Honor Children of Promise Anniversary

Senate Resolution No. 2088 BY: Senator MONTGOMERY COMMEMORATING the 10th Anniversary of Children of Promise, NYC WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organizations and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Children of Promise, NYC; and WHEREAS, In the United States, 2.7 million children have a parent who is incarcerated, and in New York State alone, there are 105,000 children living under these circumstances; and WHEREAS, Children impacted by parental incarceration often face uncertainty and trauma from changing living arrangements, including moving from one caregiver to the next or being separated from their siblings; and beyond these stressors, children with an incarcerated loved one may struggle with the stigma and shame of having a parent in prison; and WHEREAS, In 2009, Sharon Content founded Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC) after growing increasingly concerned about the lack of support offered to young people who experience parental incarceration; and WHEREAS, CPNYC is the first and only after-school program and summer day camp specifically designed to meet the needs, interests and concerns of children left behind by a parent serving time in prison; since its inception, this vital agency has provided services to over 1,500 children and their families; and WHEREAS, In 2012, Children of Promise NYC opened a wellness center/Article 31 Mental Health Clinic which provided evidence-supported interventions to address trauma; it became a training site for Masters of Clinical Social Work students, offering extensive on-site psychiatric care; and WHEREAS, In that same year, they established "Project DREAM" a one-on-one mentoring program; and WHEREAS, In 2013, CPNYC strengthened their relationships between families and their incarcerated loved ones by launching a correctional facility transportation service; they also formalized weekly communication with incarcerated parents through letter writing; and WHEREAS, In 2014, Children of Promise relocated to a newly renovated program facility where they developed partnerships to support the facility's renovation; and WHEREAS, CPNYC has developed broad collaborative relationships and community partnerships, raised over five million dollars in government and philanthropic funding and established its own innovative and holistic model to support children of incarcerated parents in leading healthy and productive lives; and WHEREAS, For ten years, CPNYC has strived to embrace children of incarcerated parents and empower them to break the cycle of intergenerational involvement in the criminal justice system; and WHEREAS, The success of CPNYC is in direct correlation to the efforts of its staff, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the institution and the community it serves; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Children of Promise, NYC; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Sharon Content, Founder/President, Children of Promise, NYC.