Recently, Oaks Integrated Care received a heartfelt letter from a mother who turned to Oaks when she fell on hard times. She believed her family would be torn apart but with the help of our programs and services, they were not only able to stay together, but thrive over the years.
Charlene’s Story
“In 2017, I was living in a motel with my two young children. I was referred to Oaks Integrated Care’s Keeping Families Together program for assistance in finding affordable housing in a safe neighborhood. At the time, I also did not have access to a vehicle so the program staff made sure to provide me with transportation so I could get to appointments and shop for essential items.
The program team provided me with personal hygiene items, cleaning products, and diapers for my children. During my time in the program, the employment specialist assisted me in setting goals for my future, and my case manager gave me the skills I need to be independent and self-sufficient. My therapist has helped me improve my parenting skills and increase my coping skills when challenges arise.
Over the years, the program has assisted me by providing school supplies, Thanksgiving dinners and gifts at Christmas so we could celebrate the holidays together like other families. During the lockdown, emergency items including food from Oaks’ pantries were delivered to my home and virtual activities were available for my children.
While waiting to be accepted into the program, my family had a positive experience with Family Preservation Services. The program staff advocated for me and assisted me with maintaining custody of my children. Both of my children attended the First Step program, which prepared them for kindergarten and assisted them in managing their anger by teaching them how to express themselves appropriately. I am so grateful for the kind and supportive staff who have helped us to find stability, confidence and hope over the years.
– Charlene, Oaks client since 2017
Everyone has the potential to thrive with the right support and programs designed to achieve overall health and wellness. For parents like Charlene who rely on us, we work hard to ensure they have the resources needed to keep their families together and stable, even during the most turbulent times.
With the rise in need for co-occurring services, we are able to offer a wide variety of programs such as supportive housing for those at risk of homelessness and emergency hunger relief from the Oaks pantries in addition to treatment. These are just a small sample of the 230 programs and services Oaks has to support our community.
With support from donors like you, Oaks provides everyone the opportunity to be healthy and stable so they can thrive and contribute to a better society. Join us in fulfilling our mission by making a contribution to our Annual Fund – every gift, no matter the size, makes an impact.
