SCO News

FirstStepNYC Opens “Little Free Library”

December 29, 2016 / SCO News

December 29, 2016 – Brooklyn, NY Our FirstStepNYC Early Childhood Education Center in Brownsville, Brooklyn opened a “Little Free Library” for their students and families thanks to books donated by individuals and organizations throughout the area. Students, parents and faculty from The Wampus School in Westchester hosted a book drive…

SCO Celebrates the Holidays!

December 28, 2016 / SCO News

December 28, 2016 - Glen Cove, NY Thank you to all of the SCO supporters and friends who donated thousands of gifts, organized holiday celebrations and supported the children, youth, adults and families we serve during this special time of year. Below are just a few samples of the overwhelming generosity shown toward New Yorkers in need during this season of giving. Phil Catapano and Friends Carry on Tradition of Giving to SCO Youth Phil Catapano and a host of friends loaded 80 duffel bags with hats, gloves, PJs and other goodies for the residents of our five Independence Inns for runaway and homeless youth. The babies at our Inns received gift bags of blankets, books, teddies and more to brighten the holiday season. It’s a tradition that Kathy Catapano began more than 10 years ago and continues in her memory. Thanks, Phil, and everyone involved…our youth couldn’t be more grateful!

For Bronx Librarian, Bringing Books to Homeless Children Inspires Hope

December 20, 2016 / SCO News

December 19, 2016 – Bronx, NY – Lester Holt did a wonderful story on the NBC Nightly News featuring our Crotona Family Residence’s Reading Literacy Program. A manager from the Morrisania Branch Library, Colbert Nembhard, visits the shelter every Wednesday collaborating with our staff to engage toddlers though reading, sing…

SCO Welcomes NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariňa to Announce Homeless Shelter Reading Program

December 8, 2016 / SCO News

December 8, 2016 – Brooklyn, NY SCO Family of Services welcomed NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariňa to our Flushing Family Residence in Brooklyn yesterday as she announced the Afterschool Reading Club (ARC), a brand new literacy enrichment pilot for elementary school students living in shelters. Chancellor Fariňa also took time…

A New Forever Family

November 28, 2016 / SCO News

Queens, NY – November is National Adoption Month, a collective, national effort to raise awareness of adoption. Each year, SCO finds forever families for more than 100 children…like Heaven. Heaven (2nd from left) was officially adopted by Ketsy Rhodes (left) on November 15th at the Queens County Courthouse with the…

A Fresh Start – Angela’s Story

October 31, 2016 / Madonna Heights News

Dix Hills, NY – Angela had been struggling with substance abuse for some time when she lost custody of her 2-1/2-year-old daughter. Determined to do whatever it took to get her back, Angela checked into a rehab center where she learned of SCO’s Morning Star program. Morning Star offers residential…

Family Dynamics Goes to Ellis Island

October 21, 2016 / SCO News

New York, NY – Our friends at Garden of Dreams and the New York Rangers treated the children from SCO Family Dynamics’ after school program at MS 35 to a fun and educational trip to Ellis Island. The kids boarded the ferry…

NYC Worker Cooperative Development Initiative

October 17, 2016 / SCO News

Brooklyn, NY – The Center for Family Life’s Cooperative Development Program (CDP) has been incubating worker cooperatives in Sunset Park, Brooklyn for the past ten years. We have seen how our work has helped empower our community by supporting cooperative members in their quest for fair wages and dignified…

SCO Family of Services Holds 3rd Annual Taft Academy Conference

September 28, 2016 / SCO News

Event Attracts over 300 Clinicians, Educators, and Direct Service Professionals Glen Cove, NY (September 28, 2016) – SCO Family of Services, a provider of essential human services for over 100 years, hosted the third in a series of annual professional development conferences for staff working with children, youth, and adults with special needs and developmental disabilities. This year’s free SCO Taft Academy Conference, held September 20 and 21 at The Inn at New Hyde Park, attracted over 300 social workers, clinicians, case managers, educators, direct support professionals and other staff from SCO’s programs across New York City and Long Island. Due to its popularity and relevance to today’s industry needs, the event was expanded to include participants from human services organizations throughout the metro area. SCO’s Executive Director Douglas O’Dell kicked off the event by thanking the attendees for providing “the right combination of support, guidance, and care that makes the difference between a life of hardship and a life of promise” for people with developmental disabilities and special needs.

SCO’s Westbrook Preparatory School Students Ready2Learn as They Welcome NYS Assemblyman Michael Montesano

September 23, 2016 / SCO News

Westbury, NY – Excited to begin the new school year, students and staff at SCO Family of Services’ Westbrook Preparatory School proudly hosted a recent visit by New York State Assemblyman Michael Montesano. September 16th was designated as Ready2Learn Day, a statewide day of outreach for special education schools like…