Olive Crest

I was excited to join a team of people dedicated in bringing educational opportunities to underprivileged, at-​risk, transitional adolescents. However, I became gravely disappointed by the staff’s approach to the group of adolescents they «cater» to. First, their measures to «control» and stimulate student’s compliance with school rules was through violence. Several times, I would witness them contain an outbreak in a violent manner when it could have been avoided. For me, shoving a student into the «cool down» room or shoving them against the wall is a petty way of containing outbreaks. The teachers, all but one, were a joke. For example, their math class was taught through assignment sheets with no instruction. I asked one of the students if he needed help and he said «yes». The 17 year old adolescent had very little math skills and when raising this issue to the staff, they snarled. Another student had a difficult time with reading comprehension. Again, I addressed the student’s academic needs and I was looked down upon. Haven’t statistics proven a decrease in a student’s violent behavior with proper instruction, attention, care, and compassion? Apparently, for Olive Crest this fact is not cost effective.
A student’s behavioral history obstructed the staff’s perception and jeopardized a student’s chance in constructing a life free of violence and academic achievements. At-​risk youth, mentally ill youth, and transitional youth deserve stereotype-​free educational opportunities!

I just saw a review with from Karen J and I was appalled. Her story seems so far fetched. Clearly someone never dealt directly with DCFS before. OC is God Sent compared to the alternative, trust me we went through both paths. Also you cannot be forced to take a child that you are not comfortable taking. This process does not allow you to be complacent, so I am surprised they gave you no support. Seconds after I voiced a concerns about my foster child they called me no later than 24 hours, unlike DCFS where you can’t even leave a voice message.
Also as for taking time to be matched, OC is a child pumping machine. They are at the mercy of DCFS to provide available children. I have friends going through directly with DCFS with absolutely no restrictions (willing to take 4 kids at the same time) and they are still waiting to be matched… a year later.
I have met many employees of this agency and I am proud to be an Olive Crest Family. This is the best decision we have ever made. Our foster child has gone home to her family but we will work with OC to find our newest addition. This process is far from easy, and it will really test your boundaries. But the reward is immense.
I thank God everyday that we found this agency. This experience is rewarding as you let it. You have to take the «poor me» attitude out the window. You have to go in not knowing what is ahead. They can give you general legal timeline but they are just as unsure, just like DCFS would. You get no guarantee and you do need to let go in order to have a successful experience. She really should speak to other Foster Moms and Dads who has gotten through it. Clearly she is very new to this with very misguided expectation. Or she is just frustrated. We all can get frustrated, but she should direct her frustration to a right direction.
Despite our current loss, I am firm in my belief that they will lead to our child. You just always have to remember that all the unpleasant experience is part of the deal. You signed up for it. You just need to sit back and go with the flow. What’s the alternative?
Good luck and hopefully your journey is fruitful.
Olive Crest you rock! My family and I are eternally grateful!!!

My husband and I started our foster-​to-​adopt process in March and just completed our certification a few weeks ago. We have been so blessed by Olive Crest Orange County and are looking forward to the next steps and meeting our kiddos. Diane Gomez was AMAZING in getting us started and through the certification process. She answered EVERY question I had along the way (and I had a ton) and had great suggestions for us along the way also. Our Case worker, Kathrine and every other person we have encountered has been great as well! Again SO incredibly helpful and on our side through the process! They really care about their families and their kiddos as well.
When we started to look into this process we were deciding between a few different agencies and we are so glad God put Olive Crest on our hearts as the organization for us. Excited to continue our journey with the amazing team at Olive Crest Orange County!

We just completed our foster/​adoption certification with Olive Crest after 14 months. The delays were due to our own issues & not the fault of Olive Crest. We could have easily completed the process in about 9 months if we didn’t have a number of unrelated delays.
Olive Crest staff have been so supportive, kind & helpful. They were very patient with us, delay after delay. Each person that we’ve been in contact with, whether in person or over the phone, were so wonderful.
We look forward to the children that we’ll be matched up with. No matter how long or how short their stay, we know our lives will forever be changed by each & every one of them. So glad we went through Olive Crest instead of directly through OC Social Services!

I signed up with Olive Crest through the recommendation of a friend who had a good experience with them. What a mistake!
The social workers seem completely clueless as to the process of fostering. They took a long time to match me, and the profile for the child I wanted was very broad. If I did searches for a child and asked them to check into it, they would never respond with any feedback. When they did finally find a match, they provided no insight into the legal process, often not knowing what would come next, or what questions to ask or when to follow up. The county is not always truthful or forthcoming, and Olive Crest had no clue how to deal with them.
They forced a child on me that I had serious misgivings about. When I took that child in, the child had a lot of issues that were never mentioned. I tried to seek help for the child through a therapist or assessment, they blew off all my concerns. That child was exhibiting serious problems, and not just transition issues. No one at Olive Crest ever wrote down my concerns, they treated me like I didn’t know what I was talking about and insisted all the child’s problems would go away if I just kept going. They offer no help at all. It felt criminal to try to explain to someone the problems a child is having and that person is ignoring you and refusing to help.
I’ve spoken to other foster agencies since and they were shocked at the way Olive Crest handled the situation and insisted that is not commonplace and they were completely incompetent. I would not recommend this agency to anyone.

