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You want the very best for your child. So do we. Sometimes, that means a little additional support to ensure your child grows, learns, and thrives.

Helping You Every Step of the Way

The Center for the Urban Child provides medical care for your child and free support services families need from time to time. When we first opened our doors in 1875, it was to address an unmet need in one of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. We are proud to continue that tradition with the Center for the Urban Child. Here, we offer many of the standard services you would expect from a doctor’s office. But we do so much more. Designed to serve children from birth to age 21, and their families, we are building healthy childhoods together.

Learn more about our medical services and free resources and support to close the health gap in our community.

Preventive Care to Keep Kids Healthy

Good health begins with regularly scheduled well visits. These exams provide the opportunity for children, families, and physicians to come together to ask questions, address concerns, and get the support or guidance they need. Our pediatric preventive services include:

  • Age-appropriate health screenings such as blood pressure, vision, and hearing
  • Education and advice on healthy lifestyle choices
  • Head-to-toe physical exam
  • Immunizations

Insurance Accepted

Please note: our list is not meant to be all-inclusive and is subject to change. Please check with your health plan to verify coverage.

Commercial

Aetna

  • Aetna HMO
  • Aetna HMO (Open Access)
  • Aetna HMO / Health Network Only
  • Aetna QPOS
  • Aetna Savings Plus
  • Aetna Select
  • Aetna Signature
  • Aetna Value Performance Network
  • Aetna Voluntary Plans
  • Aetna Whole Health
  • Choice POS, Choice - POS (Aetna HealthFund), Choice POS II, Choice POS II (Aetna HealthFund)
  • Elect Choice EPO
  • Health Network Only & Health Network Option
  • International Medical
  • Managed Choice, Managed Choice - Open Access, Managed Choice POS
  • Mercy Preferred Choice POSII, Mercy Preferred Choice Select, Mercy Preferred Elect Choice EPO
  • Mercy Preferred Managed Choice & Mercy Preferred Open Choice (PPO)
  • Open Access - Elect Choice, Open Access EPO
  • Open Access POS, Open Access EPO Plus (Broad) & Open Access POS II (Broad)
  • Open Choice PPO & Open Choice PPO - Aetna HealthFund
  • Peak Preference Select HNOnly on the Altius Network
  • Preferred - Open Choice PPO, Preferred Choice POS II, Preferred Select
  • Preferred Elect Choice EPO, Preferred Managed Choice
  • Premier Care - Network & Premier Care Network Plus
  • We do not participate in the following Aetna plans:
    • PEBTF HMO

Cigna

  • Choice Fund OA Plus
  • Open Access Plus
  • OA Plus
  • Choice Fund OA Plus with Care Link PPO
  • Choice Fund PPO Network
  • HMO
  • POS
  • Great West

Geisinger

Highmark Blue Shield (Note: Standard Tier)

  • We do not participate in the following Highmark plans:
    • Community Blue Medicare HMO
    • My Direct Blue EPO
    • Blue High-Performance Network (HPN)
    • Choice Blue PPO

Independence Blue Cross

  • Keystone HMO Proactive (Tier 3)
  • Keystone HMO/POS/Direct POS
  • Personal Choice PPO
  • Personal Choice EPO
  • Personal Choice Tiered (Tier 2)
  • National BlueCard PPO
  • IBC HMO Commercial tier 3 Standard
  • IBC PPO Commercial
  • AmeriHealth PPO & HMO Commercial
  • AmeriHealth Comprehensive Major Medical

United Healthcare

  • Unitedhealthcare Navigate
  • All Savers
  • Unitedhealthcare Catalyst
  • Unitedhealthcare Choice and Choice Plus
  • Unitedhealthcare Choice Advance and Choice Plus Advance
  • Unitedhealthcare Options PPO plans
  • Unitedhealthcare Oxford - Choice or Core network only
  • Unitedhealthcare Tiered Benefit Plans
  • Unitedhealthcare MD-IPA Plan
  • UHC Compass Rose PPO Plan
  • We do not participate in the following United Healthcare plans:
    • Oxford (unless the member has Choice or Core)
    • Heritage (unless the member has Choice Plus)
    • Erikson Advantage
CHIP

ABH Kids

Geisinger

Highmark CHIP

HPP KidzPartners

Keystone First CHIP

UHC CHIP

UPMC CHIP

Marketplace/ACA Plans

Geisinger

PA Health and Wellness (Ambetter)

Medicaid

Geisinger

Highmark Wholecare (formerly Gateway Health Plan)

