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“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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1960s

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.

Five Stars

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

Five Stars

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

Five Stars

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

How to Set Healthy Technology Boundaries as a Family

How to Set Healthy Technology Boundaries as a Family

June 8, 2026

Technology touches every part of family life and offers plenty of benefits. We use smartphones to communicate throughout the day, manage family calendars, find information, … Read more

How to Know When It’s Time to Seek Mental Health Support

How to Know When It’s Time to Seek Mental Health Support

May 25, 2026

When we experience physical pain, we sometimes dismiss it as normal. It’s just normal aches and pains. I’m just getting older. It’s not that bad. … Read more

Why Stigma Prevents People From Seeking Help

Why Stigma Prevents People From Seeking Help

May 19, 2026

While much has been done to overcome the stigma surrounding mental health, we as a society have a long way to go. According to the American … Read more

The Connection Between Basic Needs and Mental Health

The Connection Between Basic Needs and Mental Health

May 4, 2026

Sometimes the underlying causes of mental health disorders are practical, like food, housing, and sleep. If your most basic needs aren’t being met, even the … Read more

What to Expect When Starting Therapy for the First Time

What to Expect When Starting Therapy for the First Time

April 24, 2026

You might feel a little nervous, intimidated, or skeptical about starting therapy for a lot of reasons, and that’s okay. It’s a different experience with a new … Read more

CMS ACCESS Model Accelerates Behavioral Health Value-Based Care

CMS ACCESS Model Accelerates Behavioral Health Value-Based Care

April 17, 2026

Oaks Integrated Care Selected as CMS ACCESS Model Behavioral Health Provider April 17, 2026 | DistilINFO: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched … Read more

How Stress Affects Sleep, Mood, and Focus

How Stress Affects Sleep, Mood, and Focus

April 15, 2026

Stress is the human body’s natural response to life’s challenges. Stress can even be productive in short bursts when it helps you stay alert and … Read more

CMS announces 150 participants for upcoming ACCESS model launch

CMS announces 150 participants for upcoming ACCESS model launch

April 14, 2026

Oaks Selected as ACCESS model Behavioral Health Provider April 14, 2026 | Healthcare IT News: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it has … Read more

Is It Stress or Anxiety? How to Tell the Difference

Is It Stress or Anxiety? How to Tell the Difference

April 7, 2026

Stress and anxiety are closely related. They may feel the same and have overlapping symptoms, like feeling overwhelmed, irritability, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating. But … Read more

What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Someone Who’s Struggling

What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Someone Who’s Struggling

March 25, 2026

If you suspect a loved one is struggling with their mental health, or they open up to you about thoughts and feelings that are causing them … Read more

How Social Workers Uplift, Defend, and Transform Lives Every Day

How Social Workers Uplift, Defend, and Transform Lives Every Day

March 23, 2026

Social Work Month was first celebrated in March of 1963 to support social workers and their mission – “to enhance human well-being, meet the basic … Read more

Breaking Down Common Myths About Developmental Disabilities

Breaking Down Common Myths About Developmental Disabilities

March 11, 2026

Misconceptions, false assumptions, and misunderstandings about developmental disabilities often lead to stigma and barriers for individuals and families. This can keep people from receiving the … Read more

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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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How to Know When It’s Time to Seek Mental Health Support

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