Bay Area Community Services (BACS)
Supporting People, Supporting Community
We are excited to announce our Give as a Gift donation option! You can now make a gift to BACS in honor of a friend or loved one, for occasions like birthdays, holidays, memorials, or ‘just because’.
When you make your donation, you will have the option to print a card at home, have a card sent via email, or have BACS send a card signed by our Executive Director to your gift recipient.
BACS is expanding our partnership with the City of Oakland! Mayor Libby Schaaf stopped by to tour our Housing Fast Support Network (HFSN), the largest program to end homelessness in Oakland. She also announced, during a KTVU panel, our newest program, the Housing Resource Center program. Over the next few months, BACS is opening more housing programs with the City, which will target developing new housing to impact the housing crisis immediately.
You can learn more here, or if you have a room to rent in Oakland and want to make a difference, click here.
BACS is seeking an experienced, qualified construction manager for our Amber House facility in Oakland, California. We are currently partnering with Alameda County to remodel this facility, which has been and will continue to be a residential treatment facility. To find out more, read our full posting here.
BACS had a great time at Oakland Pride this year, representing our community! We were out and proud, and got to get our information to people in need. We also got to connect with some new volunteers, and were visited by a participant’s family member who shared her story about BACS’ impact on her mother.
BACS is doing whatever it takes to make a difference, and everyone is welcome at BACS.
In August, UPS hosted a job fair at BACS! The idea started when Antonio Montesinos, BACS Employment Coordinator in Downtown Oakland, helped a participant get a job at UPS. That participant, through his hard work, got promoted to Supervisor. He decided to give back by helping BACS and UPS organize this job fair, giving opportunities to people who need work. The job fair was a huge success – 15 people were hired, in one day! Thank you to UPS, to Antonio, and to the hard-working participant who keeps his community in mind, and congratulations to all those who have new jobs.
BACS’ IPS Supported Employment Program provides job placement services to help individuals with complex needs find competitive, satisfying, and sustainable employment to uplift them from poverty.
BACS recently received our IPS Fidelity Report, and BACS received 113 out of 125 possible points, which the report notes is “the highest fidelity IPS program in Alameda County.” According to the report, “BACS staff, participants, and family members spoke highly of the IPS services,” saying things like “It’s an awesome program.” Furthermore, CARF visited recently, and had zero recommendations for the IPS program. Our team is proud of the work they are doing! You can read our full announcement here.
Debra was born in New Orleans, but she has been living in the Bay Area since she was 5 years old. Debra loves Oakland, but when she became a single mother, she and her two children struggled. Eventually, Debra was struggling to make rent, and came home to an eviction notice. Without a rental agreement, she ended up living on the streets – first Arroyo Park, and eventually in a shelter. But then, Debra came to BACS for help. Debra recently moved into permanent housing, and she is thrilled. Debra says “I wanted to prove to myself that I could get back on my feet, that I could be happy. It’s because of BACS that I made it today. They blessed me with my apartment. I’m happy, and I’m glad I succeeded. All my life I never succeeded, but now I have. I graduated from BACS. Now I’m just trying to make it. I am recovering from surgery in my home, instead of on the streets.”
BACS is delighted to honor Kara Tow, with BACS’ Intensive Case Management program, as our Employee of the Month for August! Kara says “The work that we do at BACS is so important because we provide direct assistance, advocate for people’s voices to be heard, and model treatment with the dignity that all deserve to break down stigmas and barriers so that people can remain connected to the larger whole. Connection heals trauma, not isolation.” Congratulations, Kara!
Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes?
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!
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf was recently featured in a four-person panel on KTVU, including the Mayors of San Jose and Berkeley, and the San Francisco Director of Supportive Housing. She shared outcomes from the Housing Fast Support Network (HFSN), like that historically 80% of participants go on to permanent housing. And that this year, 87% of HFSN participants have found permanent housing with our dedicated staff.
Mayor Schaaf also announced our newest program, the Housing Resource Center. This program helps end homelessness by developing relationships with landlords across Oakland and Alameda County, to provide spaces for rent. BACS provides temporary rental assistance, support and mediation for both landlords and tenants, and a 24/7 hotline for emergencies. If you are interested in renting a unit while helping end homelessness, contact us at RoomsInOakland@bayareacs.org
BACS’ IPS Supported Employment Program provides job placement services to help individuals with complex needs find competitive, satisfying, and sustainable employment to uplift them from poverty.
BACS recently received our IPS Supported Employment Fidelity Report, which measures how closely BACS has followed the model to help our community. BACS received 113 out of 125 possible points, which the report notes is “the highest fidelity IPS program in Alameda County.” According to the report, “BACS staff, participants, and family members spoke highly of the IPS services,” saying things like “It’s an awesome program” and “The employment coordinators are really wonderful and I appreciate that.”
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, 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 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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes?
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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