ABOUT OAKLAWN — ELKHART CAMPUS
With four locations in northern Indiana, Oaklawn, a faith-based organization, serves individuals and families who are struggling with substance use and mental health disorders. Addiction and dual diagnosis treatments are primarily provided through an array of specialized and intensive outpatient programs, including those offered for adults and adolescents at the Elkhart campus. Additional sites in Goshen and Mishawaka offer residential treatment for acute psychiatric conditions.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Admission to one of Oaklawn’s programs begins with a clinical assessment, which clients may access by appointment or during weekly open hours at three locations, including Elkhart.
All programs utilize evidence-based treatment modalities, and several distinct therapy tracks and groups are available to address complex and specific client needs. Among the approaches applied are motivational interviewing, trauma-oriented Seeking Safety, and the Matrix Model. Clients are encouraged to participate in a 12-step community such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or Celebrate Recovery. Medication management and drug and alcohol screenings are also utilized in some treatment plans.
The Elkhart campus hosts a 14-week dual diagnosis program with two to four group sessions per week, followed by weekly meetings over a few months. A gambling addiction program is offered for clients struggling with this behavior along with chemical dependency. Other specialized programming includes an early-stage marijuana use group, a women’s-only track, and a 28-week intensive adolescent program called New Hope. Less intensive, one-on-one counseling sessions may also be scheduled.
Family participation in the recovery process is encouraged and to that end, childcare services, family therapy sessions, and a free overnight camp for children whose family members struggle with substance use are available.
Oaklawn also provides referrals to related services, coordination with court officials, and an employee assistance program. Aftercare includes ongoing drug monitoring and relapse prevention education.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Oaklawn employs more than a dozen board certified psychiatrists along with doctorate and master’s level therapists and social workers, mental health technicians, and ordained ministers. Some job descriptions on the facility’s website prioritize bilingual applicants.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Feedback received by Best-rehabs.com from four clients is mixed. Reviewers tended to represent the effectiveness of treatment as satisfactory. Three alums selected three-star ratings when polled on this question, while one awarded five out of five stars.
Secondary review sites yielded mixed and relatively nonspecific feedback. Six Google reviews had an average rating of 4.8 out of five stars, but offered limited written commentary. One reviewer wrote: “Very caring people. Wanting to help you.”[^1] On the facility’s official Facebook page, 27 ratings, which staff can vet, rate the program 3.4 out of five stars.[^2] Written reviews by alumni most frequently reflected a disorganized facility and disengaged staff.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Of the two loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com to date, one would strongly recommend the facility, and the other would not. M.O. described the staff as “amazing, trustworthy, caring and knowledgeable,” but L.H. wrote that their mother had not achieved sobriety participating in Oaklawn rehab three times.
The reviewers’ ratings backed up these assessments. The loved ones gave similar three and four star ratings for opportunities for family participation in treatment, but all other factors evaluated were split between low and high ratings. One awarded four and five stars for the quality of dual diagnosis treatment, the level of staff training and experience, the availability of choices for counseling practices, and the affordability of treatment. The other gave just one or two stars each.
WHAT STAFF SAY
While Best-rehabs.com has not yet received feedback from any Oaklawn employees, 20 Indeed reviews specific to the Elkhart Campus yielded a rating of 3.3 out of five stars.[^3] Some shared concerns, including under-staffing and inconsistency in policies.
FINANCING
Oaklawn accepts insurance and offers a sliding fee scale for qualifying clients.
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