About Our Organization

COA Youth & Family Centers nurtures children, supports families, and builds strong and resilient communities - one child, one family, one community at a time. COA’s programs are designed to meet the needs of Amani and Riverwest families through the advancement of our three core areas of focus: early education, youth development, and community engagement. Our vision is to provide child-centered, family-focused, community-connected opportunities that expand possibilities, change lives, and build futures.

 

Programs: 
Early Childhood Education - Our five-star NAEYC - accredited Early Education Center provides safe, nurturing environments where children cultivate foundational skills and are supported through developmental milestones they will need to succeed in school from day one. This program serves children from 6 weeks old to 5 year old.

 

Hippy - Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters- HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), is a home-based program where Parent Partners engage the whole family in educational activities geared toward supporting parents and caregivers as their child's first, and most important teachers. As a bilingual model, Parent Partners provide a rich curriculum of resources as well as children's books in the language of the home.  Children whose families engage in the HIPPY program are shown to start school academically ahead of their peers. 

 

Youth Development - COA’s Youth Development Program empowers children to reach their full potential - academically, socially, and emotionally. Our program provides a safe and enriching space where youth ages 5 to 12 can receive homework help, enjoy a healthy dinner, explore through field trips, and engage in active outdoor play. COA offers daily after school pick-up within a 1.5-mile radius, with a modest $10 monthly fee to our Riverwest Center. 

 

Teen Impact program - COA’s Teen Impact Program (TIP), located at COA's Goldin Center on Burleigh, helps teens build the confidence, skills, and connections they need to succeed in school and beyond.  TIP Program also provides Dinner Monday- Thursday to those students who are enrolled in programming.

 

Camp Helen Brachman - Camp Helen Brachman, located in Almond, Wisconsin. CHB hosts summer camps, winter camps, and family camps with expert-guided programs in nature, art, swimming, boating, and archery. Camp is also available to rent for private events and gatherings! 

 

Samson Family Resource Center (FRC)- Located in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, COA’s Samson FRC offers free drop-in programs for parents and children ages 0–7. Families enjoy free play, story time, art projects, snacks, and more — all in a safe, welcoming space.

 

Ethel Nutis Gill Family Resource Center (FRC)- Located in Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood,  Gill FRC initiatives include a community food pantry,  and family-oriented community events. In addition to addressing food insecurity, the Gill Family resource center hosts the Safe Summer Kick Off, Beyond the Book Bag and Summer Meals at Moody Park Pavilion.  

 

In 2025, we helped 1,686 children have clean diapers. A total of 42,150 diapers were distributed through our diaper bank.  

 

In 2025,  we provided meals for 1,833 youth and 752 adults with our Summer Meals Program partnered with Hunger Task Force & CFI. 

 

In 2025, 9,666 individuals were served in the Ethel Nutis Gill Family Resource Center's Food Pantry.