Olive Crest is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preventing child abuse, treating and educating children in crisis, and preserving the family… One Life at a Time.®
In 1973, Dr. Don and Lois Verleur took in four teenage girls and opened their first home for children. Drawing from the olive tree in the front yard and the idea of a family crest, Olive Crest, a name symbolizing “peaceful family,” was born.
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act defines child abuse and neglect as “at a minimum, any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”
A child of any age, sex, race, religion, and socioeconomic background can fall victim to abuse and neglect. The most common forms of child abuse are physical, emotional, sexual, and mental.
Frequent exposure to highly stressful, traumatic situations — such as abuse, poverty, food insecurity, and substance abuse in the home — can result in long-lasting, negative impacts. These types of situations are called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Olive Crest was established on, and continues to honor, Biblical principles and values. Olive Crest acknowledges the existence of a Creator through whom the restoration and healing of a person’s life can be fully accomplished. Olive Crest is driven by faith and demonstrates values of truth, grace, and servanthood through our service to children and families in crisis.
Most children arrive via County Departments of Children and Family Services. As a result of family issues, some children also come to us through probation and mental health referrals, but they account for only about 10% of our population.
Our primary goal is to reunite every child with his or her family. Most of our foster children return to their birth families or extended family members. The goal for those in our Foster to Adoption program is that they will be successfully matched with a forever family and adopted. Teens in our programs are emancipated as independent adults, or move to a Transitional Housing program. Youth participating in our Family Preservation programs are not removed from their homes and remain with their biological families.
Six months. However, once a part of the Olive Crest family, you are always a part of the Olive Crest family.
Foster to Adoption: 8 years
Residential: 16 years
Family Preservation: 14 years
Education: K-12
Olive Crest believes in a public/private partnership. Currently we receive 80% reimbursement from the state to care for our children. Twenty cents on every dollar must be raised privately to cover the total cost of care. It is vital that we fundraise private dollars to remain responsive to the needs of children and families in our communities. Then when the public cannot meet the communities’ needs, Olive Crest is there with 100% private support.
Your contribution goes directly to work supporting local programs for Olive Crest’s youth and families. Every donation stays within the community where it is given.