“There are always opportunities for growth because there are so many unique perspectives brought to the table. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, there have been moments where my voice was put at the center of a team meeting because it mattered.”
Ren Pelley
HEART Manager and Peer Specialist
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Family Service of Burlington County
The Beginning
A small group of volunteers in Moorestown, New Jersey, created Family Service of Burlington County to provide counseling and emergency intervention to adults, children and families. Working from donated space, volunteers made support available around the clock to people who had nowhere else to turn.
1970s–2011
Building a Network of Care
Expanding to Meet Community Needs
As community needs changed, Family Service continued to grow. By 2011, the organization offered 65 behavioral health programs across nine counties in southern and central New Jersey.
2012
Family Service and Steininger Behavioral Care Services
Becoming Twin Oaks Community Services
Family Service merged with Steininger Behavioral Care Services to form Twin Oaks Community Services.
The new name reflected the strength of the oak tree: deeply rooted in the community, continually growing and reaching outward through many branches of service. Within three years, Twin Oaks expanded to more than 120 programs, including outpatient care, housing, residential programs, food assistance, case management and community-based support.
2015
Twin Oaks and Greater Trenton Behavioral HealthCare
Oaks Integrated Care Is Formed
Twin Oaks Community Services merged with Greater Trenton Behavioral HealthCare to become Oaks Integrated Care.
The merger expanded services in Mercer County and strengthened the organization’s focus on integrated care—supporting the emotional, physical and social needs that contribute to a person’s overall well-being.
2016
Preferred Behavioral Health Group
Strengthening Our Reach
Preferred Behavioral Health Group joined the Oaks family as an affiliate, expanding access to services in Monmouth and Ocean counties while continuing to operate as an independent organization.
2021
COPE Center
Growing in North Jersey
Oaks Integrated Care merged with COPE Center, a behavioral health organization serving Essex County. The partnership expanded Oaks’ reach in North Jersey and brought together two organizations committed to supporting individuals and families facing some of life’s greatest challenges.
2025
Association for Advancement of Mental Health (AAMH)
Expanding Care in Princeton
Oaks Integrated Care merged with the Association for Advancement of Mental Health (AAMH), a Princeton-based behavioral health organization serving the greater Mercer County community. The merger expanded behavioral health services for children, adolescents, adults and seniors.
Testimonials
Care That Speaks for Itself
Hear from families, professionals, and team members who’ve experienced the Encore Life Care difference firsthand.
The Encore Life Care team was an enormous source of support for our family when our mother began declining at age 75 from the devastating effects of Parkinson’s disease.
Kate Kelliher
Takoma Park, MD
My brother and I couldn’t be more grateful for the compassionate care my father received. Without their guidance, navigating the aging process would have been overwhelming.
Sam S.
NW Washington, DC
My mother needed in-home care and their guidance truly helped us. They listened, offered options and got us through some tough times. I’ll be forever grateful.
Tony Gray
Bethesda, MD
Mental Health Disparities in Minority Communities
July 27, 2023
Racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities often face different mental health outcomes. From inaccessibility to health care services, to cultural stigmas and discrimination, many minority … Read more
How Work-Life Balance Impacts Mental Health
July 19, 2023
Between heavy workloads, relationships, and personal interests, finding a work-life balance with day-to-day responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Research indicates overworking and extensive hours on the … Read more
Why Boundaries Are Important and How to Set Them
June 28, 2023
Have you ever felt exhausted trying to make everyone happy? Or anxious because friends and family are taking advantage of your time? Guilty for saying … Read more
How to Create a Safe Space for LGBTQ+ Youth
June 28, 2023
LGBTQ+ youth deserve support, affirmation and safety. However, from home, to school to healthcare spaces, many LGBTQ+ youth feel unsafe or unwelcome, causing a lack … Read more
Mental Health and Homelessness: A Place to Call Home
June 16, 2023
Everyone deserves a place to call home ‑ to live a healthy life and enjoy a future. Research shows that without a permanent, stable home, … Read more
4 Ways to Prioritize Your Mental Health This Summer
June 16, 2023
With longer days and warmer weather around the corner, summer is the perfect opportunity to switch up your routine and embrace the importance of mental … Read more
Signs Someone You Love May Be Struggling with Their Mental Health
May 26, 2023
Mental health concerns can be difficult to identify in others. Despite a perception as rare, mental health conditions are common and widespread today. According to … Read more
The Importance of Integrated Health and Wellness
May 26, 2023
In today’s fast-paced environment, achieving a state of holistic health and wellbeing has become more crucial than ever. As a comprehensive approach, integrated health practices … Read more
The Relationship Between Your Environment and Mental Health
May 18, 2023
Overall health and wellness can be significantly affected by natural and built environments, such as where we are born, live, learn, work, play, and congregate. … Read more
The Relationship Between Stable Housing and Mental Health
May 18, 2023
Did you know your ZIP code plays a significant role in how healthy you are? Stable housing allows individuals to develop routines and connections to … Read more
Tools for Coping with Stress and Anxiety
April 20, 2023
Stress and anxiety are two of the most common mental health issues of today. Whether driven by work, relationships or personal struggles, stress and anxiety … Read more
Imposter Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes and Ways to Cope
April 13, 2023
Imposter Syndrome is, “the condition of feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally, despite being high-performing in external, objective ways.” If you have ever felt … Read more
How to Know When It’s Time to Seek Mental Health Support
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How to Know When It’s Time to Seek Mental Health Support
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How to Know When It’s Time to Seek Mental Health Support
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