Children of Promise (CPNYC) will kick off a unique and innovative summer camp experience for children with a parent in prison. This camp is the first of its kind and will serve 135 children, ages 6 through 13, from the Bedford-Stuyvesant community. The camp runs through August 27 and is free of charge.

Registration day was on Tuesday July 6 and included a breakfast for the children, their parents, caregivers and special guests, followed by a full day of activities.

CPNYC was founded in 2007 to address the unique issues that children with an imprisoned parent face and to offer these children a safe haven in which to express themselves through art and recreation.

One in 40 children in the United States has an incarcerated parent. Two-thirds of those in the juvenile justice system have one or both parents in prison. In New York State, an estimated 85,000 children have a parent in prison.

"The mission of the organization is to provide children of imprisoned parents with guidance, support and the opportunity necessary to develop leadership skills, form positive relationships and enhance academic performance," said Sharon Content, who heads CPNYC.

"We specifically chose this community in Bedford-Stuyvesant because there is a high rate of children with incarcerated parents. We are the first after-school day camp program specifically designed for children with an incarcerated parent. What makes our program unique is that we infuse it with mental help, which allows our young people to express themselves through therapeutic art," she said.

"Our children know that they have a shared experience with other children who also have an incarcerated parent. There is a stigma attached to this. They can share this 'secret' with others in a safe environment. I've talked to principals who had no idea that these children were dealing with this issue," Content said.

"We want to break the cycle. Studies show that these children are six times more likely than their peers to be involved in the criminal justice system. Our model allows us to implement the after-school program. We infuse it with mental help and counseling. This allows the child to express and acknowledge the trauma they experience being the child of an incarcerated parent. It might manifest in negative behavior or in other ways. We are able to address these challenges," Content said.

"We see differences in their behavior, such as a decrease in suspension rates and in inappropriate behavior," she said.

Since its inception, 200 children and 80 families have been served by CPNYC.

Families can register their children at the Children of Promise headquarters, located at 600 Lafayette Avenue, fourth floor, in Brooklyn between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. For more information, call (718) 483-9290.