EMPATHY “Let me hold the door for you. I may have never walked in your shoes, But I can see your soles are worn. Your strength is torn Under the weight of a story I have never lived before. Let me hold the door for you. After all you’ve walked through, It’s the least I can do.” Morgan Harper Nichols I, like many of you, am angered by the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. I stand with the protestors who are screaming for an end to the racial and social disparity that exists in our country and has for hundreds of years. My feelings are overwhelming, and I say this as a white woman who has [...]

For years, Oaks has partnered with law enforcement agencies to help improve the quality of first-responder interactions with persons living with mental health or addiction disorders. The Crisis Intervention Team, commonly referred to as “CIT,” is an innovative model first debuted in 1988 in Memphis, Tennessee. As mental health professionals, Director Renee Carrillo and her team at Oaks work with police and other partners to help reduce potentially harmful encounters between law enforcement and those with mental illness. Key elements of the program are educating police department personnel about how to handle these encounters, deescalating possibly tense or dangerous situations, and helping them find ways to cope with the stress and trauma they experience as part of their work. [...]

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 10th Annual 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 Edward and Emily Andrewes for graciously hosting the cocktail party And to our Dinner Hosts: Anita & Brad Bendesky * Sharon Dostmann & Rick DeMichele Jen & Sean Leonard * Beth & John Master Colleen & Craig McGettighan * Kathy & Lawrence Morris Kelly & Drew Smith * Barbara & Jack Tarditi [...]

This holiday season, while many of us spend time celebrating with loved ones and finishing up last minute shopping, others face much bigger challenges. You can make an impact by giving a monetary contribution, providing gifts or sponsoring a family in need. Share the joy! Just imagine the wonderful memories your donation will bring to those who need it the most... Tom lost custody of his 7-year-old daughter Amber due to his chronic drug abuse. Heartbroken and despondent, he felt without hope until a case worker in an Oaks parenting class reminded him that although he felt at the lowest point in his life, it did not make him a bad person or father. Parenting classes helped Tom think [...]

It takes a community. Oaks Integrated Care is excited to work with the Evesham Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office for the new Straight… to Treatment program. Beginning Monday, March 26, Burlington County residents struggling with addiction will have the opportunity to seek treatment and turn in their drugs at the Evesham Police Department without the fear of arrest. Oaks will be on-call on Mondays from 12:00-7:00pm to meet in-person with individuals who voluntarily enter the Evesham Police Department and request help with an addiction. Each individual who walks through the door will be treated with dignity, compassion and respect. A team member or coordinating provider will immediately complete an assessment and begin the process to link [...]