SCO News
Becoming a Forever Family: Declan Redwood O’Hare’s Adoption Story
January 22, 2015 / SCO News
Adoption Day: Making Their Tribe Complete The excited buzz in the Kings County Courthouse was more noticeable than you would normally expect for the small group of New Yorkers hanging around a waiting room near Judge Robert Ross’ offices on the morning of April 10, 2014. When Declan Redwood O’Hare burst out of a nearby office and tore down the adjacent hallway, the preschooler was trailed by his laughing pint-sized clone and little brother, Arthur (“Arty”), sporting a dark blue sweater nearly identical in color to Declan’s miniature suit jacket and vest. While the significance of the day may have been lost on Declan, who would turn three the next day, the adults were fully aware of what a momentous occasion it was: Three years after a five-day-old Declan was first placed into their arms, longtime couple Hugo Redwood and Denis O’Hare would officially go from foster parents to legally-recognized dads, when Declan’s adoption was finalized that morning.
Read MoreJanuary is National Mentoring Month – Get Involved!
January 12, 2015 / Independent Youth News
Could you navigate through a twisting, turning, pitch-black tunnel using only your sense of touch? Our kids did just that in the “Touch Tunnel,” one of many cool exhibits enjoyed Saturday by participants in our Family Dynamics Mentoring Program at the Liberty Science Center. See more photos below! January is National Mentoring Month – If you’d like to Be Someone Who Matters to Someone Who Matters, email us at [email protected]. Find out more: http://sco.org/2014-mentoring-benefit/
Read MoreYouth in Care Find Employment Through SCO’s Work Readiness Program
December 10, 2014 / Independent Youth News
The next time you’re looking for a shirt at a Banana Republic Factory Store, the very helpful sales associate might well be the young woman pictured here or another one of our young people who participated in SCO’s work readiness program facilitated by Gap Inc. employee volunteers. Six of the new part-time salespeople, who are part of SCO’s redesigned foster care program, were offered jobs and started working during the holiday season!
Read MoreNational Adoption Month – SCO Forever Families Updates
November 20, 2014 / SCO News
November is National Adoption Month and we’re celebrating by catching up with some of the adoptive families we’ve featured in the past year. Noah and Brigid Mehegan Noah Joshua Mehegan, age 6, has been Brigid’s son since he was 2 years old. On February 24, 2014, Brigid adopted him. While everything was the same as far as Noah was concerned, that day gave Brigid a feeling she will never forget. “It didn’t really hit me until the judge said ‘You are officially Noah Joshua Mehegan,’” Brigid said. “It took my breath away. It was amazing. I’d like to relive that feeling over and over.” From that point on, Noah would have only one name. Brigid would be able to make all of the medical and other decisions regarding Noah without needing consent from someone else. It took away all of the uncertainty Brigid had lived with as a foster mom.
Read MoreNurse-Family Partnership Graduation – November 2014
November 7, 2014 / SCO News
SCO celebrated the 27 newest graduates of the NYC Nurse-Family Partnership program in a graduation ceremony November 5th. Congratulations to the families, nurses and staff! See photos below. Nurse-Family Partnership is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program for first-time mothers. Registered nurses provide in-home visits for expectant mothers during the early stages of pregnancy through the child’s second birthday, offering the counseling and support needed to deliver healthy babies and become good parents.
Read MoreSCO’s Parent Advocates Engage, Advocate & Support
November 4, 2014 / SCO News
Rhonda Frazier Johnson was a victim of domestic violence when her children were placed into foster care 25 years ago. While she worked to meet the requirements for reunification, Rhonda was left to figure out the court’s multiple demands by herself. “It was pretty much, ‘Go, do all these things and good luck. Come back when you’ve got it all together,’” Frazier Johnson recalls. Fortunately for families whose children are in care with SCO Family of Services, there are Parent Advocates – including Frazier Johnson – who can help.
Read MoreSCO Queens Single Stop 411 Day
September 25, 2014 / SCO News
Community organizations and local leaders gathered in Corona, Queens September 24th for SCO Queens Single Stop 411 Day to learn and share information about the services available to area residents. Thanks to Friends of Corona Plaza, The Legal Aid Society, Make the Road New York, MetroPlus, and The Samaritan Village Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program for partnering with us to hold such a successful, informative event.
