Nuns Give Kids and Moms a Second Chance

Sister Teresa works with children who, for much of their early lives, only saw their moms a couple of hours a week during visiting hours - at jail.

"I was just moved to think a child was ripped apart from their mom," Teresa said. "The more I talked to the mothers I realized the mothers just needed a chance."

"Hour Children" meets moms in some of the toughest jails in New York. They offer women a fresh start.

On one block in Queens, Fitzgerald, or "Sister Tesa" as she's called - provides free housing and daycare, and thrift stores where former inmates can work and shop.
Next door to the store, there's computer training and job placement.

One of the main goals is making sure the women don't end up back behind bars. In New York state, more than 30 percent of female ex-convicts get arrested again. But the rate for Hour Children's is only 4 percent.







This posting was excerpted from this article, I encourage you to read the entire story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/01/eveningnews/main6919890.shtml?tag=cbsnewsLeadStoriesArea