An Overview
OjaiCARES is a 501c3 non-profit and the only community-based organization that provides comprehensive cancer support services to people in the Ojai Valley touched by cancer as well as their family and caregivers since 2013. All services are free of charge, non-medical and include patient navigation, patient advocacy, counseling, support groups, oncology massage, Reiki, guided imagery, acupuncture, lymphatic drainage, and outreach to the Hispanic community through our Promotora program.
No matter where a patient is in their cancer journey, the first step is to become more informed and feel more empowered to adjust to their diagnosis. Ideally, the patient will face cancer with the support of many friends, loved ones and compassionate caregivers. Too often, however, people experience cancer in isolation without financial or emotional support and few resources at their disposal. Increasing information and psycho-social care, while reducing miscommunication, vulnerability and, therefore, stress, have been shown to improve the outcomes of an individual with a cancer diagnosis. Therefore, no matter what the circumstances or where one is along the path of their cancer journey, having good skills to negotiate and communicate one’s needs are critical for self-advocacy. We aim to provide these.
Local Partners
There is no cancer care in the Ojai Valley. As a result, OjaiCARES has referral relationships with many local and regional providers, including Community Memorial Hospital and Cabrillo Radiation Oncology Center in Ventura and Cottage Hospital, Sansum Clinic and Ridley Tree Cancer Center in Santa Barbara. We also work with medical providers farther afield, such as The UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, depending upon the needs of our clients. In addition, we have referral relationships with doctors, hospice agencies, HELP of Ojai, Gold Coast Transit, mental health counselors, and chaplains.