Family, Children & Community Association (FCCA)

Mission

Who is FCCA and What is its Mission?

Established May 11, 1914 as the Young Women’s Christian Association the YWCA transitioned into FCCA in the early 2000’s with an additional tweak to our name in 2024. Our legal name is Family Children & Community Association, but most know us as the FCCA.FCCA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Meadville, PA. We are instrumental in providing various programming and services to the City of Meadville and Crawford County.

We stand behind our mission as an all-inclusive organization which seeks to provide programing for all people and all walks of life from early childhood into senior citizenship. We care deeply about our community, and it is our desire to support our community by providing tools to overcome generational poverty, health disparities, low literacy skills, and job readiness.

The mission of the FCCA is to meet the needs of families, children, and the community by promoting excellent programs and services. We are dedicated to building partnerships, and promoting unity within our community through training, education, and collaboration.

Profile

The FCCA is making a difference and we are working hard to make an even greater impact within our community as mental health disorders arise, the price of food increases, government assistance gets cut, and our youth needs more guidance and direction within Meadville and Crawford County at large. For some people the FCCA is that last ray of hope when they are struggling. If the FCCA did not exist over 250 3–5-year-olds would not experience a healthy first-time classroom experience. If the FCCA did not exist, struggling families would not have the ability to go to the Blessing Box to obtain a meal for their family to eat until they got on their feet. If the FCCA did not exist over 2,500 meals during the holiday would not have gotten to those who need it the most, and those who need the fellowship during the holiday season would be left at home all alone.

Pre-K Counts

Established in 2007 as one of the initial Pre-K Counts programs, the FCCA program sets a standard for pre-kindergarten education. We foster a collaborative school-family environment and provide foundational preparation for kindergarten for families at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. The program is committed to stable leadership and strong community partnerships as we pursue additional opportunities for growth. The mission of the FCCA Pre-K Counts program is to deliver a safe, nurturing, and high-quality pre-kindergarten experience for children, families, and the community, encouraging lifelong learning and engagement. The state provides funding to support the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program, which is designed to offer quality pre-kindergarten education to eligible children. No private donations or Crawford Gives funds go to this program.

Impact Snapshot
9 school locations
30+ employees
11 classrooms
270+ Students

IDEMIA/Fingerprinting Program

FCCA is a registered center for IdentoGo Services provided by IDEMIA. The primary purpose of this service is to secure, capture, and transmit electronic fingerprints for employment, certification, licensing, and other verification purposes. Our Fingerprinting program is a service to the community providing Live Scan fingerprinting services 6 days a week.

Available Services:
State Agency Enrollment
FBI Identity History Check
Passport Photo

Developing Greatness

Developing Greatness is a program developed by the FCCA geared towards providing teenagers, youth, and young adults with an alternative productive “hang out spot” during off peak hours. The goal of this program is to break the cycle of poverty within our youth by building life skills. The Developing Greatness program has been a beacon within our community for youth struggling with mental health matters such as suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders.
After conversations with teenagers, youth, and college students within Crawford County, it has come to our attention that our young people feel they do not have a place to go to after-school or during the summer. Many times, they also feel that they do not have anything productive or engaging to do with their time. We want to provide an alternative for youth to partake in something fulfilling and mentally stimulating. Our program has helped teenagers and youth stay off the streets and encourages them to be productive within our community.
Since its inception, the Developing Greatness Program has provided many opportunities for area youth to participate in educational trips to areas like Buffalo, Detroit, and Harrisburg just to name a few. During these trips youth tour universities, museums, and businesses speaking to and learning from real people in real situations. As they explored the world outside of Crawford County and Pennsylvania, they are enlightened in ways they never were before. Thanks to donations, we have an amazing facility which allows for teens and youth to positively interact and develop useful life skills. Research has shown that there is a great need for additional programming for youth within Crawford County. Our program has targeted some of the basic need’s youth have such as tutoring sessions, homework help, and a space to socialize and have fun. We have also assisted teens with life skills such as cooking classes, lessons on nutritious food, financial literacy sessions, mental health awareness, and entrepreneurship. Our facility is equipped with board games, televisions, gaming systems, art supplies, sports equipment, and other fun tools to address the needs of active teens. The Developing Greatness program has promoted better grades for youth, teens and college students allowing our next generation to have a productive life with the skills they have learned.