Read MoreCalling All Community Based Organizations: Learn More About the NYC Worker Cooperative Development Initiative
September 22, 2014 / SCO News
SCO Family of Services’ Center for Family Life (CFL) has been incubating worker cooperatives in Sunset Park, Brooklyn for the past eight years. We have seen how our work has helped empower our community by supporting cooperative members in their quest for fair wages and dignified employment…
Read MoreCFL & Golden Steps meet with City Council Speaker’s office
September 5, 2014 / SCO News
SCO's Center for Family Life and members of the "Golden Steps" worker cooperative met Thursday with staff from City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito's office to discuss CFL's implementation of initiatives funded by the Council for FY15 to incubate worker cooperatives in low-income NYC neighborhoods and develop new cooperatives in Brooklyn's immigrant communities.
Read MoreSCO’s Center for Family Life Celebrates a Summer of Service
August 12, 2014 / SCO News
On August 7, the 64th Street Community Garden welcomed elementary school students from PS 503 and 506 to celebrate the conclusion of Center for Family Life’s 2014 DYCD Summer of Service program. For the past four years, the Summer of Service program has engaged youth and parents by creating opportunities for family members to get involved by harvesting crops and participating in learning activities that promote healthy nutrition and support a vibrant outdoor life.
Read MoreMadonna Heights Ladies Golf & Dinner Classic A Big Success!
August 12, 2014 / Independent Youth News
More than 100 supporters hit the greens this week for the 34th Annual Madonna Heights Ladies Golf & Dinner Classic at Huntington Crescent Country Club. The event, which honored Kathy Sullivan, former Director of Development at Madonna Heights, raises funds to support our Madonna Heights programs for teens, women, children…
Read MoreCFL 9th Annual Sister Mary Geraldine Symposium
June 10, 2014 / SCO News
Center for Family Life's 9th Annual Mary Geraldine Symposium took place on June 10. The topic of this year's event was Building Community Alliances for Food Justice, focusing our discussion on issues related to equitable access to healthy food in low-income urban communities. The event began with an inspiring keynote address by Karen Washington, urban farmer and social justice activist, who has been a tireless advocate for food justice in her Bronx community. Later, a panel discussion featuring Patrick Curtin from Food Bank for NYC, Kady Ferguson from the Brooklyn Food Coalition, Anna Hammond, from the Sylvia Center, Paula Lukats from Just Food, and John Kixmiller, 64th Street Community Garden Coordinator and former CFL Beacon program director.
Read MoreTwo teens served by SCO earn top honors at 16th Annual Awards for Youth in Foster Care
June 9, 2014 / Independent Youth News
Christopher Sanchez and Domonique Wheeler, two teens in foster care living in SCO group homes, were among the 15 young people honored at the 16th Annual essay Awards for Youth in Foster Care, presented by Youth Communication and Represent: The Voice of Youth in Care magazine. Christopher Sanchez, 19, was the Grand Prize winner and won a $1,000 scholarship for his essay titled “Turning My Life Around.” Domonique Wheeler, 20, earned Special First Prize honors and a $700 scholarship check for her essay, “For His Own Good.”
Read MoreValuable Volunteers
June 6, 2014 / SCO News
Major thanks to Deloitte for choosing two SCO program locations as sites for IMPACT Day 2014! 40 Deloitte and SCO staffers joined forces to beautify our Bedford-Stuyvesant community garden outside of MS 35 and our Ottilie campus in Briarwood, Queens. A dozen employees from Target in Levittown painted…
Read MoreSCO’s Center for Family Life launches Trusty Amigos Pet Care Cooperative
June 2, 2014 / SCO News
The Trusty Amigos Pet Care Cooperative – New York City’s newest worker co-op – is officially launching its citywide dog walking and pet care service, starting with a meet-and-greet with the cooperative members from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at the flagpole in Sunset Park closest to the entrance at 41st and 6th Ave. The cooperative welcomes the public to stop by, ask questions, get information about rates and services, and enjoy refreshments. Dogs from Sean Casey shelter will be available for adoption during the event.
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