Kelly’s Story

Kelly lives on a quiet tree-lined street with her husband, two sons, and an energetic puppy named Molly. Life is pretty good these days. In her own words, she has a decent job, a home, a car, and a supportive family – all things she never thought possible before entering SCO’s Morning Star residential program for women recovering from substance use.

Since the age of 13, Kelly had been hooked on alcohol. For the next 10 years, she struggled with severe alcoholism, heroin addiction, and all the terrible symptoms that go along with that. She tried every which way to control her use but failed over and over again. Institutions, hospitals, and psychiatric facilities became a normal part of life. At the age of 23, Kelly realized she was running out of options. She had no place to live, was unemployable, and had no way to provide for herself or her 4-year-old son, Joseph. That’s when she found SCO.

Kelly was 35 days sober for the first time in her adult life when she entered SCO’s residential program. This would be the first of many pivotal firsts. While in program, she learned about accountability and structure. She was introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous and attended off site treatment programs. She felt supported and heard by the women and staff at Morning Star and thrived in this environment.

Little by little, Kelly rebuilt her life. With the help of vocational counselors, she returned to school, received her high school diploma, and took clerical courses. She was thrilled when Joseph came to live with her on campus, working with SCO’s coaches and childcare team to hone her parenting skills. And she addressed her past traumas head on with mental health counseling at SCO’s Family Services Clinic.

Kelly credits her time in Morning Star as life-changing. She has been gainfully employed since leaving the program in 2012 and now works for a successful law firm. She found her soulmate in Rob and was married in 2015, and expanded her family with another son, Aidan, a few years later. She likes to say she is a work in progress – and we know there are plenty of firsts still ahead for Kelly.

← Back

Family Treatment and Rehabilitation – Queens

Family Treatment and Rehabilitation is an intensive program that provides supportive services for families with a caregiver or child with severe substance abuse or mental health issues. FTR programs offer the same basic services offered by Family Counseling and Support Programs, but these services are modified and/or intensified to meet the family’s specific needs. The programs make active efforts to link family members to substance abuse and mental health treatment programs or self-help groups. In addition to being assigned a Case Planner, each family works with a Parent Aide to assist parents with home visits, escorting, teaching home management skills, and more. Specialized, licensed staff provide mental health and substance abuse evaluations and consultation.

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.

Age Criteria or Other Eligibility Requirements

Families in Queens who are pregnant or with children under 18, with a family member with mental illness or substance abuse. Families with children on trial discharge from foster care
Youth aged up to 21 enrolled in the foster care system