SCO News
Congratulations to SCO’s 2017 Employee Recognition Winners!
June 1, 2017 / Madonna Heights News
June 1, 2017 - Glen Cove, NY - Congratulations to Rosemarie Bellock, Alison Critelli, Vonnetta Browne and Nydia Sutherland, winners of SCO's Employee Recognition Program.
Read MoreThank You, Rosemary, and Good Luck!
January 18, 2017 / Madonna Heights News
January 18, 2017 - Glen Cove, NY We recently paid tribute to Rosemary Stein, Chief Program Officer, who retired after a distinguished career spanning 40 years at SCO Family of Services.
Read MoreSCO Family of Services Holds 3rd Annual Taft Academy Conference
September 28, 2016 / SCO News
Event Attracts over 300 Clinicians, Educators, and Direct Service Professionals Glen Cove, NY (September 28, 2016) – SCO Family of Services, a provider of essential human services for over 100 years, hosted the third in a series of annual professional development conferences for staff working with children, youth, and adults with special needs and developmental disabilities. This year’s free SCO Taft Academy Conference, held September 20 and 21 at The Inn at New Hyde Park, attracted over 300 social workers, clinicians, case managers, educators, direct support professionals and other staff from SCO’s programs across New York City and Long Island. Due to its popularity and relevance to today’s industry needs, the event was expanded to include participants from human services organizations throughout the metro area. SCO’s Executive Director Douglas O’Dell kicked off the event by thanking the attendees for providing “the right combination of support, guidance, and care that makes the difference between a life of hardship and a life of promise” for people with developmental disabilities and special needs.
Read MoreSCO’s Westbrook Preparatory School Students Ready2Learn as They Welcome NYS Assemblyman Michael Montesano
September 23, 2016 / SCO News
Westbury, NY – Excited to begin the new school year, students and staff at SCO Family of Services’ Westbrook Preparatory School proudly hosted a recent visit by New York State Assemblyman Michael Montesano. September 16th was designated as Ready2Learn Day, a statewide day of outreach for special education schools like…
Read MoreCongrats 2016 SCO Grads!
July 25, 2016 / Independent Youth News
CONGRATULATIONS!!! The past month was filled with graduations and moving up ceremonies throughout SCO as students received diplomas, awards and certificates in recognition of their amazing achievements! Here are highlights from just a few of our programs:
Read MoreSCO Family of Services Holds Second Annual Taft Academy Conference
February 29, 2016 / SCO News
An innovative and collective approach to staff and leadership development The SCO Taft Academy is a unique professional development initiative for 700 staff from SCO Family of Services working with children and youth with special needs who attend SCO’s five residential schools located in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Bronx counties. Through an array of staff development opportunities, the SCO Taft Academy advances high quality care for children and youth with developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges, helping them reach the greatest degree of self-sufficiency, family engagement and community integration possible.
Read MoreSCO Family of Services: Building a Brighter Future
January 6, 2016 / Independent Youth News
Each year, SCO Family of Services helps nearly 60,000 vulnerable New Yorkers build a strong foundation for the future. Here are just three examples of the unconditional care and life-changing results SCO brings to all of the lives we touch.
Read More2015 Holiday Cheer at SCO
December 18, 2015 / Independent Youth News
Thank you to the many, many SCO supporters and friends who donated thousands of gifts, organized holiday celebrations or otherwise supported the children, youth, adults, families and communities we serve during this special time of year. Below is just a sample of the overwhelming generosity shown toward New Yorkers in need during this season of giving.
