Outreach

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 From its beginning, the Lutheran Missions were primarily focused on the education of Native American young people. The Oaks Mission as a Children's Home was established in 1926 and is located approximately 65 miles east of Tulsa, Oklahoma, just 23 miles west of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. 

Until 1977, children of the Mission were treated without regard for individual needs. The children were housed, fed, clothed, supervised, and sent to school.  Individual needs were dealt with only as they surfaced in social and mental displays.  The approach to the care of these children was "boarding school provision."

 In February 1979, the children were assessed according to:

 * Reason for intake. 

 * Observable needs by categories such as social, psychological, education, parenting, and health. From this assessment, four related sets of needs were identified: 

* Pre-delinquent:  Young children who have violated federal, state, or municipal laws and whom the juvenile workers and courts feel could better benefit from an "open" campus rather than the "closed" campus of a correctional institution.    

* In Need of Supervision:  The child who has (1) repeatedly disobeyed reasonable and lawful directions of his/her parents or legal guardian; (2) is willfully absent from home without the consent of parents or legal guardian for a substantial length of time or without intent to return.

 * Deprived:  A child who for any reason is destitute, homeless, or abandoned; or who does not have proper parental care; where there is neglect, cruelty, or depravity on the part of the parent or legal guardian; or where parent or legal guardian desires to be relieved of physical custody of the child.    

 * Boarding:  This child is placed outside his/her home because of a need of education. This is a nine-month resident who will return to his/her respective home after the completion of the school year.

CHANGE:

 In May 1980, the name of Oaks Indian Mission was changed to Oaks Indian Center. The dormitory setting was eliminated and cottage living came into effect.  These cottages are self-contained; cottage parents and their families became a part of the cottage population on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week.  The "family" as a working unit became the focus of attention.  In January 2004, the Board of Directors voted to change the name back to Oaks Indian Mission to better relate to and focus on our mission and heritage.

 In the Oaks Indian Mission logo, the three feathers represent eagle feathers, which are symbols of love, friendship, honor, bravery, and mystical powers. The feather is used in ceremonies, healing, and purification.