Southeast Queens residents can once again find sanctuary and services at the Genovese Family Life Center in Jamaica, which has officially reopened following renovations.
The center, operated by SCO Family of Services at 89-30 161st St., is a regional hub providing critical support and services to children, teens, adults, and families and it is also home to the Center for Professional Development, the training and educational arm of the agency.
SCO provides access to a continuum of care that improves results for people facing significant life challenges, with a focus on education, family support, housing, youth justice services and support for people with developmental disabilities, and wellness.
“With its newly renovated Genovese Family Life Center, SCO Family of Services is better able than ever to offer a safe and therapeutic environment for youth in foster care and for all the children served by the center’s programs, as well as for the families and staff who care for them,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “The Genovese Family Life Center will also provide children and families who have been exposed to traumatic experiences with a safe space to help them navigate the difficult process of healing. My sincerest congratulations go to SCO Family Services as we cut the ribbon on this amazing facility, which will strongly benefit the community for many years to come.”
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.
“This is an exciting time at SCO as we unveil the newly reimagined Genovese Family Life Center,” SCO Family of Services President and CEO Keith Little said. “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.”
Architectural firm Spacesmith transformed the 30,000-square-foot center into a modern space that helps SCO staff and their clients navigate the difficult process of healing.
“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,” said 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.”
SCO has played a vital role in delivering human services in communities throughout New York City and Long Island for more than 125 years. For more information visit sco.org.
