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.