Coraservices.com
Rooted in a tradition of care and compassion, the Mission of CORA Services is to assist children, youth and families experiencing emotional, academic and social challenges which impede their development and productivity. A private, not-for-profit service organization located in Philadelphia, PA, CORA Services provides an array of comprehensive professional services focused on prevention, intervention, remediation and referral assistance.
– New Mission Statement


Organization history

In 1971, with the investment and support of the Good Shepherd Sisters and funded by a small State grant, CORA Services began as a community-based counseling center in the Fox Chase section of the City of Philadelphia. Rooted in a tradition of caring, compassion, and acceptance of all in need, CORA Services's mission was to help children and families overcome adversities in their school, neighborhood, and home.

The CORA Services Counseling Center focused on direct, individualized early intervention and prevention services to "at-risk" school-aged children and their families. That first year, with a budget of $135,000, and a targeted population of 300 families, the counselors at CORA Services saw over 600 families. Today, with a budget of over $11,000,000, the agency supports a professional staff of over 200 educators, counselors, psychologists, and speech and language teachers who provide new and viable expressions of caring and compassion to children, youth, and families experiencing problems in an increasingly complex world. Today, more than 25,000 families participate annually in one or more of the services offered through five major service divisions. They are: Non-Public School Services, Community Services, Early Years Preschool, The Neumann Center and Out of School Services. Together these programs provide a wide variety of services including day care, educational and speech remediation, individual/group/family counseling, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and career counseling. The programs and services of CORA Services are designed and implemented focusing on the needs of the individual, the family, and the community. Whether responding to a crisis situation or through GED and career training, CORA Services focuses on assisting "the whole child" to reach full potential.

The following is a brief description of CORA Services's divisions:

  • Non-Public School Services – established in 1973, provides counseling and guidance services, reading and math remediation, speech, and psychological services to children attending non-public schools in grades K to 12.
  • Early Years Program established in 1976, provides nursery, pre-school and day care services to families with children between the ages of 2 ½ to 6 years of age.
  • Community Services – established in 1971, provides counseling and psychological services for individuals and families. Some areas of specialization include teen parenting, counseling, therapy, outpatient alcohol/substance abuse treatment, family intervention and teen pregnancy services.
  • Neumann Center – established in 1980, offers a complete reading and math remedial program, GED preparation, life skills, computer and clerical skills, customer service training, pre-employment skills and employment placement assistance.
  • Out of School Services – established in 2002, the Beacon Center at Grover Washington, Jr. Middle School, located at B and Olney Avenue in North Philadelphia, is a school-based community center which provides a safe haven for children and families in the community. In the last year, the Out of School Services division has grown to include another Beacon Center at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, located at 5120 N. 6th Street. In addition to the Beacon Centers, there are three After School sites located at Carnell Elementary School at 1100 Devereaux Street, Morrison Elementary School at 5100 N. 3rd Street, and the Neumann Center at 1000 Orthodox Avenue, all in Philadelphia.