The 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. [Read more…]
BACS Connections March 2016
BACS Opens Criminal Justice Programs
BACS is delighted to announce our new Criminal Justice programs!
BACS Criminal Justice programs serve adults age 18+ who are involved in the criminal justice system. Services assist individuals in all three phases of detention (in custody, re-entry planning, and post-release case management).
Our Criminal Justice programs make sure nobody falls through the cracks, and help prevent recidivism by connecting individuals with their community. Individuals struggle when exiting prison or jail if they lack a support system or experience poverty and/or mental health issues. BACS prevents recidivism by targeting all these issues. Our staff focus on rehabilitation through competitive employment programs, life skills development, behavioral health services, and more. We work to make sure that individuals succeed in re-entering the community, instead of re-entering the criminal justice system.
Happy Anniversary to Case Management!
BACS is pleased to celebrate the 23 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 23 years. Learn more about our Intensive Care Coordination programs here.
Thank you to everyone who makes our Intensive Care Coordination program special!
Participant Success in Wellness Co-Ops
In 2015, Mitchell W. saw a flier for the Wellness Co-Ops at a local mental health clinic, and visited Valley WC. He quickly became an active member of our community.
Mitchell started coming to get out of the house, but after a few visits, he had an epiphany. “It occurred to me then that I needed money and I wanted a job.” Mitchell thought about the support and services available to him at the Wellness Center. With support from Valley staff, Mitchell got a job!
“My advice to someone that’s looking for work is even if they put in applications and get turned down, don’t get discouraged. Just keep trying. Put in more applications!”
Congratulations, Mitchell, and thank you for sharing your story!
Happenings at Towne House
Towne House has been a hive of activity recently! In addition to our partners at the Lakehurst, our Peer Counselor, Engret Moore, has been getting out into Oakland to assist people from various local residences.
With more people are able to refine our groups and program offerings to accommodate the people participating, and there are many new peer-led activities. Towne House is a vibrant community of people supporting each other, whether over food, art, movies, housing and employment, or fulfilling our mission.
We have developed a partnership with FERC, Family Education and Resource Center, and are offering monthly support meetings for people whose loved ones are living with challenges associated with mental illness. This group meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8 PM, all are welcome to attend.
We have also begun to support participants by providing employment support in the form of collaborative discussions with one of our Employment Specialists, Jason Ortega. Jason will be facilitating check-ins with people, supporting them to strategize ways to find sustainable, competitive employment.
Towne House is partnering with City Slicker Farms to develop and expand our garden. In the coming year, you can expect the vegetable, herb and flower garden to grow, strengthening our nutrition program and teaching us all about plants and healthy eating habits.
Hope Intervention Program Success
Shaun Orrante, of BACS’ Hope Intervention Program, was recently honored by family members of one of our participants.
This individual struggled with mental health issues, and came to HIP because he wanted to recover and develop independent living skills. The entire HIP team worked together collaboratively, and Shaun went further by providing psychoeducation and referral to FERC for the parents. Ultimately this participant became connected to ongoing treatment team, psychiatry, and an independent living skills program.
Shaun says “I really enjoy working as a member of HIP. Many participants we work with, in addition to their mental health symptoms also struggle with self-esteem, independent living skills, and family relationships. One of my favorite things about HIP is that I am able to work directly with participant’s and their families in order to support them through difficult transitions. This aspect of my role was particularly significant in the work with this family.”
Great job, Shaun!
Employee of the Month
Kelly Johnson, Quality Assurance Coordinator is our Employee of the Month for March!
Kelley was nominated by her colleagues and the leadership. Many people noted her accountability to the mission and values of the organization. Her integrity for the daily operations of our vast QA system is what allows all of the thousands of services that we provide per month to get billed and for the agency to get reimbursed! Additionally, Kelly took on a major role in our recent headquarters move, and has played an integral role with grace, dedication, and a stability that allows BACS to continue its mission.
Congratulations, Kelly!
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
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.
Thunder Road Joins BACS Programs!
BACS is bringing our substantial experience and expertise to ensure continuity of a critical community program.
We are pleased to announce that Sutter Health has chosen BACS to lead Thunder Road into future success.
Thunder Road provides substance use treatment and intensive residential services to youth and their families, affecting more than 7,000 adolescents since 1987. Thunder Road, located in Oakland, makes sure nobody falls through the cracks, through intensive inpatient and outpatient services that are proven to succeed. [Read more…]
BACS Hosts Job Fair!
BACS is opening a Crisis Residential Treatment center in Solano County, so we are hosting a job fair to bring in talented staff!
Friday, March 18th from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
236 Georgia Street, Suite 101, Vallejo, CA 94590
Join us for delicious food, job opportunities, and a raffle.
