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BACS Connections October 2018

October 29, 2018

Keep Oakland Housed

Keep Oakland Housed logo

This month, BACS launched a historic new program to address the housing crisis in Oakland – by preventing homelessness before it starts. Keep Oakland Housed (KOH) will prevent Oaklanders from losing their housing through emergency financial assistance, supportive services, and legal representation.

At BACS, we receive a thousand or more calls each month from people who are on the brink of losing their housing. KOH means that BACS can answer these calls and say YES, we can help you.

KOH is a partnership between BACS, EBCLC, and Catholic Charities of the East Bay, funded by The San Francisco Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, in partnership with the City of Oakland.

If you need help, visit us online here. If you want to sustain this initiative, make a donation today!

Honoring Patrick, Peer Lead at Towne House

Towne House

BACS’ Towne House Wellness Center team wants to celebrate Patrick, Peer Lead at the wellness center. Patrick is often the first person a visitor or member to Towne House sees.

His Towne House team says “Patrick is a pure pleasure to work with. Patrick’s calm and warm demeanor is always welcomed by staff and participants a like. Any task that he is asked to complete, or assist with is done with a positive attitude and smile. We here at Towne House truly appreciate you Patrick, and we just want to say thank you!”

Start a Career with BACS

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our career opportunities on our website, and learn more about what makes BACS special.

BACS welcomes people of all backgrounds and expertise to apply. Even if you have never worked in the mental health or homeless solutions fields, but you are inspired to make a change, reach out to BACS – we have many training and entry-level positions.

BACS provides benefits and perks like: fully covered medical/dental/vision/life insurance, tuition reimbursement for loans and tuition, clinical supervision hours towards licensure, internal growth opportunities, and more! BACS also works with a wide variety of populations, and has many opportunities for learning and advancement.

Oakland ADC Program Anniversary

BACS is delighted to celebrate the anniversary of our Oakland Adult Day Center! This Memory Care program started in 1987 in Oakland, and for 21 years has been a space where elders with memory disorders can connect with others, socialize, and participate in guided activities. Our services offer respite for caregivers and families.

Thank you to everyone who makes our programs special — caregivers, staff, and the participants who come every day!

Invest in Your Community

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Our work has profound individual and community impacts. Every person that comes to BACS for help can achieve stability, move off of the streets, get a job, live safely with their mental health issue, or stay out of jail. And for each of those success stories, our community gets better. We see fewer people living on the streets or in poverty. We spend less on emergency medical services. We see less of our tax money going to prisons. Your investment in BACS, and in the people we help, transforms our community.

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 390 40th Street, Oakland, CA 94609. Make an ongoing impact by donating monthly.

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Tagged With: city of oakland, housing, keep oakland housed, libby schaaf, mayor schaaf, towne house, Wellness Center

BACS Connections March 2018

March 26, 2018

Jonathan Logan Family Foundation Grant Award

BACS is delighted to announce a historic grant from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, which awarded BACS $100,000 to support our housing & homeless solutions programs in Oakland.

Additionally, the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation has offered a $50,000 challenge grant. We need community support to help us meet this match. You can make a gift towards this goal and double your impact: donate now!

Thanks to this generous support from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, BACS will be able to support homeless individuals through our Housing Fast Support Network, ensuring they have access to all the necessities it takes to move from homelessness to housing.

Case Management Program 25 Year Anniversary

BACS is delighted to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of BACS’ Intensive Care Coordination / Case Management Program. BACS opened our Case Management program in 1993 to fill a crucial need in the community: providing psychiatric services and care coordination for people with severe behavioral health issues and trauma.

Our Intensive Care Coordination programs have made a difference for hundreds of people over the last 24 years. Learn more about our Intensive Care Coordination programs here.

Homelessness Can Happen to Anybody

Veronica has lived in the Bay Area her whole life, and raised her four children here. But when she got into a car accident and could not afford to keep her housing along with her bills, suddenly Veronica was homeless and dealing with addiction to pain medication. She came to BACS to get her life back on track – and today, she works at a hospital, has a home, and is connecting with her family.

Veronica says, “BACS helped me with employment issues. If it wasn’t for BACS, and the staff, I don’t know how I would have done it. BACS always encourages me to keep going to the next level.”

Congratulations on your successes, Veronica!

Employee of the Month

BACS is delighted to honor Marian Asu, Accountant with our Finance Team, as Employee of the Month!

Marian’s colleagues who nominated her say, “Marian is a good colleague that is easy to work with and ask for help. She always works hard and is friendly.” 

Marian’s work in the Finance Team helps keep BACS operations running smoothly! Marian says “It gladdens my heart to see our staff smile each time they leave our office. I help employees’ with petty cash and checks to pay for participants needs and other expenses. My favorite part of my job is that from the back end, I do whatever it takes to serve our staff and clients and to ensure BACS is solvent to continue the good work.”

