About Oak Grove Center
Oak Grove Center is a vital organization that provides support and healing to children and families in the community. Many individuals express deep gratitude for the care and guidance received from the staff, including heartfelt mentions of specific team members who have made a significant impact. The center fosters a nurturing environment where children can thrive, and families find hope and connection. Events like "Rock the Oaks" showcase the center's dedication to its mission and allow community members to witness the joy and growth of the children they serve. Supporters highlight the importance of Oak Grove Center's work and encourage others to get involved with this nonprofit that truly makes a difference. The organization not only helps individuals heal but also creates lasting relationships and reunions, bringing a sense of family and belonging to those it serves.
That place has saved my life, sure the kids were messy but the help was amazing, i owe the staff a lot of respect for always helping me. I was in Dorm B and the staff were always so helping and kind, except for Jenny.. they really need to fire her. But besides that it has been amazing. I've made some enemies yet many friends there. If you don't want to have a bad experience just ignore drama, pay attention to only you, and just be respectful to the adults. Ty to my staff Mario, Zen, Jen, Danna, Raul, Alfredo, Secondary therapist Ana, and my main therapist Sarah, along with TA angel class one, and Mr nick class one. You have all made me regain my confidence and happiness...read full review
To be fair, I attended Oak Grove back in 2004-2005. Hopefully it has improved since then. The reasons I was sent to OGI from age 17-18 was excessive school truancy, multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, struggles with my mental health/bipolar depression and self harm (just to provide context). I didn't mind my time there that much. I don't think anyone really WANTS to be in a RTC and I definitely didn't, but for me it was better than my stays in the psych hospital as far as how staff treated me. I did see my peers proned and I was proned once. In the few instances I saw others proned, staff often had valid reasons (an AWOL attempt, damage to property, someone trying to harm themselves). I realize with teens and children having their rights and essentially autonomy stripped from them though, there is the susceptibility in these types of institutions for abuse and mistreatment so I'm only speaking from my own experience and definitely not discounting or invalidating anyone else's shared on here. OGI's work experience opportunities for teens, in retrospect, were very exploitative. I worked in the cafeteria and a local secondhand store and recall receiving less than $1 each time I worked. I was definitely at that store for multiple hours sorting and pricing donations. The cafeteria work involved more labor and you were expected to operate a big dishwashing machine that used incredibly hot water to sanitize the dishes. That likely would be similar to the kind of work a teen would perform at a fast food restaurant, but that teen would also be paid more than a dollar. If these jobs were meant to be for work experience and to build a resume they should have paid minimum wage. If that was not financially feasible for OGI or the second hand store OGI provided workers to, then make it volunteer work to add to a resume and pay nothing at all. To claim it's for work experience and even go so far as providing payment, but not have that payment be equivalent to what a teen would receive in an actual job is exploitation. While OGI may have reservations about giving teens that much money (especially those struggling with drug addiction), they could place it in an account for when clients leave to educate them on saving. Some of what was considered contraband seemed excessive. For example, Q-tips weren't allowed, even with supervision. As a result I got compacted ear wax and had to go to the doctor who prescribed fluid to be put in my ear to remove the wax. This fluid was administered by staff in the dorm and when I loudly cussed because of the uncomfortable pop in my ear, I had that marked against me, dropping me down a level, which sucked. I also didn't like the level system. It made sense in regards to gaining dorm privileges like staying up late or going off campus, but it prevented me from participating in programs like driver's ed as I struggled to stay at the level needed to take the course. OGI's education program, at least for a high school senior needing to meet CA graduation requirements, was entirely insufficient. I didn't get the full education I should have to graduate high school despite getting a diploma when I left OGI. This I believe was due to being lumped into a class with teenage girls of various ages and educational levels. I gained no education in history, English, science or math. Science and math are two areas I have always struggled in, so to not learn everything I needed to in those subjects has had a detrimental impact on my educational experience now that I am working to complete general ed requirements in college. I recall doing a lot of very basic spelling and math worksheets that were incredibly easy for me. The material provided was not at all what would normally be given to a high school senior, even to one in special education. The special education program I was in prior to OGI was actually teaching me the material I needed to graduate. If you are a parent of a teenager 16-18 and their education is important to you and if OGI still conduct the
My son graduated the day program here and they were incredible. The team here took their time and really got through to my son. They even had an event Under the Oaks, Where they allowed my son to participate and perform during a "play". After he graduated, they sent him a little certificate for his participation. When he would do well at group, They would send him home with little gift cards as an incentive...so thoughtful! He trusted them and Never once complained about going. They even provide transportation.They really are world class! I don't know why people have so many negative reviews, but take it from a concerned parent... I was skeptical upon reading the reviews but seriously none of it is true. Yes kids are restrained if they act in a way that can hurt them And the staff must intervene and protect them. However, if your child is not acting in that manner, they would never do anything like that. My son was there for 4 months and never had a problem and believe me, he can be DIFFICULT. They really do keep the kids on task here and help them tremendously. They keep up on weekly therapy, where they engage the family. They keep up on medication. You always hope you don't have to send your kid to one of these programs. But if I ever had to do it again, Oakgrove would be our first choice.