Men from At-Risk Communities Graduate from Award-Winning Fatherhood Program Created by SCO Family of Services

Fathers from Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, and East New York graduate from SCO Family of Services’ Father’ Program after completing a 12-week parenting training course.

On Tuesday afternoon at a ceremony in Brooklyn, 31 dads graduated from SCO Family of Services’ Fathers’ Program. This unique program has empowered hundreds of fathers who have previously been absent from their families’ lives or are currently involved but feel they could use additional resources to help them connect. The program addresses their struggles and insecurities head-on, and inspires in them the confidence and care to participate in their children’s home life.

The SCO Fathers’ Program is a parent support program that helps fathers reconnect with their children and develop essential parenting skills through classes, workshops, and support groups. The program provides a supportive environment where fathers can feel safe to share their concerns and learn from one another.  To date the program has had over 250 graduates.

Since the program’s creation in 2018, it has seen unprecedented graduation rates and enrollment. Most students are referred to the program by previous graduates, case workers, parole officers, and nonprofit criminal justice organizations. This year the program is slated to provide parenting classes to over 300 men in the communities of Brownsville, Bed-Stuyvesant and East New York.

SCO Family of Services’ Fathers’ Program has earned two awards from New York City’s Department for Youth and Community Development for best fatherhood program and was recently honored by Brooklyn Defender Services for the impact it has had on men in the community.

“We are so pleased to congratulate today’s 31 graduates for successfully completing SCO Family of Services’ Fathers’ Program. This is a highly impactful parenting program for men living in Brownsville, Bed-Stuyvesant and East New York. Although the program is only two years old, it has seen an overwhelmingly positive outcome for its graduates. We are grateful to the program’s funder, the New York City Department for Youth and Community Development, and we look forward to the program’s continued growth and success,” said Keith Little, Executive Director, SCO Family of Services.

SCO Family of Services is one of the largest social service providers in the Metro New York Area. Its programs serve more than 60,000 New Yorkers each year. SCO’s 84 programs include early childhood, behavioral health and foster care programs; schools for youth with special needs and NYC high school students needing support to graduate; and an array of community-based and residential programs for families, youth and adults.