Community Baby Showers

Three community baby showers were held—two in Meadville and one in Titusville—providing a variety of services such as car seat installation, hair trims, manicures, giveaways, bounce houses for children, on-site ultrasounds for expectant mothers, food distribution, books, and information on community resources. The events were open to all Crawford County families who had welcomed a child within the past three years. Community resources were made available for all attending families, with specific items and activities directed at pregnant individuals and children under three.
Attendance was high, and feedback indicated participants found value in the initiative, noted as the first event of this type in Crawford County. Partners included the Meadville Fire Department (car seat installation), local hairstylists (hair trims and manicures), New Beginnings Church of God (transportation for families from rural areas), and the FCCA (bounce houses). The 2nd Harvest Food Bank assisted with distributing healthy food. The Women’s Care Center of Erie provided their Mobile Medical Clinic, where eight ultrasounds were performed throughout the day, along with pregnancy confirmations and STI testing by licensed medical professionals. The participation and contributions of various community partners supported these events.

Blessing Box

The purpose of the Blessing Box is to provide a 24-hour food pantry/all-purpose needs center for Meadville area and Crawford County communities. The Blessing Box is always free and available to be utilized by our community. Even though our community does an outstanding job helping to provide items for the Blessing Box, we can’t keep it stocked. As soon as it is filled it is emptied. Our community has a great need for food and resources, and we are glad to be able to be a source that people can go to in any time of day or night.

Get to Know Your Neighbor Community Breakfast

Get to Know Your Neighbor is a free community breakfast held at FCCA every 2nd and 4th Saturday. The goal is to provide a safe learning environment for our community, and for attendees to meet and get to know their neighbors. It is a time of inspiration and fellowship for our community as people from various socio-economic statuses share their life experiences and personal accomplishments. A breakfast for the community, by the community, as community members volunteer to cook an amazing, fresh breakfast.

For members of our community who struggle with obtaining food and fellowship over the weekend, this breakfast is our way of reaching out to our community to ensure that everyone has access to a hot meal. We typically have between 30-50 people attend our breakfasts. During the weekend it is difficult to obtain a hot meal if you don’t have money or are unhoused. For some the weekends are a lonely time. Since October 2023 we have provided over 2,000 breakfasts to our community

Love Your Neighbor sessions focus on Meadville and Crawford County communities, with open discussions of personal life experiences. The goal of this project is to come to a better understanding of our neighbors, to explore ways of working together on building better organizations, more positive neighborhood dynamics, and a better city and county overall. This training is geared towards opening the lines of communication for the community to have meaningful and difficult conversations. During this six-week series we learn about each other’s similarities and differences and how we can set positive examples for our children, the clients we serve, and the future leaders of our communities.

SAM-Shelter Area Meadville/EUMA

During the winter season from November 15, 2024 - March 30, 2025, FCCA and EUMA partnered on providing seasonal shelter in Crawford County PA to 72 guests and 899 cumulative warm-bed nights to our community. Every time the “feels like” temperature was below 25 degrees, the blue light would be turned on to alert our unhoused friends that the FCCA is a safe and warm space for them to come to and obtain food, fellowship, warmth, and rest.

FCCA Basketball Program

Launched in February of 2024, the basketball program provides various leagues, clinics, and tournaments to all age groups. While developing talent for the court, this program is a safe space to learn impactful and empowering life skills, preparing our young athletes for success beyond basketball. As we look forward, the program will continue to expand, including more leagues and training opportunities, and a partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers youth program!

Pedal Power Bike Project

The Mission
To provide youth and young adults with essential road safety knowledge, basic mechanic skills, and the freedom that a bike of their own can bring. Through this program participants not only learn, they get a bike to take home.
Our approach:
Collect donated bikes in good or repairable condition
Match youth with the bikes based on height and needs
Teach repair and safety skills through guided sessions
Provide safety equipment upon completion
Our goal is to help youth build ownership, responsibility and independence.

Crawford County Family Navigator Program

We are honored to introduce the newly established Crawford County Family Navigator team! We are so looking forward to the startup of our Family Navigator Program, in collaboration with our wonderful partners at CHAPS!
There will be much preparation in July, with our goal to begin supporting children and their families in August. Stay tuned for more info!

Pursuit of Independence Commute

Pursuit of Independence Commute is a program that offers free community rides to health & wellness appointments, job interviews, DMV services, funerals and viewings, nursing home and family care visits, approved community events and commutes.
The program offers qualifying rides
Mon - Fri, 9am - 1 pm
Sat , 8am - 12pm.

If the FCCA did not exist:
Struggling youth would not obtain the life changing skills and experiences provided by the Developing Greatness program.
Over 2,500 holiday meals would not have gotten to those who need it the most, and those who need the fellowship during the holiday season would be left at home alone.

Community focused programs like FCCA’s Community Baby Showers, Basketball and Pedal Power Programs would not be available in Crawford County..
These are just a few reasons the FCCA exists. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out at 814-337-4279 Ext 110 or via email at jroberson@fccafamily.com.