Four Oaks Bertram – Cedar Rapids

Parents, don't get fooled by the caring logo and staff that talk to you kind on the phone. 4 oaks was worse than detention when I got placed in one of the south oaks houses. Most staff are unprofessional and entitled to… their authority over us. There have been staff complaining about the job and the "clients" (as they call the kids) in the open for the kids to hear, they give consequence papers out based on assumptions a lot of the time, and staff argue with kids like they are alright to do that. I have heard them say "girl, bye," and "Thats why nobody likes you." I understand that a lot of the kids, especially the girls in the houses can be challenging, but if they're muture enough to teach us to stop being bratty, then why don't they teach themselfs. We get absolutely shit on for the most minor and sometimes even nonexistent things, and the consequence papers are often vary defeating. I will honestly say one of my worst memory from the program was when the "head of the houses" kenna strolled into our house bearing bad news as always and started insulting and threatening to take home visits away from us. I was informed the next day by my provided case worker that kenna's power to take home visits has to go through her first. Other things about 4oaks that I think are wild is that meal replacements (like if you're are a vegetarian or don't eat pork or something) can only be javed on the weekends, meaning that we have to eat what was made. But whatever thats not even the first part, the rule is thay if you're didn't eat what was for dinner then your won't get a snack at snack time. and that place give you small portions of means too. HUNGRY EVERYDAY. also, a lot of my staff is lists and the don't bother to try to find or or help me.I will be honest though, I feel like after this program I matured and improved myself a lot, but that's the keyword, I (i🫢) improved MYSELF. this place really taught me how to control my anger and not hate my self, but I did that because that place literally made me so mad and I started to hate myself. i would sit in my room and learned how to keep it in and push it away' which I don't think thats healthy for kids nor should they ever go here.

When I was 16 I was sent court ordered to a facility for behaviors. That place was extremely strict and for a blurt out without being called on for raising our hands would be a 2 page paper on how not to blurt out again… and if they didn’t like the paper they would make you write it again and sit in a seat facing the wall wouldn’t let you interact with anybody and made you eat alone during meal times. Very isolated I would look in the mirror and tell myself I got this I can do this. The smallest thing would make you fail your week and sometimes they would ask me to take accountability for stuff I did or said and I remember one time I had NO IDEA what I said. It was something stupid and that shouldn’t have been in trouble for. Then I didn’t want to exercise so Ms Bailey told me that if I didn’t I could go in the seclusion room which is very mentally abusive and then the higher up stood there and laughed in my face as I was entirely upset about the situation. Just because individuals have problems doesn’t give a right to mistreat and verbally abuse children. Instead of causing pain for actions that peers have done a kind gesture or positive conversation would have been all to correct the behavior. To know you have the support to help guide a person to be a better version of themselves. To feel trapped isolated and feel like I was walking on eggshells for ANYTHING is not the right way to change a persons way of thinking. I feel like I would have benefited more if I felt the team were on my side instead of picking out ridiculous reasonings behind punishments. I also heard this place was closed it was in that mental health institution where they rented off sections. I’m 29 now and I’m doing well for myself yes I feel it did help me but I feel like the real help was myself a person will change if they want to. There are good and bad people in this world I don’t wish a person to ever feel alone like that again. Cause and effect

Having the pleasure of dealing with FourOaks recently and each person I have spoke with is kind, professional and very helpful. A special thank you to M.Tate, Thank you for everything you're doing for me and many others.

I was a client here and I do NOT recommend you send your child here it will make them come out worse then before and let me tell you why. I was poorly treated by the staff and the staff had threatened me multiple times… that they would punch/beat me up, they get all up in your face cussing and yelling at you when you don’t do what they say. They have a habit of “favorites” with the other clients so if a client were to bully you and you told on them they wouldn’t do anything or yell at you, but if you were do say something back to the client you would get shut down meaning you don’t have other privileges that the other clients do. I saw staff pull/punch and slap other clients too. I recommend you put your child in therapy or find other solutions other than this program it is horrible.

Absolutely horrible place ! No safety for the kids staff watch them leave hang up on parents and are very under educated

Not bad staff,some were nice and all staff are my favorite. They teached me to be a better person.and the food had bugs so that's why I said 4 stars,but other than that good experience for me

I am still a kid but let me share my story, I was sent here at the age of 8 years old. They were terrible a staff member Ivan one day got mad at me grabbed me by my shirt and shoved me against the wall face first and… kept rubbing my face against the wall back and forth non stop eventually he stopped but he dragged me to a room tiny room concrete floor no door handle on the inside they could have locked me in there if they wanted. Finally I got to call my dad I begged him to take me back but I was to scared to tell him what they did to me day after day I begged him to please take me back but the staff told me if I told him to take me back one more time they were gonna revoke my call privileges and never able to call them again. It was terrible please please don’t send your child here just try therapy and give it some time. The staff suck Ivan and some others took us to adventure land because a kid was leaving but Ivan started smoking to “relieve stress”. I am still traumatized from this place. DO NOT SEND YOUR KID HERE!!!

I was a client as a child for autism in both an after school program and therapy through four oaks and this place has left me with more damage than what i came in with. I think about the hellish ideas they tried to… force on me and the lack of care when being harassed by other people in the autism groups and it was awful. Made my ability to socialize much more complicated and made it harder to make friends. I dont recommend going here at all for any autism related help. Especially after school groups.y life would have been better if i never stepped foot here. My therapist ignored my other mental health concerns and treated with meds i didnt need in third grade. This place left an awful ever lasting scar on my wellbeing. I dont recommend this place to anyone.

This place is a joke

Employees poorly treated and lied too

My daughter was placed here by a worker employed by the linn county department of human services. She went behind my back to obtain a certificate of need from a psychiatrist who had very little knowledge or interaction… with my daughter. During her stay there were multiple incidences of her being refused to call me as a form of punishment. Although it was in her treatment plan to have her call me to help deescalate my child. They would often not answer my calls or return them for that matter. Because the department was involved I was treated as though I was not her mother and my opinion was not important. My daughter was also treated as more of a inmate then a mentally ill child. The psychiatrist on staff placed her on medications that did not help. This place is allowed to practice restraints as a form of subduing it's patients. Upon release and to this day its not uncommon for my daughter to ask for permission to use the bathroom, get something to eat or even a drink. It's ridiculous these are basic human rights. Nobody especially a child should have to ask permission for such things. This place needs to be shut down.

Friendly

An amazing organisation

They helped me so much

Need more experienced staff

Very opened and helpful with my children....

Best place on Earth Give or Take

Bad

They took care of my grandma. She died in a lovely safe place with people surrounding her taking care of her and dropping down to the ground to support her needs. Loves this place 10/10 great place really recommend it!

I went here when I was ages 15-17... The staff here really do genuinely care about their clients well-being and they will make sure your child is safe at all times. The programs they have are very well structured to… make sure your child grows into a bright, and functional member of society. Please call and they will make sure you and your child are taken care of.

Working magic for us