River Oak Center for Children

River Oak's programs have traditionally served low-income emotionally and behaviorally challenged children and youth, ages birth to 21, and their families (biological, foster, and kinship) throughout Sacramento County since 1966. With the addition of our newest program, Juvenile Justice Diversion and Treatment Program, we are able to serve transition age youth up to the age of 26 years within that program meeting specific guidelines.  The children and families have endured a variety of negative experiences such as violence, trauma, alcohol and other drug abuse, poverty, unemployment, and others that they work to overcome.  Through our services, River Oak provides hope and resiliency skills to children and youth that will improve their lives into adulthood.  River Oak's traditional focus has been on the delivery of mental health services. While this area continues to grow in numbers and programs delivered, we also acknowledge the necessity and value of prevention/education services.

River Oak's Family Resource Center focuses on child abuse/neglect prevention with families having a child aged 0-16 in the home and our Early Head Start Home Educator program focuses on families with a child 0-3 years of age.  Utilizing the two-prong approach of prevention and treatment, River Oak strives to build a healthier community.  River Oak invests heavily in bringing the most effective treatment programs with long term demonstrated results to our community.  These Evidence-Based-Programs (EBP's) help us promote lasting change to children and their families.  On a daily basis, the agency's services and supports touch the lives of over 1,100 children and their families across our service area of Sacramento County.  Children and families served reflect the diversity of Sacramento County.  To achieve meaningful progress, we recognize the current family dynamics and encourage full investment toward treatment goals for the child.  Our clients come to River Oak with multiple risk factors.  River Oak's Family and Youth Advocate Programs provide assistance, support and insight in educating families on the process of navigating through multifaceted systems of care.  Parents and youth are offered support and understanding through difficult situations by the Family Advocate team who has had personal experiences in caring for family members with complex needs. Treatment combined with family supports helps ensure the most promising outcomes.