Kaitlyn’s Story

If you asked Kaitlyn years ago about how her experience at SCO’s Madonna Heights would help her grow, she wouldn’t have had an answer. Kaitlyn’s painful childhood meant being in and out of hospitals, group homes, and residential programs starting at just 8 years old. After her 16th birthday, she arrived at SCO’s Madonna Heights campus feeling angry, defiant, untrusting, and alone. Her struggle persisted – until everything changed for the better.

According to Kaitlyn, every single person she encountered at Madonna Heights made her feel human, loved, important, safe, and secure. She thrived for two years living on the Madonna Heights campus with a new support system focused on helping her achieve her personal, emotional, and academic goals. Today, Kaitlyn is overjoyed to use her life experiences to help guide the next generation of young women as a Youth Advocate at Madonna Heights.

Kaitlyn’s journey gave her the knowledge and insight to show people that no one is alone, to encourage them to advocate for themselves and to guide them on the path to finding their self-worth.

“Knowing my story can influence the story of another young girl which inspires me to give back,” said Kaitlyn.

 

 

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Our Impact

SCO is focused on providing the best care and services to help our clients succeed. We are with them every step of the way, helping to open doors to opportunities, gain access to resources, and improve the quality of their lives.

How do we measure success? Through their success in achieving their goals in three overarching areas: Learning, Work and Well-being.

Learning

  • 97% of children in our Early Childhood Centers met or exceeded national literacy performance standards
  • 3 out of 4 graduates in our transfer high schools for struggling students were accepted into college
  • 96% of 12th graders in SCO’s Family Foster Care program graduated from high school last year, with 65% enrolled in post-secondary education
  • 93% of graduates at SCO’s high school for over-age, under credited students received a NYS Regent’s diploma

Work

  • 83% of runaway and homeless youth discharged from our shelters are engaged in education or work
  • 4 out of 5 runaway or homeless youth leaving our transitional living program are engaged in educational pursuits or gainful employment
  • 82% of students in our residential school for youth with high-functioning autism are actively involved in weekly internships in the community
  • 368 participants in our Youth Adult Workforce Program at Rikers Island completed our program to become licensed drivers to improve their employability

Well-being

  • 99% of at-risk families throughout Brooklyn and Queens remained together and stable with family support services
  • 100% of participants in our award-winning Father’s Program met their goals by improving their relationship with their children, financial commitment to their children, and/or connecting to essential services
  • 85% of children with complex behavioral health needs discharged from SCO’s Bridges to Health program are successfully living at home and in the community, averting the need for more restrictive institutional care
  • 3 new locations for our Day Habilitation program are helping 40% more adults with developmental disabilities attain higher levels of socialization and independence
  • 247 children left foster care
    • 60% were reunified with their families who worked hard preparing for their return home
    • 25% who could not return home were adopted by loving forever families
    • 15% were successfully put on the path to independent living

In FY 2018, SCO:

  • Sheltered 5,500 youth, adults and children experiencing homelessness
  • Helped 2,200 individuals with special needs develop skills to reach their full potential
  • Guided 9,900 children and teens on the path to academic success through after school, summer and work-readiness programs
  • Prepared 1,600 young children for kindergarten in our early childhood programs
  • Served 1,400 children and young adults in foster care and their families
  • Strengthened families and communities across the metro area, providing 24,000 New Yorkers with counseling, support and community-based services

New Yorkers Served in FY 2018

Kaitlyn’s Story

Importance of having patience, letting go and expressing my feelings without action

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We help

2,000

children get ready for kindergarten

Last year, we placed

2,007

youth in employment, subsidized employment or internships