As someone who has witnessed the horrific treatment to the staff I would never support this organization. Not only is the Lodi director horribly mean to all the staff and volunteers but the director at Brunswick is not to be trusted. She has been bad mouthing past employees there for years and it running their names through the mud. Each of these individuals that worked at Oaks Family Care Center were treated extremely disrespectfully and since they left the Barlow family has stated lies about these individuals. That does not sound like a very good Christian to me. I do not trust what they do with the money either. They only want the credit for doing something nice for others and they do not take the responsibility in how they mistreat others. I would never send someone in need to a place like that! YUCK!
I worked at the Oaks in Lodi for the Summer Foods service Program and had many issues with the director. She would yell at us in front of the clients and constantly tear us down. In fact, when she came back after a brief resignation, a majority of the staff and volunteers quit. Her lack of professionalism is appearant when things are not going her way, making for a tense work environment. I urge caution to all who go into the building.
I became acquainted with the Lodi Oaks during the Summer foods program last year. I witnessed very negative treatment toward the younger staff members by an older staff member who was in charge. She criticized staff in front of the children and other adults. This happened both times I came in. I believe she was the head director which surprised me to witness this unprofessionalism.
I had the pleasure of working at The Oaks for many years. We helped families reconnect after prolonged estrangements, supervised visitations between children and their non-custodial parents and made sure visitations with children between divorced couples went safely and smoothly. The working environment was warn and supportive. They do very good work at The Oaks!
I was requested to be a volunteer to head up a after school program for children ages 5 to 11. This program is held until school is completed. The program, Club Connections, helps the children with schoolwork, develope their minds by doing creative activities and learning to be responsible young adults. Myself and other volunteers will recognize problems in behavior or home issues that could surface while at Club Connections, so we assist the children in dealing with their issues. I also direct the Summer Foods Program, which is a free lunch program, run two times a week, during summer break. During this program, the children receive a free lunch if qualified, have activities and keep the school work fresh in their minds.
I am a student at Ashland Theological Seminary doing the Clinical Counseling program. I am working as a intern at mutlitple places to finish my degree, and The Oaks has been wonderful in helping me receive great supervision. They support the community in many ways, and truly love helping people. Betty Barlow is an amazing supervisor. She does everything she can to help as many people as possible, and she always does it with a smile on her face.
My time at Tha Oaks has been extraordinary. As an intern completing my Masters in Clinical Counseling, I understand intimately the need for this organization in a society where good counseling may not always be available to those in need.
Through the Oaks, I have been able to grow under the kind guidance of Betty Barlow and able to gain real world experience. There is a sense of purpose here and a real feeling of family when you walk in the door.
I highly reccommend The Oaks to anyone who is in need of truly caring and empathetic counseling.
I volunteer for the Oaks because they helped me when I needed the help. My son was a preemie and the first three months were really difficult. The staff and volunteers at Oaks were always calling to see how I was doing. Without them, getting through the surgeries would have been really difficult!
I started coming to the Oaks Family Care Center since i was 9 years old and I started going to the Lodi Oaks and it started out as i was younger as a place to hangout but as i grew older i realized what they were all about and once i turned 12 i started doing programming at the Oaks in Lodi and then i started to becoming interested into volunteering and i started to do that and i am currently working for Americorps Vista at the Oaks Family Care Center and i am 19 years old now and they are more of a family then my family is and now i have my 11 year old little sister going there for progrmming and hanging out
I am a student at Ashland Theological Seminary doing the Clinical Counseling program. I am working as a intern here to finish my degree. I abosolutly love The Oaks and all that they stand for. They have such a heart for people and love to serve the community as much as they can. I have seen so much positive results from here that it makes me very proud to be working for this Ministry. Betty Barlow is such a great woman to work for. She puts her heart and soul into this organization and she is the reason why this place is so successful. I apprecitate all that this organization does and I would recomend this place to anyone and everyone.
I moved back into Brunswick in 1998 and was looking for a place where I could perform some volunteer work. There was an article in Brunswick Sun Times about a new social service agency that was opening up in Brunswick. The article went on to describe the Oaks and stated that they were looking for volunteers. Little did I know the plan that God had for me at the Oaks was to be one of His Gardeners - planting seed of hope and of faith and of love in those He brought to the Oaks. I have worked with single moms, kids of divorced parents and teenage girls. Most recently I have be blessed with being a part of the Detention Ministry at the Medina Juvenile Detention Center. Our mission is to "turn the lives of these youth around so they don't return to detention or jail --- to break the cycle of incarceration". I thank God for the Oaks and for leading me to them and for my role as on of His Gardners.
I have had the great fortune of being involved with The Oaks Family Care Center both as a client and a volunteer. When our family encountered a difficult situation, the Oaks filled a void that no other program seemed to accomplish. The care we received was not only skilled but also loving; an uncommon yet vital combination for healing. We participated in the Life Skills program which resulted in rapid transformation of our family circumstance.
Our experience with the Oaks opened my eyes to the vast scope of services they provide and also the need for additional volunteers. My background is in adolescent counseling and so I was thrilled to join a team of volunteers from the Oaks who teach and minister to the young people at the local juvenile detention center. As with all the services that the Oaks provide, this is a crucial entity in building the health of families and our community. It is with great joy that I recommend the Oaks as a remarkable and vital service to all who are hurting and in need of healing.
I first came in contact with Oaks several years ago as a mother going through a divorce with a small child and at the same time my mother was dying of cancer. My daughter is 13 now and is a beautiful, well adjusted teenager because of Oaks Family Care Center.
During major crisis and developmental milestones in mine and my daughter's life we have received services and counseling from the staff at Oaks.
The supervised visitation program helped in the reunification of my daughter with her father in a safe and comfortable environment. The Oaks puts the children first and helps parents cope.
There are few people who live in or around the area that haven't been touched by The Oaks Family Care Center, or have known someone who has been blessed by this tenderhearted organization. Their "hands" extend to so many hurting and in need with a qualified staff of personable and compassionate professionals and volunteers. They strive to meet the needs of the community in practical ways in all types of crisis and family situations with support and encouragement for men, women, teens and children. A true shelter in the midst of the storm.
Some of their services include support groups and classes for life management. Baby food, baby clothes and baby items are a few of the ways they help families free of charge. They minister to those in the Medina County Jail to help them cope on the inside and when they are released to blend back into society in health and wholeness.. Services are too numerous to mention, but their website can provide valuable information and resources. http://www.oaks-family-care.org
When your teen is in crisis, it is hard to know what to do and where to turn. Feeling like we had very few options, we turned to the Oaks Family Care Center. There we received counseling, training, and family support that started us on a better path as a family. Not only could we apply the training we received to our teen, we learned how to change routines in our home that benefited all of us. And knowing that there were staff members keeping our family in prayer was a comfort as well. I am very thankful that the Oaks was there for us!