OMCP graduates celebrate with families and peers

Substance use disorder and addiction affect countless people across the globe. But 16 Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) residents are hoping to change that by becoming certified Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) counselors.

As of July 17, they celebrated the first part of that journey — the completion of a six-month educational study through the Occupational Mentor Certification Program (OMCP).

The ceremony took place in the visiting room, decorated in purple and gold with black accents. Signs reading “Congratulations, Graduate!” were posted while gold and purple balloons and streamers lined the walls. As participants walked into the room, they passed through shimmery purple streamers, which helped lend a festive air to the room.

Prior to the start of the ceremony, guests mingled and chatted while upbeat music played. Invitees received a program outlining the schedule of events, complete with color photos of the graduates. As family members looked through the pages, smiles and tears appeared at the sight of their loved ones’ faces.

As “Pomp and Circumstance” rang out in the room, OMCP graduates walked in wearing purple caps and gowns, adorned with a gold OMCP sash. Most striking were the smiles they wore as they proceeded past all assembled and took their seats in rows.

The OMCP training is rigorous and requires a great deal of personal and professional commitment, according to Paper Trail Managing Editor Kanoa Harris-Pendang, an OMCP graduate.

As the staff member overseeing the Division of Rehabilitative Programs (DRP) classes at CCWF, Correctional Counselor III Flavilla Singleton supervises all integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment classes, including the OMCP training. Serving as the event’s MC, Singleton welcomed all assembled and shared that the graduates have “done something extraordinary inside these walls.”

All OMCP graduates were hand-selected, but many thought they wouldn’t be chosen. In order to be considered, interested individuals have to submit an application, obtain two staff references, and sit through an interview by a three-person panel.

“Thank you for proving me right,” Singleton told them. “I knew you could do it. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey.”

Chief Deputy Warden Cynthia Rojas addressed the graduates, sharing that all assembled were celebrating their transformation.

“This is a new beginning, not just for yourselves but for others,” she said. “Even in one of the hardest places for growth, change is possible.”

Options Recovery Services provides instruction and training for the OMCP program. Executive Director Justin Phillips commended the graduates for contributing to the fight against the disease of addiction.

“Counselors choose a path of selflessness,” Phillips said. “But counseling is not always met with grace and wonderfulness.”

Mychal Macias, a former CCWF resident and OMCP graduate, was paroled in 2024. He is employed as an Admissions Group Counselor in the community and congratulated the graduates on their achievement.

“This is just the beginning of your greatness,” he said.

OMCP graduate Hannah Habibi read the cohort’s mission statement, which included the words “HOPE,” for “Help Other People Excel.”

The cohort named themselves “Chapter Seven” because they are the seventh cohort in a women’s facility, and they feel the program represents a new chapter in their lives.

“We’re not stuck in the past,” Habibi said.

After the speeches concluded, graduates received their certificates, shaking hands with administrators and instructors and laughing and smiling on the way down the line. When each arrived in front of Singleton, all of them embraced her, an inside joke among the graduates based on the fact that Singleton does not like hugs.

Singleton later laughingly remarked, “I hug my husband and kids from time to time, but after this, no more hugs for the rest of the year.”

OMCP graduates then assembled in front of the guests and performed a line dance to celebrate their achievement. Guests clapped and cheered the graduates on, at which point Singleton and DRP Officer Teresa White joined the group to more applause.

Guests were offered barbecue chicken, tri-tip and pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, green salad and toasted bread for lunch, as well as a drink and a piece of cake. Conversations between guests dipped in volume as everyone enjoyed their food.

Janet Mendes, CCWF resident Lacey Crenshaw’s mother, attended the ceremony to see her daughter graduate.

“I knew she could do it,” Mendes said.

Resident Unique Bishop’s aunt, Shana Neal, said, “I’m very proud. I’ve seen the change in her.”

OMCP mentor Sandra Shayne completed her training more than four years ago and continues to believe in its impact.

“I believe this is a fantastic program,” Shayne said. “It requires a person to truly dig deep in order to find what went wrong in life and allow healing for childhood wounds.”

Now that they’ve completed the training, the graduates must accrue 2,080 internship hours and pass an accredited exam to become certified AOD counselors.

They can then co-facilitate groups with outside AOD counselors with state-mandated curricula, conduct one-on-one sessions, provide crisis intervention, and offer mentorship to their peers.

OMCP graduate Diana Estrada is excited to help other people and is looking forward to getting her certification.

“I feel like my dark story isn’t a dark story anymore,” said Estrada.