Asperger's Support for Adolescents

Asperger's Support for Adolescents Plus (ASAP) is a social and support group for Ventura County teens and young adults with Asperger's and their parents. For more info contact: vcasap@adelphia.net.

Child Abuse Intervention, Treatment and Prevention

ASTER Foundation: Abuse Survivors Treatment and Education -646-9724
A non-profit organization working to prevent child abuse.

Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence - 654-8141
Crisis intervention, emergency shelter, support groups, anger management, counseling. Services in Spanish and English.

Ventura County Child Abuse and Neglect Protection - 654-3200
24-hour reporting line for calls about child abuse and neglect. Callers can choose to remain anonymous. Services in Spanish and English.

Child Care

Child Development Resources - 485-7878
Child care referrals, information on child care options and how to find quality child care. Information on subsidized childcare. Support and information for child care providers. Services in Spanish and English.

Smart Start - 646-1711
Full-time, part-time and after-school care for children ages 4.9-14years old. Also full-day and half-day pre-school program, free to income-eligible families. Services in Spanish and English.

Counseling and Mediation

Gladstone Counseling Center - 646-9724
Free depression screening. Through the Aster Foundation (see listing under Child Abuse), provides resources and information about services for survivors of child abuse.

Interface Children and Family Services - 800-339-9597
A social service agency providing counseling and mediation for individuals and families. Crisis counseling available. Fees based on ability to pay. Services in Spanish and English.

Jewish Family Service - 641-6565
Counseling for children, couples, families and individuals of all faiths. Fees based on a sliding scale. Free financial counseling to help with debt, credit and money issues, budgeting, and planning for the future.

Ojai Valley Community Health Center - 640-8293
Offers low-cost counseling in Spanish and English.

Ojai Unified School District - 640-4343, ext.156
Offers parent-teen mediations at Matilija Jr. High and Nordhoff High School. At Nordhoff, contact Carol Paddock at ; at Matilija Jr. High, contact Denise Thomas at - 640-4355, ext 225.

24-Hour Hotline Numbers

Anger Management Hotline - 805-656-4861

Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Hotline - (English) 805-655-1111 and (Spanish) 800-300-2181
Interface Children and Family Services - 800-339-9597
Help in finding local resources 24 hours. See website at www.icfs.org

Mental Health Crisis Team - 24-hour mobile service - 652-6627

Domestic Violence

Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence - 654-8141
Crisis intervention, emergency shelter, support groups, anger management, counseling. Services in Spanish and English.

Interface Children and Family Services - 800-339-9597
Crisis services, counseling, shelter and referrals for battered women and their children, high-risk and homeless youth and families in crisis. Fees: No fee for Crisis services. Based on ability to pay for Family Guidance Clinic services. Services in Spanish and English.

Families First Parenting Programs

Families First strengthens families of all backgrounds and life circumstances by providing parenting education and support through seminars, workshops, and consultations. They help parents build positive, rewarding and satisfying relationships with their children so that they will develop into healthy, productive and caring members of their communities. They also train professionals from diverse disciplines to enhance their capacity to support today's families. Visit www.families-first.org for further information.

Financial Assistance

HELP of Ojai's Community Assistance Program - 640-3320
Referrals to emergency shelter, emergency food, rental assistance (when funds are available), thrift store vouchers, bus and trolley tokens, applications for low-cost insurance, and applications for home rehabilitation loans for low-income residents within the City. Bilingual staff.

Health Care

Ojai Valley Community Health Center - 640-8293
Immunizations, family practice, school and sports check-ups, obstetrics and gynecology, vision, dental care. Services in Spanish and English.

Ventura County Medical Center - 652-6235

Legal Assistance

Jewish Family Service - 641-6565
Free family law and personal finance law clinic for people of all faiths.

Victim Services Program, County of Ventura, District Attorney?s Office - 654-3622
Humanizes the contact a crime victim or witness has with the criminal justice system. Various types of assistance, including obtaining restraining orders, compensation for qualified victims of violent crimes. Services in Spanish and English.

Mentoring and Internships

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ventura County - 644-6792
Provides mentors for 8-14 year-old boys and 6-14 year-old girls.

Ojai Valley Youth Foundation - 640-9555
After-school activities, community service projects, internships. Referrals to youth and family resources. See Website at www.ovyf.org

Parent Education/Support Groups for Parents and Other Caregivers

Gladstone Counseling Center - 646-9724
Active Parenting classes offered throughout the year.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group
Discussions and information-sharing for grandparents and other relatives raising children. Includes coping tools for caretakers, and ways to help children adjust. Meeting time and place subject to change.
Call Kathy Brewer for information at 646-6118 Interface Children and Family Services - 800-339-9597
Provides regularly scheduled parent education courses and support groups throughout the County. Fees based on ability to pay. Services in Spanish and English.

