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.

 

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CFL Family Counseling & Supports

Center for Family Life is the principal provider of preventive counseling in Sunset Park, serving approximately 500 families each year. Through home and office visits, group activities, advocacy and referral to supportive services, our caseworkers help families to develop individualized plans that address their unique situations and deepen their sense of connection to the neighborhood. The success of our preventive counseling program contributes to the low rate of children entering foster care in Sunset Park, less than half the city average. Families served include both voluntary participants and those mandated by the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS).

Who Can Benefit from this Program

Parents experiencing family problems can access free family counseling

How to Access this Program or Service

Contact the program at 718.438.9500

This program is associated with...

Center For Family Life

Our mission is to promote positive outcomes for children, adults and families in Sunset Park through the provision of a comprehensive range of neighborhood-based family and social services. Read More

Success Stories

Fadwa’s Story

Foster Care and Education

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

Faiz

RJMCC & Tyree Learning Center

“His progress has been exponential. In barely a year, he’s surpassed everyone’s expectations. It’s been transformative.” Learn More

Last year, we placed

2,007

youth in employment, subsidized employment or internships

Last year,

106

children were adopted by loving forever families