Wilson’s Story

You don’t always know you have a gift. People said Wilson was special for solving a Rubik’s cube in under a minute. He just thought he was good at puzzles. People said he had amazing confidence on the piano for a five-year-old. He just thought music was fun. His experience at Westbrook Preparatory School taught him that people can have many gifts-and that discovering them within yourself can change every aspect of your life.

Before attending Westbrook, life was different for Wilson at school, where he felt lost, misunderstood, uninterested, and socially out of place. He was down on his luck, longing for focus, friendships, fun, and rediscovering his confidence playing the piano. At Westbrook, Wilson formed new friendships and rediscovered his strength and confidence to excel in both the academic and social worlds.

The nurturing environment at Westbrook continues to drive momentous goals for Wilson – from helping him thrive in school, to preparing him for a successful future career. Wilson landed a position as an IT intern, enabling him to continue following his passion for technology.

Today, he is playing the piano with full confidence, challenging himself with pieces of Chopin and Wagner. He excels in his classes, loves taking part in sports such as the student-staff football competition, and has rediscovered an interest in exciting and eye-opening subjects including computers, cooking, and chess.

“Thanks to SCO Family of Services and Westbrook Preparatory School for being part of my success story,” said Wilson.

YouTube Link

Wilson playing Billy Joel on the piano.

 

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CFL Family Foster Care – Sunset Park

Our Family Foster Care program, which has gained wide recognition as a model for neighborhood-based, family-centered services in New York City and across the United States, provides training and case management for licensed foster families in Sunset Park.

By placing children with foster families in the community, the program seeks to reduce the trauma of separation from family members and to maximize opportunities for remediation and reunification in a normalizing neighborhood environment. Our program model is based on providing help to overcome barriers to effective parenting and supports to promote greater parental competency. Equally important is our focus on supporting meaningful community involvement in networks of friends and social services, with the goal of promoting ongoing family stability. Birth parents, foster parents, and children have access to services and resources at the Center and in the community both during and after the placement period.

Who Can Benefit from this Program

Parents with a child in foster care, foster parents, and children in foster care who live in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

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

Foster Care

For over 50 years, SCO's Foster Care practice has been helping children and their families grow, heal and thrive. We find safe, temporary families for children and teens throughout New York City and Long Island. Read More

Success Stories

Wilson’s Story

You don’t always know you have a gift.

“Thanks to SCO Family of Services and Westbrook Preparatory School for being part of my success story,” said Wilson. Learn More

Center for Family Life Helps Areliz Build a Brighter Future

"I'm doing this to provide for my kids...for everything that they deserve." Learn More

368

participants in our Young Adult Workforce Program at Rikers Island completed our program to become licensed drivers to improve their employability

Last year,

97%

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