SCO Family of Services Celebrates the Reopening of its Genovese Family Life Center

Reopening marks a new chapter for SCO’s Queens hub for human services for over 30 years

QUEENS, NEW YORK —Today SCO Family of Services, a leading provider of essential human services throughout New York City and Long Island, unveiled its newly renovated Genovese Family Life Center in Jamaica, Queens. The center is a regional hub providing critical supports and services to children, teens, adults, and families in Queens. It is also home to the Center for Professional Development, the training and educational arm of the agency.

“This is an exciting time at SCO as we unveil the newly reimagined Genovese Family Life Center,” remarked President & CEO of SCO Family of Services Keith Little. “This project brings together the best of trauma-informed design with innovative, flexible administrative space that will support our organization well into the future. Every detail of this new space will have a meaningful impact on our clients and staff while realizing financial efficiencies in the process.”

SCO provides access to a continuum of care that improves results for people facing significant life challenges, with a focus on education, family supports, housing, youth justice services, supports for people with developmental disabilities, and wellness. Using the principles of trauma-informed design, architectural firm Spacesmith transformed the 30,000 square-foot Genovese Family Life Center into a welcoming, modern space that helps SCO staff and their clients navigate the difficult process of healing.

Included in the new design are dedicated areas for visitation and reunification for families in foster care; developmental playgroups; comprehensive supports for families; and medical and behavioral health services. The flexible space also houses several administrative offices for program leadership, and offers reservable workspaces and meeting rooms for remote employees’ use, which further supports the agency’s ongoing vision for a hybrid, mobile workforce.

The reopening celebration included brief remarks by Mr. Little; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, a longtime supporter of human services; and Paquita Williams, a Foster Parent and Vice President of SCO’s Foster and Adoptive Parents Association. Following the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, the center was opened for tours.

“The work that takes place within SCO’s Genovese Family Life Center is a critical piece of their continued positive impact on the lives of local children, families, and the community,” explained Ambar Margarida, Principal at Spacesmith. “From a design perspective, Spacesmith’s work on this project was both about creating an uplifting, carefully crafted environment for SCO’s staff to do its life-enhancing work and signaling to clients that SCO is a place where they will be taken care of.”

About SCO Family of Services
SCO Family of Services helps New Yorkers build a strong foundation for the future. We get young children off to a good start, launch youth into adulthood, stabilize and strengthen families and unlock potential for children and adults with special needs. SCO has played a vital role delivering human services in communities throughout New York City and Long Island for over 125 years. For more information, please visit www.sco.org.