Join Our Cause

Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes?

Micah square

Donate

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94612. Make an ongoing impact by donating monthly!

Or, donate gently used blankets, canned goods, and other items to our housing programs. Email us to learn more.

Work Here

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our job opportunities. Learn more on our website or by calling 510.613.0330.

Planned Giving

Many people leave a charitable gift in their will. Do you want to make a lifetime of impact in the community you care about? Email us to learn more!

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Tagged With: ASW, case management, donate to nonprofit, employee recognition, homeless bay area, homelessness, housing, LCSW, MSW

BACS Connections February 2018

February 27, 2018

Results Are In: Making a Difference

Each year, BACS conducts a survey of our many participants across our housing programs, behavioral health services, and community programs – and this year, our results were better than ever! This is part of BACS’ Continuous Quality Improvement process, so we can consistently tweak and improve our programs to best serve the community, Many thanks to the staff and participants who made this possible.

Thank You to Mayor Schaaf

BACS would like to extend our gratitude to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who has been an important partner. Mayor Schaaf not only donated Warriors Suite tickets for BACS to auction, benefiting our housing programs, but also visited a BACS housing program to help a participant celebrate 30 days of sobriety!

If you want to end homelessness in Oakland, you can help! If you have a room to rent, email us at RoomsInOakland@bayareacs.org. Or, you can donate to help a community member get back on their feet.

BACS Makes Major Investment in Staff

BACS is excited to celebrate our 65th anniversary as a local non-profit! BACS started in 1953 in Oakland, serving a few hundred people per year. Today, BACS serves more than 7,500 people each year, has services in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and Solano County, and has helped more than 100,000 people in the last 65 years.

This would not be possible without the dedicated, passionate, diverse staff who work every day to make a difference in our community. In recognition of their commitment and their successes, and to celebrate 65 years of doing ‘whatever it takes’, BACS is raising pay for our staff ‘on the streets’ to the top of any non-profit in the Bay Area, making a monumental and unprecedented investment in our direct care staff. This will have a long term effect on the outcomes of our programs by reducing turnover and investing in the economic development of our communities.

Black History Month at BACS

“When we think of Black History Month, we are reminded of the Black excellence that has trail blazed our current steps.  What is just as important is the cultivation of Black Future month as this is where the inventors of tomorrow will be, the change makers, the social justice warriors that will continue in the work laid before us.  Black excellence is tomorrow, it’s today, and it’s now.” – Sage Williams, Program Manager and Cultural Responsiveness Committee Chairperson

Program Anniversaries: Woodroe, FREE, FIRST, SAGE

This February, BACS is celebrating program anniversaries for four of our community programs! Woodroe Place opened in 1996, and provides short-term residential services for individuals in active psychiatric distress, in a welcoming and open environment. BACS also celebrates two of our re-entry programs: FREE opened in Alameda County in 2016, and FIRST opened in Solano County in 2016. These two programs provide care coordination for people living with severe mental health issues who are re-entering the community from jail/prison. Finally, BACS is celebrating our SAGE program, which opened in 2016 and provides coordination services for people with mental health challenges who need assistance to obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through legal advocacy.

Join Our Cause

Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes?

Micah square

Donate

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94612. Make an ongoing impact by donating monthly!

Or, donate gently used blankets, canned goods, and other items to our housing programs. Email us to learn more.

Work Here

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our job opportunities. Learn more on our website or by calling 510.613.0330.

Planned Giving

Many people leave a charitable gift in their will. Do you want to make a lifetime of impact in the community you care about? Email us to learn more!

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Tagged With: contra costa county, diverse workplace, diversity, housing, investment, job satisfaction, libby schaaf, mayor schaaf, mental health, Solano County, thunder road

BACS Connections July/August 2017

August 11, 2017

Thunder Road Joins BACS

Thunder Road

BACS is delighted to announce the official opening of Thunder Road Adolescent Treatment Center as a BACS program, as of August 1, 2017!  BACS is honored to be bringing our substantial experience and expertise to ensure continuity of a critical community program.

Thunder Road is the only program of its kind. Thunder Road helps youth with mental health and substance use issues, which can prevent lifelong issues including becoming caught in the justice system. BACS’ Thunder Road uplifts these youth.

We look forward to connecting with the dedicated Thunder Road community. If you are a supporter or Thunder Road, or someone who has been supported by Thunder Road, you can stay connected to program updates and events by emailing us.

BACS is transitioning this program from our Sutter Health partners who have run it for decades and that it needed a new home and BACS stepped up to the plate to ensure its continuity. Thunder Road, located in Oakland, has served more than 7,000 people since it began in 1987. Thunder Road makes sure nobody falls through the cracks, through intensive inpatient and outpatient services that are proven to succeed. Our BACS team is delighted to bring Thunder Road into the fold of our programs, to keep this crucial Bay Area program in operation. You can read our full announcement here.

