Bay Area Community Services (BACS)
Supporting People, Supporting Community
At BACS’ recent staff appreciation picnic, we celebrated Michael King’s 10 year anniversary of working with BACS!
Mike says, “My favorite thing about working for BACS is assisting individuals to overcome their circumstance by doing whatever is necessary within our means. This was particularly true in the North County Senior Homeless Program which I worked with seniors for almost 7 years.”
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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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
BACS would like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season! Our staff, Board of Directors, and families celebrated together, giving thanks for our community and supporters for our successes this year.
2015 has been an exciting year at BACS, including opening new programs in Alameda and Solano Counties, celebrating our 5-year anniversary with Jamie Almanza as Executive Director, investing in staff through major promotions, and seeing some of our best participant outcomes to date. Thank you for being a BACS supporter, and we look forward to 2016!
BACS values run deep, and two of its core values are Integrity and Accountability. As we grow and expand, looking at trends in our industry, and our deeply valued workforce, led us to conduct an Engagement Survey with our staff! Over 60% of our staff responded, and people who work for BACS noted how the agency’s commitment to participants and families run deep. Our pay and benefits are competitive, as are our work locations. Something BACS can do better: invest in more training for its staff. BACS will prioritize a direct service training and supervision program in 2016 to respond to this feedback, so that the work we do with our constituencies is done with excellence and uses evidence-based practices to achieve outcomes for the community.
Local Girl Scout troop brought the holiday spirit to BACS’ Towne House Wellness Co-Op. At the beginning of December, these generous Girl Scouts donated a holiday tree to BACS, and helped our community celebrate by decorating it.
These Girl Scouts embodied the spirit of giving this holiday season, and we are grateful to be the recipients!
Thanks, Girl Scouts, and happy holidays!
BACS has an All Star staff! Join us in honoring our Employee of the Month for December.
Claire, Peer Counselor, North County Senior Homeless Program
Claire joined BACS in 2015 with her bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, and many years of experience in peer support in Oregon residential treatment programs. Claire’s peers in North County Senior Homeless Program nominated her for this honor, describing her as an anchor to their team. She brings expertise, skills, and an amazing work ethic to the Full Service Partnership (FSP) serving homeless seniors in northern Alameda County.
Claire steps in and supports participants to get what they need with a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude. Last week, one of Claire’s participants, who is afraid of riding in cars, had a doctor appointment. Claire, in the El Nino rain, put on her helmet and biked alongside the participant to and from the appointment, so she could provide coaching and support in the most comfortable way for the participant. This is just one of many examples of how Claire embodies the BACS mission and values, and we are so proud to have her on our team!
BACS is excited to announce that we have moved headquarters! When our lease in a premium Downtown Oakland office space came to an end, BACS used this opportunity to move into an existing program space that BACS already owns. This move brings a huge potential for savings, which will go towards a longer term vision of building affordable housing and continued program expansion.
Come visit our new headquarters, at existing Towne House Wellness Center, at 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94611. Our phone number remains the same: 510.613.0330.
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. This winter, 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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