Today, September 10th, marks World Suicide Prevention Day and September marks Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This day and month give us time to connect with those affected by suicide, reflect on how suicide has touched our own lives and to share resources to better support individuals, families and their communities in efforts to prevent suicide. According to the CDC, each year more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, leaving behind thousands of friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of their loss. Too often people considering suicide are afraid to ask for help, and those who think they see the signs of trouble are reluctant to be wrong and then offend, or cause embarrassment. NAMI reports that suicide [...]

Every September, National Recovery Month increases awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and encourages individuals in need of treatment and recovery services to seek help. Recovery Month celebrates individuals living their lives in recovery and recognizes the dedicated workers who provide the prevention, treatment, and recovery support services that make it possible. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that in 2016, approximately 20 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder and about 44.7 million Americans aged 18 and older experienced a mental disorder. An estimated 2.6 million adults aged 18 or older had co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorder. Recovery can mean many different things for many [...]

What causes homelessness? Unemployment, unaddressed health issues, eviction and the high cost of living in New Jersey are frequently cited as why people become homeless. Lack of affordable housing is another cause of homelessness. The need for affordable housing in New Jersey is significant and has been referred to as an affordable housing crisis. The affordable housing crisis in New Jersey dates back to over 40 years ago. The Township of Mount Laurel developed a zoning ordinance that essentially banned affordable housing units such as apartments, trailer parks and multi-family units. The Township was sued and the case was taken up by the New Jersey Supreme Court who declared that the Mount Laurel zoning ordinance prevented affordable housing opportunities. [...]

Imagine if your eleven-year-old child… Was too terrified to have his hair cut with clippers. Hated to shower because he avoided the water. Never sat down for dinner due to his need to pace. Could not tie his own shoes. This is the life of a family struggling to care for their son TJ who is living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Desperate for help, they connected to our Bridging Family Support program. The program provides intensive in-home services such as therapy, daily living skills development and behavior management for individuals of all ages with developmental/intellectual disabilities and their families. Fast forward to New Year’s Eve, TJ sat with his family for the entire dinner for the first time. Just [...]

You Are Our Story Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate Oak's 50th Anniversary! You helped make the celebration of this special milestone a great success. We would not have made it this far without the support of our special donors, volunteers and partners like you! Your dedication to our mission continues to shape our story. Congratulations to our honorees: LEGACY AWARD The Whitesell and Heitzman Family Tom and Deborah Whitesell and Tom and Evan Heitzman represent two generations of unwavering support for Oaks Integrated Care. For nearly three decades, the family has shown dedication to our mission through corporate event support, donations and volunteer work. Inspired by the drive and passion he saw in Executive Director [...]

It is estimated that 65 million Americans provided caregiving duties in the past year. Many family members take on caregiving duties because they already have a relationship with the person in need and caregiving duties can often be provided at little to no cost. Family members also feel a sense of duty to care for their loved ones. The responsibility of caregiving is significant and can take a toll on the caregiver’s physical and emotional health. Caregivers may feel isolated or alone in their duties. Caregiving responsibilities may strain relationships, put financial pressure on the caregiver and cause stress to rise among family members. Caregivers are also more likely to experience depression, poor health habits, poor sleeping habits, stress [...]

This May is Mental Health Month and we’re joining Mental Health America to raise awareness about the connection between physical health and mental health, through the theme Fitness #4Mind4Body. The campaign is meant to educate and inform individuals about how eating healthy foods, gut health, managing stress, exercising and getting enough sleep can go a long way in making you healthy all around. Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally, making it important to pay attention to both your physical health and your mental health, which can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to [...]

2018 Haddonfield Progressive Dinner Hosts Thank you to everyone who helped make the Haddonfield Progressive Dinner a success. This event would not be possible without the support of friends like you! Proceeds from the event benefit the Oaks Integrated Care Food Pantries in Berlin and Mt. Holly which serve over 800 families a month. Visit our Flickr page to see all the fantastic photos from the event! Special Thanks to… Mike and Lauren Regina for hosting the hors d’ouvres portion of the evening. Dinner Hosts Brad & Anita Bendesky Brian & Lauren Breen Sam & Rita Caruso Rick DeMichele & Sharon Dostmann Mark & Kim DiMaurizio John & Beth Master Craig & Colleen McGettighan Mike & Lauren Regina Chuck [...]

A trauma can be defined as “an event, series of events, or set of circumstances experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being” (SAMHSA). Because the effects of trauma are stored in the body, specifically the nervous system and in the limbic system of the brain, traditional talk therapies are often not sufficient in successfully treating symptoms of trauma. Studies have shown that in addition to more Cognitive-Behavioral Based therapies, Body Based and Sensory-Motor Therapeutic Interventions have been proven to be necessary to the successful treatment of trauma. Yoga has long been a practice to integrate one’s body, mind, and [...]