CARF Reviews Programs

CARF, the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, visited BACS from July 24th to July 27th. BACS was delighted to host CARF at our sites, to demonstrate the quality of performance of our services, and to accept recommendations as part of our Continuous Quality Improvement process.

CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. CARF accreditation focuses on quality, results. The accreditation process applies sets of standards to service areas and business practices during an on-site survey. Accreditation, however, is an ongoing process, signaling to the public that a service provider is committed to continuously improving services, encouraging feedback, and serving the community. Accreditation also demonstrates a provider’s commitment to enhance its performance, manage its risk, and distinguish its service delivery.

They are doing a ‘deep dive’ into our programs, helping BACS achieve excellence!

BACS Annual Staff Appreciation BBQ

2017 Staff Picnic

BACS celebrates our wonderful staff members each year at our Annual Staff Appreciation BBQ! This year, 120 staff, friends, family members, and pets of BACS spent a beautiful day in the sunshine at Lake Chabot. Our team celebrated each other and the hard work each person has done over the last year. BACS is fortunate to have an incredible, talented, and dedicated staff. Thank you to everyone who came!

Michael Ward, Esq., Joins BACS Team

Michael Ward

BACS is welcoming Michael Ward, Esq., as the new Senior Director of Administration!  Michael is retiring after 22 years as an attorney, partner, and managing partner for an Oakland-based law firm where he managed all business operations including finance, IT, marketing and development, facilities, compliance, HR, and also held numerous non-profit accounts for the corporation.  Additionally, he has held board chairpersonships with sister agencies including his current role with Beyond Emancipation, prior board and advisory roles at Fred Finch Youth Center and East Bay Community Law Center.  Earlier in his career, he worked in a residential treatment facility as a rehab counselor and is very excited to step in to our agency to manage our QI and administrative functions.  Michael holds a juris doctor from UC Berkeley School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Stanford University.

Host a Party, Help BACS!

Evite

Are you hosting an event, and rather than gifts or flowers, planning to ask for donations to BACS?

Evite Donations allows you to add your favorite nonprofit organization (BACS!) to your invitation and let guests donate directly, whether they attend your event or not

When you are creating your Evite, in the event options on the right side of the screen you will see a Donations Options tab. Click it to open, then type “BACS” into the search key. Select Bay Area Community Services, Inc.

Then, guests can make charitable donations directly to BACS! If you need assistance, please email us.

 Valley Wellness Center BBQ

Valley Picnic

A pleasantly breezy 85 degree day greeted the picnic hosted by Valley Wellness Center. Valley, South County and Hedco Wellness Center communities chipped in supplies such as cakes, cookies, water, potato and macaroni salads, chips.  Hedco filled out two vans with enthusiastic members!

The charcoal grilled hot dogs were a treat.  The scratch made baked beans with left over barbecue rib meat made by Hedco’s Member of the Month Mr. V were well appreciated.  There was some football tossing before the heat wilted that idea which was when Kelly brought out her cache of water guns and a bubble machine.  Much laughter was had by all.  The afternoon of fun and play ended with Dave leading Simon Says until he ran out of moves and passed the role of Simon to member Susan.

Employee of the Month

Tamahtra

BACS is delighted to honor Tamahtra McClure, Employment Coordinator with our IPS team, as our Employee of the Month!

Tamahtra says “My favorite part of my job would be the end results for the clients that I serve. I am always so touched by watching my client growth and seeing the smile on their faces once they have obtain a job and become more independent. The tears of joy that some of my clients have shed as they didn’t think gaining employment or obtaining training was a possibility.”

Congratulations, Tamahtra, and thank you for all you do on the BACS team!

Three Program Anniversaries

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BACS is happy to celebrate the anniversaries of three of our programs: IPS Supported Employment (2013), OPC (2011), and PEP (2014).

BACS opened PEP, a prevention and early intervention program, to provide brief services for individuals exiting inpatient hospital stays, or experiencing early-stage behavioral health issues, who need support to prevent relapse and promote well-being. PEP was also BACS’ first program in Solano, and opened the door for us to provide many more services.

OPC provides outreach, housing and financial support, mental health and care management, substance use, and primary care to individuals who are homeless and have mental health issues.

IPS provides job placement services to help individuals with complex needs find competitive, satisfying, and sustainable employment to uplift them from poverty.

Employees Narcan Training

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Drug overdose was the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. last year – but it is preventable. Narcan, an FDA-approved emergency treatment for opioid overdoses, is one of the best ways to help someone who has overdosed.