Two loving, giggling, sweet little brothers came into our lives a year ago, and my husband and I are forever changed! We are a month away from legally adopting them, and it’s been a privilege to be their parents and see the changes in their lives as they’ve settled in and understood that we will be a forever home for them!
We’ve had an amazing experience with foster adoption, and we’re indebted to Olive Crest for their loving support and guidance throughout this process! From the initial preparation and training needed to become certified, to the counseling and guidance as we received our children, and the ongoing support and resources throughout this year as we’ve fostered the kids, we’ve been blessed! Our case manager has been just a phone call away, and she’s genuinely happy to help in any way possible to ensure that we, and the kids, are supported. In fact, all of the individuals that we’ve been in contact with at Olive Crest are genuinely concerned about the welfare of the kids, and helpful in practical ways. Both in the San Diego County and the Orange County offices, we’ve been impressed with the professional way that their offices are run, and also the supportive community of Olive Crest families that they’ve developed. They truly feel like family because they care so deeply for our children!
We highly recommend Olive Crest to any families considering fostering or foster adoption! You will be well prepared, and supported, and you will be joining a community and a family!

Having worked as a social worker myself with counties and a foster family recruiter with many different foster family agencies Olive Crest was my 1^st choice when I decided to become a foster adoptive parent myself. We fostered a sibling set of 4 kids after learning they would be separated from each other if someone didn’t step up. This was a huge change for us! We were supported every step of the way. Our case manager was always available ²⁴⁄₇ to support us and tell us any updates. She always told us the truth even if it was hard to hear. After having the 4 kids for a little under a year they went back to their mom. This was a very positive event even if we felt sad about them not being with us anymore. God knew what he was doing though because shortly after we were called about 3 kids who were adoptable. These 3 kiddo’s chose us to be their parents as much as we choose them to be our kids, we love being called mom and dad! We know that in the future there may be issues that come up and concerns. We are happy to know that Olive Crest will be by our side and available for us during those times.
Olive Crest is a Foster Family Agency that is no cost to foster/​adoptive parents. They have an amazing and personal touch to helping find families take in abused and neglected children who need love and support. Their process to become certified to have children in your home is easy and can take 6 – 9 months on average. You don’t need to be rich to be able to foster/​adopt, just pay for your own bills and have the space in your home and heart.
There are so many foster kids out there who deserve a chance to have a family… if it only be for a few months or for forever. Become and Olive Crest Foster Family and know that you have all the support and tools to be the best family you can be!

Um, I believe Jennifer H. was reviewing a different Olive Crest in WA: 515 116^th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98 004. She doesn’t even live in California.
The Olive Crest in Santa Ana is PHENOMENAL!!! We became fost-​adopt parents about 5 years ago and have had excellent support from Olive Crest. All of our case managers have shown true concern for our family and the welfare of our foster children. While we haven’t adopted a child yet, all of our short and long-​term foster children have received the all the services they needed.
If I ever need anything, I can call my current case manager. I have access to their cell phone numbers and can call or text a message. All of my e-​mails are answered promptly. All of the people I’ve worked with in the foster department have made themselves so available and make me feel like I can go to them with any problem.
Our most recent foster case manager was Cathie F., who visited our house almost every week for 2.5 years. She stayed on with our teenage foster daughter’s case to give her long-​term support even though she moved to a different position in the agency. I appreciate Cathie so much for all of her compassion, work, and advice she provided.
Janelle O. is one of the directors who has recently retired from most of her duties. I was SO SAD to hear that! We still see her every now and then at various events and she always has words of encouragement to say and a sincere hug to give. When even the people at the top reach out to call you on the phone to hold your hand, and pray for you in times of crisis, that is what I call true commitment and love for the foster families and foster children. Thank you, Janelle!
My husband and I love our Olive Crest family and are blessed by all they do. You will not regret considering Olive Crest as your foster family agency!

We were using this agency to foster to adopt. We told them from the start we wanted to deal with legally free kids only. They led us to believe that they could help. Later on i was told they didn’t know where to look for legally free kids, which was hard for me to believe since they work with the foster care system. I found legally free kids on my own, sent the information to my worker at the agency. It took forever to hear any thing back about a child if at all, most of the time i had to contact and submit my home-​study directly to the child’s worker. We did take in one child for a short period of time but it didn’t work out, due in part by how we were treated by this place.
Heres a list of things that bothered me a great deal about this place
1. Did not return phone calls or emails in a timely fashion
2.First time i ever talked to my case worker she told me not to call her after hours (not that i would any way) in a very rude tone
3. They made us feel that we had to choose between our child and our foster child.
4. Never got any conformation from them about my husbands background check. That was done over a year ago and still nothing.
5. We asked for family counseling to help every one in the home understand each other better (while we had a foster child) never got it.
6. Our concerns for the foster child and the childs well being were over looked, we felt we were not being heard. Also they down played how the foster childs behavior affected our bio child.
This list could go on and on but these are just my top concerns with this place. If your just wanting to foster this place may work for you. However if you have plans to find a legally free child and want to adopt this place will not be of any help.