Health Partners

Horizon NJ Health

Keystone First 

PA Health & Wellness 

Point Comfort Underwriters

  • Unaccompanied Minors
  • Afghan Refugees

UHC Medicaid

UPMC for You

  • Health Choices
  • Community Health Choices

Wellpoint (formerly AmeriGroup)

Medicare Advantage

Plans Offering Drug Coverage

Aetna Medicare

  • Aetna PEBTF PPO
  • Choice HMO
  • Silver HMO & PPO
  • Gold PPO
  • Premier HMO
  • Standard HMO
  • Basic HMO
  • We do not participate in the following Aetna plans:
    • PEBTF HMO

Blue Cross Medicare

Geisinger

Health Partners

Independence Blue Cross

  • IBC HMO Medicare Basic/Select
  • IBC HMO Medicare
  • IBC PPO Medicare
  • Amerihealth HMO Medicare
  • Keystone 65
    • Basic Rx HMO
    • Preferred Rx HMO
    • Select Rx HMO
    • We do not participate in the following Keystone 65 plans:
      • Focus

Personal Choice 65 Rx PPO

PA Health & Wellness

  • HMO DSNP
  • HMO MAPD
  • PPO DSNP
  • PPO MAPD

United Healthcare

  • Unitedhealthcare Dual Complete
  • Unitedhealthcare Group Medicare Advantage Plan
  • Unitedhealthcare Assisted Living Plan (PPO)
  • Unitedhealthcare Nursing Home Plan

UPMC for Life

  • HMO
  • PPO

Plans without Drug Coverage

Keystone 65

  • Preferred Medical Only HMO
  • Select Medical Only HMO
  • We do not participate in the following Keystone 65 plans:
    • Focus

United Healthcare AARP Medicare Complete

Special Needs Plan

United Healthcare

  • AARP Medicare Complete
  • UHC Dual Complete
  • UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans
  • UHC Assisted Living Plan (PPO)
  • UHC Nursing Home Plan

Walk-in Sick Visits to Help Your Child Feel Better

When your child is sick, you want them to feel better as soon as possible. Our Center offers walk-in sick visits year-round, making it easier for you to get your child seen by a provider you can trust. Walk-in sick visit hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.

Nurses are also available to answer any questions or concerns you may have and can often help you decide if your child needs to be seen. Schedule an appointment or talk to a nurse at 215-427-5985.

Additional Health and Wellness Services

  • Urgent care after hours. There are no off hours when it comes to children getting sick or injured. We offer urgent care services outside of office hours. Call us at 215-427-5985. A nurse or physician will return your call promptly, and, if necessary, arrange for an urgent care visit.
  • Access to the best pediatric specialists. We will connect you to other care your child needs, quickly and conveniently.
  • Empowerment and education. Our team educates, empowers, and motivates your child to reach their goals.

Free Services and Support for Families

Healthy bodies begin with healthy families and healthy communities. That does not always mean physical health alone. It also includes addressing the stress and worries many families sometimes face — from where their next meal will come from to fighting unfair housing restrictions.

The Center for the Urban Child works with families, caregivers, and children to remove any obstacles on their path to improving their physical, mental, and emotional health and wellness.

  • Our partnership with The Children’s Advocacy Project of Philadelphia connects families, children, and teens with community resources.
  • We offer development and behavioral health resources to address all aspects of your child’s health.
  • Healthy families are safe families. Families, children, and teens involved in abusive relationships should call 866-SAFE-014 (866-723-3014) or 215-427-4711.
  • Eating well isn’t always as easy as a trip to the grocery store. We offer farm to family programs and other food resources to ensure your family gets healthy food at a low cost. Call us at 215-910-2901.
  • Understand complex health issues and get free legal advice with the Medical Legal Partnership. Lawyers are available by phone on Wednesdays at 215-587-3350.
  • Keep your child healthy and injury free with our injury specialists. Call 215-587-3350.
  • Find support when caring for your newborn. Moms can call 215-427-MILK (6455) for breastfeeding support and resources.
  • Confident smiles for confident kids. We offer same day dental care and referrals for children. Learn more by calling 215-427-5065 or 215-427-8877.
  • Reading benefits children of all ages – even babies. Our Reach Out and Read program offers free books for children, ages six months to 5 years, and advice and resources to help your child develop a lifelong love of reading.
  • Secondhand smoke can pose a serious health threat to children. Get help kicking your habit with a smoking cessation program from Smoke Free Philly. Learn more by calling 215-683-LIVE.
  • Our social workers are here for all families in their time of need. Call us at 215-427-5031.
  • Being a teen can be tough. Our teen specialists are here to help your teen navigate the challenges they face. Call us at 215-427-3802.
  • WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program offers critical resources and support to families who need it most. Access the program on our campus by calling 215-427-6972.