BACS is committed to doing whatever it takes to help our community, and we are committed to a harm reduction approach to treatment. Our downtown Oakland program site hosted HEPPAC to do a Narcan training, so that we can help high-risk individuals. BACS’ goal is to have at least one person at each site who is trained in Narcan use, to further education around overdose prevention and to save lives.

Join Our Cause

Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes?

Micah square

Donate

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94612. Make an ongoing impact by donating monthly!

Or, donate gently used blankets, canned goods, and other items to our housing programs. Email us to learn more.

Work Here

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our job opportunities. Learn more on our website or by calling 510.613.0330.

Planned Giving

Many people leave a charitable gift in their will. Do you want to make a lifetime of impact in the community you care about? Email us to learn more!

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Tagged With: CARF, donate, generousity, homeless, homelessness, housing, nonprofit, thunder road

BACS Connections June 2016

June 27, 2016

North County Senior Homeless Program Celebrates 9 Years!

john-quote-portrait

BACS is pleased to celebrate the 9 year anniversary of BACS’ North County Senior Homeless Program (NCSHP).

BACS opened NCSHP, a full service partnership program, in 2007 to fill a crucial need in the community: outreach, housing and financial support, mental health and case management, substance use, and primary care to individuals who are homeless and have mental health issues.

Our NCSHP team has made a difference for hundreds of people over the last 9 years. Learn more about our Full Service Partnerships here.

Supported Employment Success

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Scot, a participant with BACS’ Supported Employment IPS program, has worked in customer service on and off for years, but due unstable housing he had not been able to maintain employment for longer than a few months. After expressing his interest in going back to work, he had his eyes set on working as a cart attendant. After entertaining several interviews, Scot received a call back from one of his top choices, Target.

Now, he is happily employed at his goal job – congratulations, Scot!

When asked what advice he could give a peer who is discouraged about looking for work, he answered:

“To keep looking for work and not feel discouraged. When I feel discouraged I turn to my higher power for strength and I always listen to other people’s encouragement to keep me going. I go to the Wellness Center when I feel discouraged and talk to my job coach and other staff. Don’t stumble, don’t fall down, just keep getting up like you were young!”

IPS In the News!

Charter StudentsThe Alameda County BHCS Vocational Program, in collaboration with Bay Area Community Services and other Community Organizations and supporters, recently hosted the Second Annual Northern California Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Learning Conference.  The IPS Learning Conference goal was to raise awareness and interest around the IPS Evidenced Based Practice and how meaningful employment facilitates wellness and recovery, hope and self-efficacy, for individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness.

At the conference, over 130 Agency Leaders, Staff, Consumers, Family Members and Advocates, gathered to pose intriguing questions, explore diverse opinions and experiences, challenge assumptions and share successes and struggles – In essence, to learn from one another.

The IPS Conference offered  BACS Valley Wellness Center Participant Jeff Y. to share his ‘Back to Work’ story with the audience, which included the support he receives from Valley Wellness Center Employment Coordinator Veronica Pacana.  Shortly after, numerous small group dialogues around employment began.  There were 11 thematic discussion groups;  Our very own BACS Executive Director Jamie Almanza co-facilitated the discussion of “How to Get an IPS Program Started,” while BACS IPS Vocational Program Manager Chris Llorente and Valley Wellness Center Personal Service Coordinator Linda Nguyen facilitated the topic “The Role of IPS on Mental Health Teams.”

To learn more about the Individual Placement and Support model, please visit http://www.dartmouthips.org/.   And come join the discussion!

Employee of the Month

Congratulations to our June Employee of the Month – Jimmy Mun, Support Counselor for the Care Management Program.

Jimmy MunJimmy is incredibly dedicated to his work, and always keeps a positive attitude. He improves staff morale across the agency, and in the community where he spends much of his time.

Jimmy is willing to go the distance and to take his team to the next level. Jimmy embodies compassion, professionalism, and a Whatever It Takes approach and that embodies all of the BACS values.

I recall when you first started the conversation we had about how challenging the Care Management work is and that it takes a very special person to see and create resources for the most vulnerable elders of our community out of thin air: and you excel at it!

Jimmy says “I really enjoy the ability to help people that have fallen on hard times and sometimes just need a little assistance to get back on tracks. It can be very rewarding.”

Congratulations, Jimmy, and thank you for all you have done and continue to do to make our agency and program so strong.

Join Our Cause

Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes? The community has asked us to provide more services than ever, based on need. In 2016, help us make this possible!

Donate today!

Donate

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94612.

Or, donate gently used blankets, canned goods, and other items to our housing  programs. Email us to learn more.

Work Here

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our job opportunities.

Learn more on our website or by calling 510.613.0330.

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Tagged With: employee recognition, homelessness, housing, IPS, job opportunities, job opportunity, mental health, supported employment

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