Read MoreGarden of Dreams Foundation and SCO Unveil Refurbished Gymnasium at Ottilie Residential Treatment Facility
December 10, 2015 / SCO News
Ribbon cutting ceremony included appearances from Knicks, Rangers and Liberty current and legendary players The Garden of Dreams Foundation unveiled a completely refurbished gymnasium at the SCO Family of Services, Ottilie Residential Treatment Facility in Briarwood, Queens on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Both current players and legends from the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony, emceed by MSG Network’s Al Trautwig, to celebrate improvements made to the gym. The newly transformed two-story space, which is the Foundation’s largest community project to date, features a new scoreboard, wall padding and gym floor with Garden of Dreams, Knicks, Liberty and SCO Family of Services logos, as well as new vinyl tile flooring on the balcony level, new lighting throughout the gym upgraded Lexan windows to provide natural light. Additionally, the entire facility has been painted and Garden of Dreams has also provided equipment including basketballs, floor hockey sticks, nets and balls, volleyballs and has even outfitted the facilities’ basketball team with brand new uniforms.
Read MoreGarden of Dreams Foundation Awards SCO Student ‘Inspire Scholarship’
April 9, 2015 / SCO News
We are excited that Austin Van Schaick of Baldwin, NY, a student at our Westbrook Preparatory School in Westbury, is one of the inaugural recipients of Garden of Dreams’ Inspire Scholarships. Congrats, Austin! Read the full announcement below: THE GARDEN OF DREAMS FOUNDATION LAUNCHES INSPIRE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM The Foundation that works with The Madison Square Garden Company continues to change the lives of children in need throughout the tri-state area Twelve $10,000 renewable college scholarships to be awarded each year; first round of recipients announced NEW YORK, NY – (April 9, 2015) – The Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit organization that works closely with The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) to help children in need, has launched the Garden of Dreams Inspire Scholarship program, which will award twelve $10,000 renewable college scholarships each year to high school seniors from the Foundation’s partner organizations. The first recipients of these new scholarships were announced today.
Read MoreSCO Taft Academy Conference
March 13, 2015 / SCO News
Nearly 200 staff members from our five campuses for youth with special needs attended the first SCO Taft Academy conference in March for a robust panel discussion and professional development activities. Through Taft, our staff are improving outcomes for children and youth with special needs by enhancing their skills and performance through Taft’s educational and professional development opportunities, and establishing a culture of performance excellence through consistent practice and interdisciplinary approaches. Participants attended from the schools and residences at Robert J. McMahon Children’s Center/Tyree Learning Center, Ottilie RTF/Theresa Paplin School, Madonna Heights RTF & School, The Christopher School and Westbrook Preparatory School. The SCO Taft Academy is made possible by the generous support of the Taft Foundation.
Read MoreNYS Senator Phil Boyle Visits Our Morning Star II Residence
December 4, 2014 / Madonna Heights News
Two young mothers who were addicted to heroin and are currently in recovery at our Morning Star II residence on Wednesday described their experiences to New York State Senator Phil Boyle (R) 4th Senate District, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, in a meeting at our Madonna Heights campus in Dix Hills, Long Island.
Read MoreRJMCC Thanksgiving
November 26, 2014 / SCO News
Residents at our Robert J. McMahon Children's Center celebrated Thanksgiving this week with a much-anticipated RJMCC annual tradition: a family-style Thanksgiving feast. The entire campus enjoyed good food and good company, joined by 42 local volunteers who shared a festive evening with youth in each of RJMCC's seven residential units. The volunteers brought games, music and gifts for all of the children. "Everyone had an absolutely amazing night," said SCO Director of Recreation and Volunteer Services Shelley Feldman. "We have the most dedicated and kind-hearted volunteers that you could ever imagine!"
Read More4th Annual Westbrook Prep Turkey Bowl
November 24, 2014 / SCO News
Brisk temperatures were no match for the spirit and enthusiasm of Westbrook Preparatory School students and staff at the 4th Annual Westbrook Prep Turkey Bowl football game Nov. 20th. The blue and green teams battled to a 28-28 tie in a game filled with big plays and lots of fun.
Read MoreTheresa Paplin School Open House
November 24, 2014 / SCO News
The solar system, Coney Island and Orca whales were all on display at Theresa Paplin School’s Open House on our Ottilie campus Nov. 20th. Students proudly showed off their artwork and science projects to their equally proud parents.
Read More
Support Our Mission
With your gift, you can help strengthen New York families and unlock potential for children and adults with special needs.
Donate Now