Children of incarcerated parents rarely receive the support they need as they do time with their parents. CPNYC’s model incorporates a holistic approach of addressing the needs of families impacted by parental incarceration and attacking the underlying root causes of the problem. Offering preventive services that are specific to the needs of individual children and families that are close to home creates real and lasting social change to break the cycle of intergenerational incarceration.
Learn more about Children of Promise, NYC’s comprehensive services and how you can get involved.
AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP
CPNYC’s after-school program operates from Monday through Friday, 3-6:30pm during the academic school year, with a full day, 9 week, summer camp in July and August.
The after-school program and the summer camp both offer an empowering, supportive and nurturing environment where children feel safe to express themselves creatively, physically, intellectually and emotionally.
Academic enrichment and support provides innovative and creative group activities to build participants’ educational skills, motivation and engagement.
Academic enrichment activities supplement, rather than replicate, school-day learning and may include small group learning, tutoring and homework assistance, reading clubs, project based learning, computer assisted instruction and community service projects.
Creative learning and arts-based activities offer children the opportunity to explore their talents, express their imagination and emotions and to develop creative skills. Activities are offered within the visual and expressive arts such as; spoken word and poetry, fine arts, arts therapy and documentary film making.
The educational component is specifically designed to assist and empower children to cope psychologically with the effects of having their parents imprisoned by allowing them a safe place to learn and interact with other children in similar situations.
Our recreational programs enrich all areas of a child’s development by providing excitement, self-confidence, discovery and fun.
Innovative physical activities are designed to help children express their emotions in a positive and healthy way.
Recreational activities include dance, creative movement, tennis, swimming, skate boarding and surfing.
CPNYC’s mentoring program, Project DREAM (Directing Realities through Exposure, Access & Mentoring), provides children of imprisoned parents, ages 8-18, with one-to-one matches with screened and trained mentors, as part of the agency’s larger mission to break the cycle of intergenerational incarceration.
Project DREAM offers mentoring matches the opportunity to participate in trips and activities which build the mentoring relationship. Each mentor receives extensive training and support, on an on-going basis and each child in the program receives mental health counseling, academic support and interventions, and opportunities to participate, with their mentor, in recreational and educational activities and outings.
Counseling Services provide mental health based interventions that therapeutically address the traumatic experiences of our young people by providing individualized treatment plans for each child and their care provider.
CPNYC Counseling Services include complete behavioral assessments, individual, group and family counseling.
SERVICES TO FAMILY MEMBERS & CAREGIVERS
Recognizing that decisions made by the Caregivers trickle down and affect the daily lives of the children, Children of Promise, NYC extends support services to the guardians, family members, & caregivers.
Support services for families and caregivers are offered to assist them in acquiring healthy coping strategies in managing the emotional, mental and financial challenges of caring for the child of an imprisoned parent. Parent support group meetings are offered monthly to provide a forum for care providers to discuss their concerns and challenges in a setting that is safe and reassuring and which provides a support base of individuals who share and understand their circumstances. Parents receive referrals for any support services not offered through CPNYC.
CONNECTION TO INCARCERATED PARENTS
CPNYC works with caregivers to eliminate barriers that may exist in the lines of communication between children and their imprisoned parent including:
-sending letters
-artwork
-report cards
In addition, we coordinate trips to correctional facilities and provide workshops to assist in understanding the regulations and protocols of visiting jails and prisons.
