Bay Area Community Services (BACS)

Supporting People, Supporting Community

Join Our Email List

GET HELP
Twitter icon Facebook icon Email icon
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Corporate Profile
    • Leadership
  • What We Do
    • Residential Services
      • Crisis Residential Treatment
      • Housing Fast
      • Recuperative Care
    • Intentional Care
      • Wraparound Services
      • Supported Employment
      • Wellness Hubs
    • Housing Solutions
      • Keep People Housed
      • Housing Fund
      • Project Reclamation
  • Careers
  • Ways to Give
  • News
  • Contact
  • Donate

BACS Connections March 2019

March 26, 2019

Keep Oakland Housed

In Oakland, it only costs $2,965 on average to prevent homelessness before it starts.

Keep Oakland Housed (KOH) does exactly that – supportive services, emergency financial assistance, and legal support – for people who are on the verge of losing their housing. To date, the KOH partnership has helped 761 people in under 6 months. 

The need is greater than we imagined, and KOH has received additional grant funding to serve more Oaklanders! BACS thanks Kaiser Permanente, which committed $6 million over 2 years, Crankstart, at $3 million over 3 years, donors who sponsored Mayor Schaaf’s Inaugural Dance Party benefitting KOH, and other anonymous funders. This program would not be possible without such significant community investment. Donate today to keep this program going.

Happy Anniversary: Jovan Yglecias

This month, BACS’ Director of Programs Jovan Yglecias is celebrating 5 years with BACS!

Jovan has been a leader in our behavioral health programs, helping us strengthen existing services while opening new programs to expand our reach. Jovan is an expert in clinical programming and daily operations, which he seamlessly balances with a community-oriented and participant-centered philosophy. Congratulations, Jovan, and thank you for your dedication and leadership!

Job Fair Helps Hundreds

BACS is always looking to help our participants find satisfying, sustainable employment in the community. This month, BACS, Oakland Housing Authority, Alameda County Social Services, and California Department of Rehabilitation partnered to host a job fair, which was a huge success! Over 400 job seekers and over 30 employers showed up to make connections, do on-site interviews, and get to work.

A big thank you to our IPS Supported Employment Team, as well as the volunteers and employers who made this possible!

Case Management Celebrates 26 Years

BACS is delighted to celebrate the 26 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.

Invest in Your Community

Micah square

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.

Tagged With: bay area, case management, dartmouth, employment, IPS, IPS supported employment, job fair, jovan yglecias, kaiser permanente, Oakland, oakland housing authority, the san francisco foundation

Supported Employment Program – The Model Works!

September 12, 2017

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.”

[Read more…]

Tagged With: disabilities, employment, intervention, jobs, lead center, medicaid, medicare, mental health, placement

TODAY – BACS Hosts Job Fair!

June 23, 2016

BACS’ services are always expanding, and we are recruiting! We are hosting a job fair to bring in talented staff.

TODAY, July 8th from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

345 E Travis Blvd, Fairfield, CA 94533 –  Apartment 1

Join us for delicious food, job opportunities, and same day job offers.

[Read more…]

Tagged With: employment, job fairs, jobs, mental health

Helping People with Mental Health Challenges Get Jobs Increases their Health and Happiness

April 11, 2016

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…]

Tagged With: behavioral health, dartmouth, employment, IPS, job search, mental health, supported employment

BACS Connections March 2016

March 23, 2016

BACS Opens Criminal Justice Programs

Criminal Justice Progras

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!

jeff-quote-portrait

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

Mitchell W
For more of Mitchell’s story, visit our Facebook page!

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

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

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-EOTM

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 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.

Tagged With: criminal justice, employee satisfaction, employment, non-profit, thunder road, towne house

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Subscribe to Receive BACS News

Sign up to get community news, updates, and ways to get involved delivered to your inbox.

Join Our Email List

BACS Connections Monthly Newsletter

BACS Connections September 2023

BACS Connections July 2023

BACS Connections May 2023

BACS Connections March 2023

View All Newsletters

Our Site

Site Map

Follow Us

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter:
Join Our Email List

Get in Touch

Phone: 510.613.0330

Email: bacs@bayareacs.org

Donate

Get Help

BACS is accredited by CARF, an international independent accrediting body, whose focus is on ensuring high-quality services.

© 2023 Bay Area Community Services

Site Design by KenCreative