Business Details
50 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Partner for Family Counseling in Oakland
Founded in 1976, the Carl B. Metoyer Center for Family Counseling has dedicated over four decades to strengthening families and fostering community resilience in East Oakland. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, we specialize in providing no-cost, time-limited counseling and case management services to youth aged 7-18 and their families, with a particular focus on juvenile justice-involved youth. Our culturally responsive approach integrates family counseling, truancy mediation, and crisis intervention, supported by long-standing partnerships with Alameda County Probation Department and Oakland Unified School District. Our team of licensed clinicians and trained professionals employs evidence-based practices rooted in Narrative Therapy and Social Justice principles, ensuring services are delivered with cultural sensitivity and community awareness.Through programs like the Umoja Reentry Family Unity Project, we address systemic challenges by offering restorative justice initiatives and community healing circles that support families affected by incarceration. With flexible scheduling and accessible location near public transportation, we prioritize meeting families where they are, both geographically and emotionally. Our commitment to community empowerment is reflected in our collaborative approach with local organizations and our history of securing targeted funding to expand service accessibility. As a trusted pillar in East Oakland for nearly 50 years, we continue evolving our programs to meet emerging community needs while maintaining our founding mission of providing alternatives to youth incarceration.
Services
Family Counseling
Reentry Services
Case Management
Truancy Support
Crisis Intervention
Diversion Programs
Community Healing Circles
Clinical Case Management
Restorative Justice Services
Youth Counseling
Details
- Year established: 1976
Highlights and features
- We have over 45 years of experience serving East Oakland families since 1976
- Our team includes licensed clinicians with specialized training in youth counseling
- We offer culturally responsive services tailored to community needs
- We provide crisis intervention with established community partnerships
- Our restorative justice programs support families affected by incarceration
Services
Family Counseling
Our licensed clinicians provide family counseling sessions for youth aged 7-18 and their families. Services include individual youth sessions, parent-only sessions, and full family counseling. We offer up to 12 free sessions with flexible scheduling options, including evening appointments. Our culturally sensitive approach addresses behavioral issues, truancy, and family dynamics through evidence-based therapeutic methods.
Reentry Services
The Umoja Reentry Family Unity Project supports families affected by incarceration through community healing circles. We offer three specialized programs: for formerly incarcerated parents, their adult children, and caregivers. Each 8-week program includes peer-led sessions co-facilitated by professional counselors, focusing on relationship rebuilding and reintegration challenges. Participants receive gift card incentives for completing these free, in-person courtyard sessions.
Case Management
Our case managers develop personalized plans addressing immediate needs and underlying risk factors for youth referrals. Services include system navigation assistance, resource coordination, and self-help model training. We collaborate with Oakland Unified School District and Alameda County agencies to create sustainable solutions. Case management is available as standalone support or combined with counseling services.
Crisis Intervention
We provide crisis intervention for youth placed in local receiving homes through Alameda County partnerships. Our team works to safely reunify youth with families when appropriate. Services include immediate assessment, stabilization support, and follow-up counseling. Crisis services operate alongside our regular office hours with voicemail access for after-hours emergencies.
Truancy Support
Our truancy mediation program works with Oakland Unified School District and Alameda County Truancy Mediation Program to address habitual absenteeism. Services combine family counseling with case management to identify root causes and develop attendance improvement plans. We help students avoid justice system involvement through early intervention strategies and school-family collaboration.
People
Teiahsha Bankhead
Co-Executive Director
Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in community mental health and organizational leadership. Dr. Bankhead oversees clinical operations and strategic direction for the agency's youth counseling programs.
Kelly Thompson
Co-Executive Director
MBA holder with decades of experience in nonprofit management and community development. Manages administrative operations and financial sustainability initiatives for the organization.
Jerdine Clarke
Clinical Director
Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in multicultural counseling and family systems theory. Provides direct clinical supervision and leads training initiatives for counseling staff and interns.
Kusum Crimmel
Family Counselor
Licensed Clinical Social Worker offering direct counseling services to families. Provides both individual and group therapy sessions with expertise in trauma-informed care approaches.
Joshua Wilson
Case Manager
Bachelor's degree holder in Social Work assisting families with resource navigation and systems advocacy. Coordinates community referrals and implements case management plans for youth and families.
Questions
What services do you offer for families?
We provide free family counseling, case management, truancy support, crisis intervention, and reentry services for youth aged 7-18 and their families.
Are your counseling services confidential?
Yes, all our counseling services maintain strict confidentiality with secure communication channels and private session environments.
Do you offer emergency services?
We provide crisis intervention services during regular business hours and accept voicemail messages for after-hours emergencies.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve East Oakland families but accept referrals from throughout Alameda County for our specialized youth counseling programs.
