Grantee Spotlight: Center for Human Services Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center
In 1970, a group of dedicated community leaders came together to open Head Rest, a drop-in center for young adults struggling with drug abuse. What started as a small organization with just one staff member and a handful of volunteers has now grown into Center for Human Services (CHS), with multiple programs and over 300 employees. For the past 55 years, CHS has provided access to treatment, prevention, education, counseling, and shelter programs to the most vulnerable members of our community.
Center for Human Services is well known for its mental health services, Student Assistance Program, and substance use treatment. They also operate the Youth Navigation Center, which provides shelter and other services to unhoused youth and young adults aged 13 to 25. A majority of these programs are offered at their main campus located in Modesto. Realizing that transportation to and from Modesto was difficult for residents of the more rural communities in our county, CHS established Family Resource Centers in Ceres, Patterson, Newman, and Oakdale to better connect them to essential resources.
The Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center (OFRC) opened its doors in 2010 and primarily serves families living in Oakdale, Riverbank, and Knights Ferry. Currently, the center offers concrete support (such as utility and rental assistance), monthly food giveaways, a clothing pantry, and multiple educational classes and workshops for both parents and children. These are just some of the many resources provided at OFRC that help to stabilize families by addressing hardships before they become a larger issue.
For the past five years, Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF) has directed support to OFRC through a regranting partnership with Sacramento Region Community Foundation (SRCF). The funding originates from the Francis Noz Fund, an endowed fund set up to support underserved youth in Oakdale. The grant allows the Oakland Family Resource and Counseling Center to distribute $500 gift cards to families with children who live in Oakdale. Unlike many assistance programs, these gift cards come without restrictions. Families have used them to pay bills and buy groceries, celebrate birthdays, or go on a family adventure. Juleeann Fisher, OFRC Program Manager, shared, “It’s just so heartwarming, the difference these gift cards can make in a family’s life.”
For many Oakdale families, these gift cards are the first steppingstone to receiving additional services from the team at the Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center. The Francis Noz Fund has created a lasting impact in our community by providing ongoing and reliable funding that can address the needs of families now and for generations to come.
To learn more about OFRC, visit their Facebook page and the CHS website.