Kids and Families Together - 643-1446
Resource center for information and support regarding kinship and adoption concerns.

Ojai Valley Birth Resource and Family Center - 646-7559
Events, classes, and groups for pregnancy, childbirth, parenting and family issues. Services in Spanish and English.

Ojai Valley Youth Foundation - 640-9555
Offers parent education classes in the Spring for parents of teens. Scholarships available.

Step-Family Association of America - (800) 735-0329
A national non-profit organization dedicated to providing support and guidance to families with children from previous relationships. See www.saafamilies.org.

Pregnancy and Birth Resources

Ojai Valley Birth Resource and Family Center - 646-7559
Events, classes, groups for pregnancy, childbirth, parenting and family issues. Services in Spanish and English.

Ojai Pregnancy Center - 646-6830
Hotline and in-office counseling, pregnancy testing, family planning, health information and referrals, support groups.

Planned Parenthood - 658-3232
Confidential medical services for men and women, youth and adults, including health education, family planning services, testing and treatment for sexually-transmitted diseases, birth control, and menopause. Services in Spanish and English.

Recreation

Ojai Recreation Department - 646-1872
Offers a wide variety of programs, activities, classes and day camps. Check the web site for a complete listing of resources: www.ci.ojai.ca.us. Go to "recreation", and then "brochure". Scholarships available for income-eligible participants.

Residential Programs

Grizzly Youth Academy - 1-800-926-0643
Free residential program located in San Luis Obispo for 16-18 year olds who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out. See website: www.ngyp.org

Sexual Orientation

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - 646-5318
A support organization for parents and friends of lesbians and gays. Contacts: Tom and Nanette Benbrook.

Ventura County Rainbow Alliance - (805) 339-6340
Youth Empowerment Program for Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender, and questioning youth. Contact: Kim O"Neil.

Special Education, Learning and Behavioral Disorders

Ojai Unified School District, Special Education - 640-4300, ext.310
Developmental, academic and educational testing and intervention; short-term counseling and referral. Services in Spanish and English.

United Parents - 523-8558 (office)
Provides support, resources and referrals to families with children with emotional, behavioral, and mental disorders. Library, newsletter, parenting classes, respite care, in-home crisis intervention, and monthly support group meeting.
Help line available 7 AM-10 PM at (805) 523-8558, or (800) 548-6008.
Web site: www.unitedparents.org

Substance Abuse

Al-Anon Family Groups of Ventura County - 656-7110
12-Step support groups for friends and family who are struggling with a loved one?s substance abuse. Groups for children and teens, as well as groups for adults, are available in the Ojai Valley.

Alcoholics Anonymous, Central Office - 389-1444
12-Step meeting referral number that is staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

County of Ventura Behavioral Health Department, Alcohol and Drug Programs Referral Desk - 652-3283

County of Ventura Outpatient Counseling Centers - 652-6919
Treatment planning, referral and counseling for substance-abusing youth and adults and their families. Crisis counseling is available. Alcohol and drug-related information and education services available to the community. Services in Spanish and English.

Narcotics Anonymous, Central Office - 641-0451
12-Step meeting referral number that is staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ojai Valley Alano Club - 646-9187
575 W. El Roblar, Ojai?A local place to attend a variety of 12-Step meetings and get information on meeting schedules for Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Alateen, Nicotine Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Adult Children Anonymous, Compulsive Eaters Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, and Overeaters Anonymous.

Palmer Drug Abuse Program of Ventura County - 482-1265
Non-residential treatment program for teens and their families. Groups meet in various locations throughout the County. Fee based on ability to pay.

Youth Employment

Ojai Youth Employment Service - 646-4937
Job referral service for youth ages 13-24. One-on-one job readiness advising and referrals.

The C.R.E.W. - 646-5085
Paid employment for 14-21 yr-old males and females who perform vital fire protection, environmental and recreational forest services. Employees get training in leadership skills, work safety, and career opportunities in forestry and fire protection, as well as community service credit through service to the environment.

We know this is just a start of the list of resources available in Ojai and Ventura County. If you know of a resource we have missed, please email us at ovyfinfo@ovyf.org and we will add it to the list.
Thank you to all the organizations above for their service to our community.