Fatu’s Story

At 19, Fatu’s future looks bright. She plans to go to Monroe College in the fall to follow her dream of becoming a lawyer. She’s currently going to school and working full-time as a paralegal at Queens Defenders, which provides free services to low-income people. Not long ago, she was a recipient of those services.

You see, the future did not always look so bright for Fatu. When she came to live in one of SCO’s residences for youth in foster care in 2018, she had had a difficult childhood, and she’d been in trouble with the law.

When Fatu was 12, her mother returned to their native Liberia with her younger brother, leaving Fatu with an abusive family friend in Queens. She eventually ran away, joined a gang and got into trouble.

When she first came to SCO, Fatu was confrontational with staff and other residents. But despite her rocky start at her new home, SCO staff has been behind her since day one. They encouraged her to further her education and pursue her GED. They showed her the right way to do things, and most of all, they showed her they cared.

Fatu’s former Queens Defenders lawyer, Anthony Martone, played a pivotal role in her turnaround. He saw her potential and went the extra mile to help her by initiating an internship program at the firm for past clients who’ve been through the juvenile justice system. Fatu was the first intern and became the first full-time hire from the program.

Fatu is positive, respectful, and focused. She loves her job and it has inspired her to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.

Her turnaround has been nothing short of miraculous, and it serves as an inspiration to other youth. Fatu is living proof of what is possible with a positive attitude, hard work, perseverance, and the help of caring adults who never stop believing in you.

See Fatu’s story in THE CITY.

(Photo: Ben Fractenberg-THE CITY)

Selena’s Story

Selena first came to SCO’s Scattered Site Supportive Housing Program, in August 2017. This program provides housing and transitional services for young adults who have been in foster care and are at-risk of homelessness. Selena, who had been in foster care since age 9, was dealing with a lot of family and personal issues. She was feeling frustrated and depressed. The tipping point came when her biological father passed away.

As a way to help cope with her loss, Selena decided to write a book about her experience. She hoped sharing her experience might inspire others…turning her personal tragedy into something positive. Ever resourceful, Selena wrote her entire book on her cell phone and uploaded it onto Amazon where it is currently sold as a Kindle format e-book.

Selena’s entrepreneurial spirit had been unleashed. Following her book, Selena developed her own podcast where she talks about life issues and how she has dealt with them in the hopes of motivating others. Since establishing her podcast last year, she has attracted over 20,000 followers worldwide.

She didn’t stop there. Selena then decided that she wanted to sell merchandise with inspirational messages. She started her own online t-shirt company – printing, packaging and shipping orders out of her apartment.

Selena has found her calling. She has found healing through sharing her story and inspiring others and she has experienced personal growth in the process.

SCO staff are encouraging her to utilize her abilities and resilience to pursue her education. In doing so, Selena will be able to use her knowledge to promote and expand her budding enterprises and find other employment opportunities to help her as she transitions to independent living.

First Step NYC

Early Childhood Education Center | Early Education Leadership Institute

Young girl holding up her painted hand from fingerpaintingFirstStepNYC is a new early childhood initiative that opened in the fall of 2013 in Brownsville, Brooklyn – a public-private partnership between the NYC Department of Education, the Administration for Children’s Services, SCO Family of Services and private philanthropy.  SCO operates the innovative new birth-5 early childhood center at P.S./I.S. 41.  In partnership with FirstStepNYC is The Early Education Leadership Institute to develop and support the work of current and future early childhood leaders.


The FirstStepNYC Early Childhood Center

Teacher kneeling while young students surround herOur FirstStepNYC Center offers:

Full day, year-round child care services

  • A welcoming classroom for children
  • Warm and highly qualified teachers
  • A place for children and families to grow and learn together to prepare for Kindergarten and beyond

To enroll, families must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Children must be 6-weeks to 4-years-old

  • Income guidelines must be met
  • Priority given to siblings of children already enrolled in PS/IS41 and children or siblings of children currently enrolled in an SCO program
  • Working and non-working families may be eligible

If you are interested in enrolling your child in FirstStepNYC , please contact us at 929-234-6870.

The Early Education Leadership InstituteTwo women talking about the book Corduroy

The Leadership Institute is designed to prepare and support current and future leaders to improve outcomes for all children and families by advancing quality and best practice in early education settings.

We believe that partnering with public and private entities to bring together and support leaders from across the five boroughs of New York City is the most effective way to increase quality in early education and lay the groundwork to strengthen the lives of our youngest children for future success.

For more information about the Leadership Institute, please email [email protected] with the subject Early Education Leadership Institute.

Fatu’s Story

Changing her trajectory - anything is possible when others believe in you

Read Fatu’s Story

Selena’s Story

Harnessing entrepreneurial spirit to pursue long-term goals with help from SCO

Read Selena’s Story

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