Mishawaka Campus
Oaklawn provides residential programs for youth, including private-secure and staff-secure units and Child Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) placements. Oaklawn also offers diagnostic and evaluation services and an independent living group home.
The Childrens’ Campus
Oaklawn, The Children’s Campus provides residential programs for youth. Programs range from locked-secure and staff-secure to a group home, diagnostic and evaluation services as well as Child Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) placements.
Residential mental health programs in northern Indiana for youth
Some of our specialized programs include:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Intellectual Deficits/Developmental Delays
- Sexually Maladaptive (SMB)
- Substance Use
Programs are designed to support youth in developing healthy coping skills so they can return to and live successfully in their community. We have the ability to serve more than 100 youth each day, primarily between the ages of 12 and 18 at the time of referral.
Program features
Our comprehensive programs are designed to help youth grow emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Multidimensional Treatment
All treatment is highly individualized to fit the specific needs of each youth. Treatment comprises:
- Individual therapy, provided weekly
- Group therapy at least five times per week
- Family therapy as indicated by treatment need, typically two to four times per month.
Evidence-based practices
We use evidence-based practices such as:
- Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports (PBIS)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Positive Peer Culture (PPC)
- Person-Centered Treatment and Planning
- Motivational Interviewing
- The Matrix Model
Oaklawn goes a step further by offering a trauma-informed community from admission to discharge.
Medical services
We offer a full range of medical services. Oaklawn psychiatrists see youth to perform evaluations, prescribe medication and answer questions, including any questions about side effects. Nurses are on the campus throughout the day to provide medication management and address somatic complaints.
Additionally, Oaklawn has a physical health care office on-site, staffed with nurses and a board-certified pediatrician, who performs routine physicals and sees youth for acute illness.
Family engagement
We put a premium on family engagement. We know youth are more successful when families are involved in and supportive of their treatment, and when families have the opportunity to address any issues in the home that may impact the youth. Oaklawn Family Engagement Specialists help get and keep families involved throughout treatment and offer techniques that increase healthier interactions. This may include providing Oaklawn gas cards, arranging for Oaklawn transportation, locating siblings and/or parents and scheduling families to participate in events, activities, visitations and more.
Skills training and engagement
A skills trainer and care facilitator work individually with each youth to develop healthy coping skills, independent living skills, positive self-management and social skills. Furthermore, each youth benefits from vocational experiences, either through volunteer or job experience on our campus or in the community. Recreational therapy is also available. Our 12-acre campus is equipped with gyms, a baseball and soccer field, basketball and volleyball courts, as well as playground equipment.
Public school
School is provided on campus by School City of Mishawaka. Each classroom has a licensed teacher and an aide. We also have an on-site guidance counselor, administrator and a credit recovery service. Credits are transferable.
Learn more about our programs
Male Programs
- Complex mental health challenges
- Trauma-induced behaviors
- Sexually maladaptive behaviors
- Sexual addictions
- Substance use
- Runaway risk
- Suicide ideation
- Poor boundaries
- Inability to form healthy relationships
- Inability to function in school
- Involvement with court systems
- Intellectual and developmental delays
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Unsafe/unmanageable behaviors
Our programs are designed to help youth develop positive emotional and behavioral responses to everyday life. In some cases, that includes learning how to manage a mental illness.
Female Programs
- Complex mental health challenges
- Conduct disorders
- Trauma-induced behaviors
- Substance use
- Self-harming behaviors
- Sexual acting out
- Runaway risk
- Suicide ideation
- Inability to function in a school-setting
- Involvement with the court system
- Problems with authority
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Unsafe/unmanageable behaviors
Additional Program Opportunities
Group Home Referrals
In addition to providing a step down from our residential services, our male group home will accept direct referrals from area juvenile courts, Department of Education and Department of Child Services.
Diagnostic and Evaluation
Diagnostic and Evaluation 30-day assessments are available for males and females (12–18 at the time of referral). It consists of a clinical assessment, psychiatric evaluation by a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, review of records, social and emotional testing, IQ achievement, family evaluation, recreational assessment, spiritual assessment and a medical evaluation. A milieu report is provided.
Continuum of Care
Oaklawn is unique in that we are part of a larger network of Oaklawn services. This gives us the ability to provide a much stronger continuum of care and plan for success. We have access to therapists, psychiatrists, group counseling and a plethora of options in adolescent treatment. We find the ability to provide these services greatly improves the chance of success. Individualized after-care is provided in the youth’s home community.
Pastoral Care
Oaklawn’s foundation is built around the importance of treating the whole person throughout therapy; including spiritually. Youth will receive a spiritual assessment within two weeks of joining our program and will be given the opportunity to meet with our in-house chaplain throughout the program if they choose. They will also be offered the opportunity to attend religious services on and off campus.
For more information about these programs, or to make a referral, contact our Admissions Department at (574) 259-5667, ext. 222, or admissions@oaklawn.org.
Make a referral
If you would like to make a referral for a youth you are working with, call us at 574-259-5667, ext. 222 or email us at admissions@oaklawn.org
After hours referrals can be made by calling 574-533-1234.