Kelly’s Story

Kelly lives on a quiet tree-lined street with her husband, two sons, and an energetic puppy named Molly. Life is pretty good these days. In her own words, she has a decent job, a home, a car, and a supportive family – all things she never thought possible before entering SCO’s Morning Star residential program for women recovering from substance use.

Since the age of 13, Kelly had been hooked on alcohol. For the next 10 years, she struggled with severe alcoholism, heroin addiction, and all the terrible symptoms that go along with that. She tried every which way to control her use but failed over and over again. Institutions, hospitals, and psychiatric facilities became a normal part of life. At the age of 23, Kelly realized she was running out of options. She had no place to live, was unemployable, and had no way to provide for herself or her 4-year-old son, Joseph. That’s when she found SCO.

Kelly was 35 days sober for the first time in her adult life when she entered SCO’s residential program. This would be the first of many pivotal firsts. While in program, she learned about accountability and structure. She was introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous and attended off site treatment programs. She felt supported and heard by the women and staff at Morning Star and thrived in this environment.

Little by little, Kelly rebuilt her life. With the help of vocational counselors, she returned to school, received her high school diploma, and took clerical courses. She was thrilled when Joseph came to live with her on campus, working with SCO’s coaches and childcare team to hone her parenting skills. And she addressed her past traumas head on with mental health counseling at SCO’s Family Services Clinic.

Kelly credits her time in Morning Star as life-changing. She has been gainfully employed since leaving the program in 2012 and now works for a successful law firm. She found her soulmate in Rob and was married in 2015, and expanded her family with another son, Aidan, a few years later. She likes to say she is a work in progress – and we know there are plenty of firsts still ahead for Kelly.

Direct Care Worker Job Openings

Begin a Career at SCO Family of Services

SCO Family of Services helps New Yorkers build a strong foundation for the future. We get young children off to a good start, launch youth into adulthood, stabilize and strengthen families and unlock potential for children and adults with special needs. SCO has provided vital human services throughout New York City and Long Island for 125 years. Become part of our SCO family today!

Why SCO?

SCO’s dedicated professionals help improve the health and well-being of over 50,000 New Yorkers each year. We apply the same principle to ensuring our staff is well cared for through a robust benefits package, professional development opportunities, health and wellness initiatives, tuition reimbursement and more. Our benefits include:

Flexible Work Schedule
Paid Holidays Off
Vacation & Sick Time
403B Retirement Plan
Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance & more!

Direct Care Worker

Help clients reach their full potential! The Direct Care Worker helps the youths or adults in their care strive to become as independent as their abilities allow.

There are currently multiple Direct Care Worker opportunities throughout Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Nassau and Suffolk.

Responsibilities include

Provide a safe, clean and caring living environment for program residents.
Foster/promote as much independent behavior as possible when supporting/teaching self-help skills.
Participate in activity programming including individual and group activities, sports, games, trips and enrichment activities, etc.
Attention to and support of medical issues, student educational/vocational needs, casework and clinical appointments.

Qualifications