms of aggression by providing them with a unique combination of tools, strategies and solutions. To achieve long-term systemic change, we help build capabilities to measurably reduce aggression and promote a positive, productive environment for all. We are dedicated to creating safe social climates.

Organization: Parent/Child Advocacy MHARB
Address: 122 W. Lancaster Ave. Mifflin Plaza - Suite 207 Shillington, PA 19607
Phone #: 610-775-3000
Contact person:
E-mail:
URL: mharbc.org/childadvocacy.html
Mission statement: Our parent/child advocates provide individualized case advocacy for children in the special education and mental health systems within Berks County. We strive to actively educate parents on the rights and needs of their children to help them become effective advocates.

Organization: Pennsylvania Partnership for Children
Address: 931 North Front Street Suite 101 Harrisburg, PA 17102-3422
Phone #: 800-257-2030
Contact person:
E-mail:
URL: www.papartnerships.org
Mission statement: Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children is a strong, effective and trusted voice to improve the health, education and well-being of children and youth in the Commonwealth. PPC is statewide, independent, non-partisan and non-profit.

Organization: Single Women & Single Mothers Healthy Relationship Workshop
Address: The Lighthouse Christian Center 500 Franklin St. West Reading, PA
Phone #: 610-678-2500
Contact person: Kristin Otto
E-mail: kristinotto@verizon.net
URL: www.lighthousechristiancenter.info
Mission statement: This is a great workshop to get an overview of what a healthy relationship really is. Discussions will be on topics such as forgiveness, restoration, good communication, danger signs/red flags, 7 Principles of Smart Love and so much more. You will discover the true YOU!

Organization: Special Kids Network System of Care
Address:
Phone #: 717-763-1661
Contact person: Lynn Jones-Hoats
E-mail: ljones-hoats@gotoskn.org
URL: www.center-school.org/sknsoc
Mission statement: The Special Kids Network System of Care works to address barriers and challenges families experience when trying to get needed services and gain community participation for their children with special health care needs.

Organization: UCS Youth Build
Address: 116 North 5th Street Reading, PA 19601
Phone #: 610-374-3319 ext. 102
Contact person: Crystal Edwards
E-mail:
URL:
Mission statement: Youth Build is a national model that enables youth to obtain the GED, leadership, and employment skills to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Organization: Y.E.S. Mentoring
Address: 518 Washington Street Reading, PA19603
Phone #: 610-376-6571
Contact person: Judy Blimline
E-mail: jblimline@bcapberks.org
Mission statement: We match positive adult role models with deserving students’ form 1st through 12th grade for mentoring.