SCO News
Starting School in Style
September 22, 2023 / Independent Youth News
The Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated Nu Beta Sigma Alumnae Chapter helped our youth in foster care begin school on the right foot thanks to their Back to School Giveaway. One hundred forty children, youth and their families took part, joining Sigma members and SCO staff for games, activities, giveaways…
Read MoreBringing the Heat with a Summer BBQ!
August 7, 2023 / Independent Youth News
Over 70 SCO youth in foster care and staff from our Brooklyn and Queens offices took a trip to Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead for a summer BBQ. It was a beautiful day packed with food and fun… music, team building events, a bounce house slide, water balloon…
Read MoreSuzette Gordon named new President and CEO of SCO Family of Services
August 2, 2023 / Independent Youth News
(Garden City, New York, August 2, 2023) – Today, the Board of Directors of SCO Family of Services, a leading provider of essential human services in New York, announced the appointment of Suzette Gordon as the new President and CEO. Ms. Gordon, who served as Interim President since December 2022,…
Read MoreSCO Celebrates COA Reaccreditation!
July 19, 2023 / Independent Youth News
We did it! SCO Family of Services has been officially reaccredited by The Council on Accreditation (COA), an international, independent human service accrediting organization that promotes best practice standards. In January, a team of eight COA reviewers interviewed hundreds of SCO staff, clients, leadership, and Board, reviewed thousands of pages…
Read MoreLots to Celebrate at the Theresa Paplin School
July 18, 2023 / Independent Youth News
SCO’s Theresa Paplin School (TPS) celebrated the end of the year with traditional culmination activities with a twist: an End of Year Dance (PROM), Field Day, and Moving Up Ceremony (Graduation.) This year’s Prom was held in the Theresa Paplin School auditorium. Students enjoyed an afternoon of dancing and delights…
Read MoreSCO Youth Dabble in Graffiti Art
July 11, 2023 / Independent Youth News
SCO welcomed Bronx-based graffiti artist KayLove to lead a beginner workshop about the history, culture, and importance of graffiti to our youth. Each participant created their own name tag written in graffiti form and colored it in. KayLove, who is also a screen printer (kaylovebx.com), shared some of her works…
Read MoreDiscovering the World of Sculpture
July 7, 2023 / Independent Youth News
Twenty SCO youth attended a sculpting class recently on our Ottilie campus in Briarwood, Queens. Renowned local artist Sherwin Banfield led the class, teaching the basics of clay sculpting. The students were tasked with creating masks. They carefully followed along as Sherwin demonstrated how to shape and sculpt with clay…
Read MoreSCO has PRIDE!
June 29, 2023 / Independent Youth News
June is PRIDE Month and youth and staff throughout SCO Family of Services celebrated. 4th Annual Pride at the Heights On June 22nd, Madonna Heights held their “4th Annual PRIDE Event at the Heights.” All programs on the Madonna Heights campus were invited as well as our Westbrook Preparatory…
Read MoreCongratulations, Graduates!
June 28, 2023 / Independent Youth News
From early childhood moving up ceremonies to high school graduations, we celebrated children and youth throughout SCO for reaching these important milestones. Congratulations to all of our graduates!…
Read MoreSCO Family of Services Raises $160,000 at Madonna Heights Golf Classic
June 14, 2023 / Independent Youth News
DIX HILLS, NY – SCO Family of Services held its 42nd Annual Madonna Heights Golf Classic at the Woodside Club in Muttontown, Long Island. This year’s event raised $160,000 to support the vital work of Madonna Heights to teach, strengthen, and empower young and adult women to heal from trauma.
Read MoreA Peek Behind the Scenes of “Sherri”
June 13, 2023 / Independent Youth News
A young adult in SCO’s Forward Journey program recently attended a taping of “Sherri,” Sherri Shepherd’s daytime talk show, in Manhattan, accompanied by SCO’s Mentored Internship Program Coordinator. This was his first experience on-set as a member of a live studio audience. He got to see what happens behind the…
Read MoreElite Emeralds Perform at Garden of Dreams Talent Show
May 4, 2023 / Independent Youth News
Elite Emeralds, a dance group of 9-11-year-olds from SCO’s Beacon After School Program, performed at the 2023 Garden of Dreams Talent Show, and they didn’t disappoint! The group did a choreographed dance routine to Demi Lovato’s “Confident” on the Great Stage at Radio City Music Hall, feeding off the energy…
Read MoreCareer Readiness Job Fair Offers Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care
April 24, 2023 / Independent Youth News
SCO Family of Services’ Fair Futures program, in partnership with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), held a Career Readiness Job Fair for youth in foster care on March 29th at their Ottilie campus in Briarwood, Queens. The career readiness event was the second for the program,…
Read MoreSaturday Night Lights at the Beacon
March 17, 2023 / Independent Youth News
Young people in Bedford-Stuyvesant looking for a fun, safe place to spend their Saturday evenings have a great option, SCO’s Beacon at MS 35. The Beacon’s Saturday Night Lights (SNL) program provides middle and high school girls and boys with a supervised, open gym every Saturday from 5-9PM. Saturday Night…
Read MoreSCO Celebrates Black History Month
March 14, 2023 / Independent Youth News
From special projects to culminating events, programs throughout SCO celebrated Black History Month in a variety of ways. Here are just a few. Intermediate Care Facility Residents of our Jamaica Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) for adults with developmental disabilities celebrated the ingenuity of African Americans by learning about Black inventors…
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Children in our NYC shelters had a
96%
attendance rate at NYC DOE schools
100%
of eligible residents at our Dix Hills Residential Treatment Facility participated in work, internship, or volunteer activities