FOUR OAKS

FOUR OAKS. The history of Four Oaks in Dubuque dates to August 16, 1996 when Four Oaks in Cedar Rapids received an $80,000 state grant to help families get off welfare. The grant ensured that service to 35 Dubuque-area families would be continued. The grant was received from the Iowa Family Development and Self-Sufficiency Council which chose the Four Oaks proposal over fifteen other applications. Four Oaks was expected to begin operations in September. (1)

Originally housed at the National Guard ARMORY near the fairgrounds, the program served youths, aged 13 to 189, who had behavior problems or were considered delinquent. Charges faced by the youth ranged from vandalism; drug use mostly marijuana and methamphetamines; shoplifting; car theft; or problems at school. Teenagers were ordered by the courts into the program.

In 1997 a group had been working between April and July three days per week on community service projects at the MINES OF SPAIN STATE RECREATIONAL AREA. Their work included clearing brush, painting, and rebuilding a rock wall. The focus of the work was giving back to the community and knowing why; teaching self respect; and seeing the good side of the facility (the park) and how it was viewed by the community. (2)

The location of Four Oaks at 180 W. 15th. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

In 1999 Four Oaks unveiled the Parents as Teachers, an early childhood education program. Beginning in Missouri in 1985, the program had shown in its participants advances in problem-solving along with language and social development. Included in the program were personal home visits by certified child development specialists; group meetings for parents to share progress and concerns; periodic evaluations of the children's overall development, language, hearing and vision; and a resource network of local agencies. Each parent educator served at least five families. (3)

A support group began operations on February 27, 2003 to assist parents of children with special health needs. The group was co-founded by the Parents as Teachers education program sponsored by Four Oaks and Child Health Specialty Clinics, Iowa's state-funded and federally-funded effort to improve the health and development of children with special needs. In 2002 the program provided specialized services to 264 Dubuque-area children through local outreach clinics staffed by physicians from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Parents as Teachers offered parents the opportunity to discuss challenges of caring for children with chronic physical, developmental or emotional conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cystic fibrosis or learning disabilities. (4)

In 2011 the Iowa Department of Management notified Four Oaks that its Parents as Teachers program in Dubuque County had earned the Iowa Family Support Credential. Only six programs had previously been so designated. The Dubuque program provided family-support and parent-education services to more than 242 families annually. (5)

In 2016 Four Oaks was one of the largest private, nonprofit child welfare organizations in Iowa. The agency also worked with at-risk students from the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. (6) In addition the agency was involved with foster care and adoptive services.

The Cedar Rapids-based social services agency served over 1,000 children and families in the Dubuque area in 2018. Its Cornerstone/Families Development Self-Sufficiency program, a voluntary home visiting project with support from ALLIANT ENERGY CORPORATION, Barb's Delhi, SUNBEAM BAKERY, BISHOP'S BUFFET, Alliant Credit Union, MASONIC TEMPLE, ST. MARK COMMUNITY CENTER, and Verizon, helped low income families become self-sufficient. (7)

2020 location of Four Oaks. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

After many years of being housed in the former St. Patrick's Catholic Elementary School at 180 W. 15th St., the agency moved in 2018 to 2460 Kerper Blvd., the former home of MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES. (8) The relocation was unique because of the precedent not to have schools in an industrial area--which this was since the 1960s. (9)

In 2016 an estimated 4,400 veterans and more than 7,000 people with disabilities lived in Dubuque. The executive director of the Dubuque County Veterans Office stated that an average of 15-20 veterans each month contacted his office seeking help with rent, utilities, and other expenses. (10) The building at 180 W. 15th St. was purchased by Full Circle Communities, a non-profit, which secured funding to convert the building into an apartment complex with priority given to veterans and people with disabilities. (11)

In 2018 the new $6 million building addition to the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT resulted in students being served by HILLCREST FAMILY SERVICES and Four Oaks being brought back into the District at the ALTA VISTA CAMPUS. Rather than have one program with multiple employers, district administration chose to be the sole employer to ensure programming consistency. District officials admitted they would be giving heavy consideration for hiring to the current staff of both agencies because of their expertise. (12) The Dubuque Four Oaks school-based program ended at the end of the 2018-2019 school year with employees not hired by the District being assisted with finding other jobs within the organization or elsewhere. (13)

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Source:

1. Gwiasda, Susan B. "Linn County Agency Gets Grant for Tri-State Safety Net," Telegraph Herald, August 16, 1996, p. 1

2. Reber, Craig, "There's No "I" in Teen Work," Telegraph Herald, July 18, 1997, p. 1

3. Hogstrom, Erik, "Child Education Program Excites Organizers," Telegraph Herald, March 31, 1999, p. 2

4. Hogstrom, Erik, "Support Group to Help Parents of Special-Needs Kids," Telegraph Herald, February 4, 2003, p. 1

5. "Four Oaks Program Earns State Credential," Telegraph Herald, March 26, 2011, p. 3

6. Barton, Thomas J., "Group Plans Dubuque Housing for Disabled Vets," Telegraph Herald, October 26, 2016, p. 5

7. "Good Deed," Telegraph Herald, February 22, 2011, p. 13

8. Hinga, Allie, "Four Oaks Building to Become Apartments," Telegraph Herald, September 20, 2018, p. 1A

9. Jacobson, Ben, "Four Oaks Officials Consider Move to Kerper," Telegraph Herald, March 3, 2018, p. 5

10. Barton

11. Hinga

12. Hinga, Allie, "District Won't Contract for Staff at Alta Vista Addition," Telegraph Herald, April 7, 2018, p. 5

13. Hinga, Allie, "Dubuque Property Taxes Will Rise," Telegraph Herald', April 9, 2019, p. 1