Fadwa’s Story

To say Fadwa is driven is an understatement. She doesn’t dream of becoming a surgical nurse, she is actively taking steps to make it happen. And to make her mother proud.

Fadwa lost her mother to cancer when she was just 13 years old. Her father expected Fadwa to assume her mother’s responsibilities and moved the family often, keeping them distanced from any extended family. She was not allowed to have friends or participate in extracurricular activities. She attended five different high schools and managed to maintain excellent grades while she cooked, cleaned, and took care of her two brothers and father.

At 17, she was abandoned by her father and placed in SCO’s foster care program. SCO helped stabilize the teen, placed her with a foster family, and eventually was able to locate a maternal aunt who opened her heart and home to her long-lost niece through kinship foster care.

Despite her early challenges, Fadwa stays focused on the opportunities ahead of her. SCO’s foster care staff helped her prepare for college; guiding her through the application process and helping her achieve both a Dream USA Scholarship and a Youth in Foster Care Award.  Currently a student at Borough of Manhattan Community College, SCO helped her secure an internship with a surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Fadwa’s goal is to keep her GPA high enough to get into nursing school. And we have no doubt she will achieve this and so much more.

 

Directions

Main Office

1 Alexander Place Glen Cove, NY 11542
516.671.1253

Lawrence Street Office

154 Lawrence Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.797.3068

Other Locations

Brentwood Office

164 3rd Avenue & 8th Street Brentwood, NY 11717
631.273.2773

Center for Family Life

443 39th Street Brooklyn, NY 11232
718.438.9500

Family Dynamics

1360 Fulton Street Brooklyn, NY 11216
917.966.4630

Nevins Street Office

2-4 Nevins Street Brooklyn, NY 11217
718.935.9466

Genovese Family Life Center

89-30 161st Street Jamaica, NY 11432
718.526.7533

Madonna Heights

151 Burrs Lane Dix Hills, NY 11746
631.643.8800

Ottilie Campus

85-70 148th Street Briarwood, NY 11435
718.658.4101

Robert J. McMahon Children’s Center/Tyree Learning Center

101 Downing Avenue Sea Cliff, NY 11579
516.671.1111

Westbrook Preparatory School

231 St. Brigids Lane Westbury, NY 11590
516.338.5280

East Brooklyn Community High School Students Reflect on Graduation Day

"They're your backbone, they help you and support you no matter what you do in life." Learn More

Fadwa’s Story

Foster Care and Education

“I’m going to be successful regardless of what I’ve been through." Learn More

We provide

19,000

families and individuals with support services and community activities

Last year,

97%

of children in our early education centers met or exceeded national mathematics performance standards