SCO News
Five SCO Youth Receive FPWA Educational Opportunity Scholarships
September 6, 2022 / Independent Youth News
We’re happy to share that SCO youth Marvin, Oumwatie, Lamar, Rayhona, and Kervin will be receiving FPWA Educational Opportunity Scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year! FPWA announced that they will be awarding $40,000 in college scholarships to sixteen low-income junior and senior college students to support them through graduation.
Read MoreA Place to Call “Home”
August 26, 2022 / Independent Youth News
Jayla, a former youth in SCO’s Foster Care program, recently moved into her first apartment. Hearts to Homes provided home goods to help make her transition easier. Hearts to Homes provides home furnishings and essentials to newly independent young adults who have just aged out of foster care. Jayla wrote…
Read MoreSCO’s Jail-Based Program Prepares Justice-Impacted People for Future Success
July 14, 2022 / Independent Youth News
SCO Family of Services recently began a new Jail-Based Program that provides intensive programming services for justice-impacted people who are currently in New York City Department of Corrections custody. The goal of the program is to reduce challenging behavior and recidivism by providing skill development, transition planning referrals, and…
Read MoreTurning an Apartment into a “Home”
July 14, 2022 / Independent Youth News
Hearts to Homes provides home furnishings and essentials to newly independent young adults who have just aged out of foster care. Hearts to Homes has helped many of our SCO youth, including Zanaya, who sent them a Thank You letter in appreciation. Dear Heart to Homes, I am so grateful…
Read MoreWebster Bank Grant to Provide Financial Literacy Workshops for Youth in Care
July 13, 2022 / Independent Youth News
SCO Family of Services received a grant from Webster Bank that will allow the expansion of our Mentored Internship Program (MIP) and provide financial literacy workshops to youth in foster care. SCO’s Mentored Internship Program provides work experience and career development opportunities for transition age youth in foster care.
Read MoreClose to Home Youth Earn College Credits
July 12, 2022 / Independent Youth News
Youth from our Queens Close to Home program recently attended CUNY Freedom Prep, an English Literacy program designed for court-involved young people ages 16-24. The 6-week initiative was sponsored by CUNY’s College Now Program at LaGuardia College. Youth in SCO’s Close to Home program attend Belmont Passages Academy. Those who…
Read MoreRevolution in Progress – Finding Peace through Writing
June 21, 2022 / Independent Youth News
Maurice, a youth in SCO’s Close to Home program, loves to express himself through his writing. Close to Home is a network of residences for 13-17 year-olds involved in the juvenile justice system that provide counseling, structure, education, skill-building and connection to family. Maurice recently entered a contest through the Prison…
Read MoreSurprise Visit from Rapper Jadakiss Brings Holiday Cheer to Youth in Foster Care
December 15, 2021 / Independent Youth News
Christmas came early this year at one of our residences for youth in foster care. Famed rapper/recording artist, Jadakiss, made a surprise visit to the home – bearing bags full of gifts. Jadakiss reached out to Marjorie Etienne, SCO’s Case Planner for the home, letting her know he wanted to…
Read MoreSCO Youth Receive FPWA Scholarships
October 22, 2021 / Independent Youth News
Congratulations to Anastasia, Marvin, Kervin, and Sebastian, four of our fabulous youth in foster care, on receiving FPWA College Scholarships! They were each awarded $1,000 scholarships for the 2021-2022 school year. A virtual ceremony was held to recognize their academic achievements and present their awards. SCO’s Foster Care Education &…
Read MoreOperationBigBookBag Gets Students Ready for School Success
September 1, 2021 / Independent Youth News
SCO Family Foster Care program partnered with The Nu Beta Sigma chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. for OperationBigBookBag, where 100 book bags filled with school supplies were donated to help our students get the new school year off to a good start. Over 60 of our youth attended…
Read MoreOff to College Program Gets Freshmen off on the Right Foot
August 26, 2021 / Independent Youth News
SCO launched a new Off to College program that offers incoming college freshmen a variety of college preparation and career workshops, community service events, support, resources and a college package of essential items needed for the next step of their journey. It also creates an ongoing support community for aspiring…
Read MoreSCO Awarded $15,000 from National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects
August 26, 2021 / Independent Youth News
SCO Family of Services has received $15,000 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects, Arts Education program. This funding supports teaching artists associated with Arts Forward, a year-round multidisciplinary arts education program created and run in partnership with Brooklyn-based arts education nonprofit…
Read MoreReal As Me Girls Empowerment Workshops Culminate with Pop-Up Shop for Young Entrepreneurs
July 28, 2021 / Independent Youth News
Family, friends and supporters of young women in SCO’s Bethany program for young mothers in Foster Care were on hand for a Pop-Up Shop where the young ladies showcased products from their newly-formed businesses. The Pop-Up Shop was the culmination of SCO’s Real As Me program, a series of bi-weekly…
Read MoreSCO’s Young Adult Workforce Program Introduces Empowerment Workshops
January 22, 2021 / Independent Youth News
SCO’s Young Adult Workforce Program has introduced monthly Empowerment Workshops to prepare youth in the program for employment and educational opportunities as they transition into the community. The Young Adult Workforce Program helps young adults 18-21 years old currently and/or previously in NYC DOC custody prepare for the future by…
Read MoreSCO Receives Young Men’s Initiative (YMI) Award to Support Peer Tutoring Program
December 3, 2020 / Independent Youth News
SCO Family of Services has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the New York City’s Young Men’s Initiative (YMI) that will be used to provide mentoring, academic tutoring, and social-emotional support to youth in foster care. This grant comes through a partnership between YMI and NYC’s Neighborhood Opportunity Networks (NeON)…
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