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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Family Supports – Bushwick

SCO partners with families to prevent crises and enhance family well-being. Through supportive counseling, parent support groups, connection to community resources and advocacy, we help families strengthen relationships and develop resources to solve problems. These efforts have been successful at reducing foster care placements and accelerating family reunification when a placement was unavoidable.

Who Can Benefit from this Program

Families in need of parenting support and help finding resources to strengthen their families / families with involvement with Administration for Children’s Services due to alleged abuse or neglect.

Age Criteria or Other Eligibility Requirements

Families who are pregnant or with children under 18 in Brooklyn CDs 4, 5, 16

How to Access this Program or Service

Contact the program director at 718-455-2300

 

Success Stories

Marissa

Bronx Arena High School

"She made me feel good about myself." Learn More

Fadwa’s Story

Foster Care and Education

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

Last year,

188

youth and adults with special needs participated in volunteer projects in their community

340

young adults served by SCO are in college this academic year