SCO News

SCO’s Center for Family Life Celebrates Community

May 22, 2015 / SCO News

Thanks to our dedicated staff and generous supporters, the 2015 Center for Family Life's Celebrating Community benefit was a major success! We were proud to honor Anne Sherman, Outgoing Chair of the Center for Family Life Advisory Board, as well as the Kiwanis Club of Parkway East.

Read More

---

ACS Close to Home Teens Visit Washington, D.C. Historical Sites

May 21, 2015 / Independent Youth News

At 5:15 am on Friday, May 8, six young men and five staff members from the 128th Street, Close to Home non-secure placement facility in Ozone Park, Queens, left for a whirlwind weekend trip to Washington, D.C. Taking the young men to the nation’s capital grew out of a partnership with Unlocking Futures-Warrior Program, a mentoring project for young men, and a desire for the teens to learn about U.S. history. Ed Michel, the group leader at the residence run by SCO Family of Services, created a full, well-organized three-day itinerary. To prepare, Ed researched extensively before the trip so he could offer the young men meaningful lessons. Here, Ed recounts the trip and what he hopes the teens got out of it: “The number one thing I reiterated to these young people was ‘This trip this is not only about you. This is about other young people who are in the same situation, or will be, to have the opportunity to leave New York State’…Our young people suffer… because they are not often exposed to a lot of different things …they only know the four corners of their neighborhood…A trip like this can be a catalyst to reduce recidivism and …to push forward.

Read More

---

Dedicated Staff & Partners Help Shelter Families Move Forward

May 20, 2015 / SCO News

SCO Family of Services will honor FJC Security Services, led by Chairman and founder Frank J. Califano, Sr., at the SCO Annual Benefit at Nassau Country Club on May 29th.  FJC has for more than a decade provided security services for six shelters managed by SCO serving more than 1,000 people each day. Thanks to the dedicated service by FJC and all of SCO’s shelter staff, we are able to help individuals and families in need – like the Santiagos and Cajigas, whose stories are shared below – to build a strong foundation for the future.

Read More

---

Doug O’Dell Named SCO Executive Director

May 15, 2015 / SCO News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SCO Family of Services Appoints Douglas O’Dell as Executive Director An Experienced Leader and Trailblazer for Serving Youth who are in Foster Care, Court-involved or have Special Needs New York – May 14 - SCO Family of Services’ Board of Directors announced today the appointment of Douglas O’Dell as Executive Director of the 120-year-old human services organization serving some 60,000 New Yorkers a year.  O’Dell, a widely respected leader in the field, was appointed SCO’s Interim Executive Director on November 1, 2014, and previously served as one of SCO’s key executives in the capacity of Chief Program Officer. “After a six month search, the Board decided unanimously that O’Dell is the candidate who can best lead SCO in our longstanding commitment to deliver high-quality services to vulnerable children, families and adults,” said Kelly Williams, Chair of the SCO Board of Directors. "I am honored to serve as Executive Director of SCO Family of Services, an organization dedicated to excellence and to achieving life-changing results for the people we serve. Together with my hardworking and committed colleagues, and our generous and supportive Board of Directors, I look forward to ensuring that SCO continues to meet and exceed the highest standards and is well prepared to meet the challenges of human service delivery in the future," said Douglas O’Dell, Executive Director.

Read More