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.

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Madonna Heights Family Service Clinic

The Madonna Heights Family Service Clinic is an outpatient mental health clinic, supporting families as they overcome obstacles and strengthen existing bonds. We offer individual, group, marital, family and play therapies to all members of families living in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Our experienced and compassionate mental health therapists and board-certified adult and child psychiatrists use trauma-informed and culturally sensitive treatment models to address the emotional, psychiatric, and behavioral needs of those we serve.

We provide psychiatric assessments, medication management, complex trauma assessments, psychiatric monitoring, and evidence-based therapy. We specialize in working with families and focus on building strong healing relationships.

We provide comprehensive mental health services, including:

  • Assessment
  • Complex Trauma Assessment
  • Collaborative Treatment Planning
  • Individual Therapy
  • Family Therapy
  • Group Therapy
  • Marital Therapy
  • Psychiatric Evaluation
  • Medication Management
  • Referrals and linkages to community providers

Hours of Operation
Mon to Thurs: 10AM to 9PM
Friday: 11AM to 7PM
Saturday: 8AM to 5PM

Who Can Benefit from this Program

Providing mental health evidence-based therapy and psychiatric interventions for individuals age 5 and up, families, couples

Age Criteria or Other Eligibility Requirements

Minimum age 5

How to Access this Program or Service

Open Access hours twice weekly. Please call the clinic office to confirm current Open Access hours

 

This program is associated with...

Madonna Heights

Providing an environment that teaches, strengthens and encourages young and adult women to heal from trauma. Read More

Success Stories

Isis & Kaiden

Bethany I

“We’ve made lifelong friends and family. It was a beautiful struggle.” Learn More

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… Learn More

91%

of babies in our Nurse Family Partnership were current with immunizations at 24 months

88%

of young adults in foster care (18+) are enrolled in school or working

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