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"A leopard cannot change its spots, but a caterpillar can certainly change into a butterfly." This is the motto of the MOPS group meeting at the James A. Musick Facility, a minimum-security jail in Irvine, California. They repeat this motto at the beginning of every meeting as a reminder to these women that change is possible.

The moms who attend the Musick MOPS meetings are incarcerated for a variety of reasons, but most commonly drugs and prostitution. They are housed in this transitional facility for an average of three months while awaiting trial, release or imprisonment. Each week their group looks different as women move to and from the facility. Since starting in November 2006, the group has impacted the lives of 279 women.

The idea for this group was birthed when the group's Coordinator Angel Shahrestani was approached by her pastor and asked, "If money were no issue, where would you take the MOPS ministry?" She thought, prayed and was moved by the phrase in the MOPS purpose statement, "every mother of preschoolers," as well as by the needs of moms in prison. A series of events landed her an appointment with the director of education at the jail and the approval to begin their MOPS program.

Shahrestani and her Steering Team, Danielle Kemp, Sheri Jerue and Kay Yerkovich, worked with the jail staff and created a program to meet the special needs of these moms and address their unique situations. Yerkovich is a licensed family and marriage counselor and leads small group discussions. Topics include how to talk to their kids about being in prison and how to encourage their kids to express their feelings about having a mom in jail. The leaders present parenting topics that are practical during this phase of their parenting and can be implemented on the phone or during visitations with their children.

Moms love to talk about their kids, and these moms are no different. They love to share good memories and proud moments. But they also talk about their regrets, sadness and guilt about not being the role model their children deserve. One mother of four came to her first MOPS meeting at Musick and began to sob. She told Shahrestani she wanted to be the best mom possible, but admitted to being everything she hated. She explained her mom was incarcerated for life for killing her siblings when the methamphetamine lab she was running in their home exploded. She longs to be the mother for her kids she never had.

This MOPS group focuses on transformation. The Steering Team provides hope that change is possible for these incarcerated moms. They encourage these moms that this phase of their lives can be a new beginning; they can be the moms they hope to be.

Shahrestani said many women who attend their first MOPS meeting at Musick feel skeptical, but leave promising to invite their friends. She said, "At MOPS they feel important, listened to and welcomed. They share and ask questions openly. They work together on service projects to help people in need outside the jail. And most importantly, they hear about the hope available to them through faith in Jesus Christ." One mom has been touched so deeply that she switched to work the morning shift in the kitchen at the jail. She starts work at 1 a.m. so she can attend MOPS.

Following their third MOPS meeting at the jail, the women who had been attending wrote letters to the jail staff thanking them for allowing a weekly MOPS group. They told the staff how much MOPS had inspired them to be better mothers and have hope for a better future. The Musick facility staff has been impressed with the response the women have had to this group.

Each year the Orange County jail system awards exceptional volunteer organizations who work with their inmates. This past June, Shahrestani and her Steering Team were honored to accept this award for providing an excellent program and outstanding volunteers to serve the women at the Musick facility.

Shahrestani and her team admit this group has been a big investment, but feel it's also a highlight of their week. To them, it makes all the difference to give even one woman a glimpse of hope and remind her that "a caterpillar can certainly change into a butterfly."

Jackie Alvarez is the Editorial Coordinator at MOPS International. She lives in Colorado and visits the mountains as often as possible to snowboard, hike, camp, raft and backpack. Jackie also enjoys watching movies, seeking out good music and engaging in conversation about faith.

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