Positions available*:
- RN/LVN
- Peer Counselors
- Residential Counselors
*AA or BA plus 4-6 years of social services. Clear background check and drivers license required.
Bring resumes for on-the-spot interviews & job offers!
BACS Connections February 2016
BACS launches new website!
BACS is delighted to announce the official launch of our new website.
Visit bayareacs.org for a fresh new look and user-friendly navigation, new features, and all the latest information about our crucial community services.
Learn more about how Bay Area Community Services is providing Housing Solutions to the homeless crisis, helping elders in Aging with Independence, and Modernizing Mental Health for individuals of all ages.
Happy Anniversary to Woodroe!
BACS is pleased to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of Woodroe Place as a Crisis Residential Program.
BACS opened Woodroe Place in 1996 to fill a crucial need in the community: a place to provide short-term residential services for individuals in active psychiatric distress who need support to cope and heal.
Woodroe Place is a place of refuge, and has made a difference for hundreds of people over the last 20 years. Learn more about our Crisis Residential Programs here.
Thank you to everyone who makes Woodroe Place special!
African American History Month
February is African American History Month and BACS celebrates our community and African American communities everywhere.
We honor the individuals, views, and ideas working to achieve greater racial and ethnic equality. In celebrating African American History Month, we feel it is critical to acknowledge problems that still exist.
In BACS’ homeless programs, over 80% of the population is African American, demonstrating there is still a major disparity in our nation when it comes to poverty, access to healthcare, housing, education, and more.
Executive Director Jamie Almanza says, “We need to do more — much, much more until the numbers of homeless are representative of the demographics of the general population, and ultimately eradicated entirely.” A foundational belief of our agency is to not accept homelessness as an inevitability, and to work to the ultimate betterment of our community.
Danielle Clark, BACS Peer Specialist, Speaks in Sacramento
Danielle Clark, Peer Specialist for BACS, spoke at the Commissioner’s meeting in Sacramento. Danielle was invited to speak about the barriers Transition-Aged Youth (TAY) experience when trying to actually access services that are theoretically “available” to them.I n her speech, she advocated for service providers to bring their programs to under-served communities, and spoke about how hiring more peers could decrease mental health disparities in communities of color or LGBT communities.
Danielle is passionate and knowledgeable about this topic, because she is a direct representation of the communities that certain providers refuse to serve. She says, “I have been doing this work for 5 years, and my passion lies within the TAY community and making sure that they receive and have access to the care they rightfully deserve.”
BACS is honored to have Danielle on our team, as she is a crucial part to our deep understanding of the communities we serve. Thank you, Danielle, for bringing your knowledge to BACS and to the community.
St. Andrews Tabling
St. Andrews Connect hosted a resource fair this month to provide services to the homeless living at St. Andrews Park. BACS’ Housing Fast Support Network was able to secure 6 homeless people a bed in our program today. The Housing Fast Support Network provides interim housing and rehabilitation while helping participants locate permanent homes. St. Andrews Connect and the City of Oakland thanked us for our “whatever it takes” approach today, and going out to assist those feeling ashamed to come inside the fair.
Employee of the Month
Brandy Terry, Peer Specialist, personifies the ideal employee at Bay Area Community Services. She is motivated, interested, smart, self-directed, and willing to help anybody who needs it. She is very positive, and always looks for a solution instead of a problem.
Brandy is a new employee, who has taken on many responsibilities without question. Brandy is pursuing further education in pursuit of future growth opportunities and to have a long career within the BACS family for years to come. She has the energy, the creativity, and the personality to make BACS a better place for everybody. It is a pleasure to have her as part of our agency, and we look forward to her accomplishments at BACS for a long time!
Additions to Leadership Team
Aimee Armata has joined Bay Area Community Services as our new Chief Program Officer. Benjamin Blake, who made a deep impact at BACS during his time as Chief Program Officer, has made a professional career change to BACS’ Chief Clinical Strategy Officer.
Aimee has worked in community mental health, housing, harm reduction, acute crisis and advocacy service settings in the Bay Area for over 15 years. Aimee situates clinical work as social justice intervention and prioritizes community-led, culturally responsive practices that specially address mental health, health, access and resource related cultural disparity and socially sanctioned disparities. Aimee is an advocate for youth and communities that have persistently under and inappropriately served and has worked to integrate recovery services into non-traditional mental health settings where folks are more likely to already be connected through the transformational power of choice, values and relationships.
Welcome, Aimee, and congratulations Benjamin!
Aimee Armata Speaks on Homelessness Panel
Aimee Armata, Chief Program Officer at Bay Area Community Services, joined several other nationwide experts on a Family and Youth Homelessness panel in February.
HandUp.org hosted this event to bring attention to one of the biggest challenges facing our communities. BACS was honored by the opportunity to send Aimee as our representative to speak about such a crucial issue.
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
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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