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BACS Connections April 2021

April 6, 2021

United Against Racism

BACS staff and clients, our neighbors and family members, and the people we serve are part of the Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. The recent murders in Atlanta and the ongoing, escalating attacks in Oakland and San Francisco have brought to national attention to what, unfortunately, is not news to many right here in our community: Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are targets of hate crimes and acts of violence.

Chris Nguyen of the BACS Cultural Responsiveness Advisory Group said “What the younger generation feels growing up as children of Asian immigrants, similarly to many other cultures and immigrant families… Our native countries view us as American (Non-Native) and our home country sees us Asian (Non-Native)… Elders in our communities look at their life in this country as one of a visitor while children don’t see their own country as their native land… American history = Black History = Indigenous History = Latinx History = Asian history. Our history is very much intertwined and defines American society.”

As an organization, BACS works to integrate an explicitly anti-racist framework to our care model – bridging the gap between mental health and housing systems of care to meet the needs of the “whole person” – breaking barriers of generational poverty, racism, injustice, and violence. We are collectively heartbroken, and express our condolences and support for the AAPI members of our staff, our board, our volunteers and our community.

Strategic Plan for 2021-2023

As we set our strategic priorities, we heard from thousands of community members of their struggles – generational poverty, policing, racism, disability, injustice, and trauma.

For nearly 70 years, BACS’ mental health, housing, aging, and youth services have created a comprehensive safety net for our community. Time and again, BACS’ staff, leadership, and volunteers have heard the call of the community and responded to fill those gaps.

Systemic oppression prevents the people BACS serves from being healthy, safe, and housed. Our community is calling out for freedom – this strategic plan is our response.

Welcoming New Board Member

Please join us in welcoming Radhika Bajaria, MA, LMFT, to the BACS Board of Directors!

Radhika Bajaria, licensed Marriage and Family therapist has worked in community mental health for over 12 years in Contra Costa County and Alameda County. Radhika is passionate about community mental health and providing the best services to the most vulnerable population. Radhika is excited to join the BACS board to provide her expertise as a mental health professional and do whatever it takes to help BACS grow.

First BACS Program in the Monterey Bay Area

Bringing a whole new meaning to “Bay Area” Community Services, BACS is thrilled to announce that we are partnering with the City of Salinas and the County of Monterey to open their first housing navigation center! We anticipate opening the SHARE Center around late May.

BACS is excited to bring our strong Housing First philosophy and our determined focus on pathways to permanent housing to the Salinas community. We are grateful to all of the community advocates who made their voices heard and made this possible, as well as the City Council of Salinas and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors for their commitment to real solutions for community members experiencing homelessness.

Tipping Point Community

Tipping Point logo - Peninsula Custom Homes BACS is excited to share that we are officially part of the Tipping Point Community! Tipping Point fights poverty in the Bay Area, through targeted investments and capacity-building support. Since 2005, Tipping Point has invested nearly $300 million in housing, early childhood, education, and employment solutions – strengthening our community’s safety net.

Tipping Point Community vets organizations extensively before making an investment and evaluate performance regularly, and we are honored and inspired to have the opportunity to partner on such a significant opportunity to help break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

Thrive City on Wheels – Warriors & Kaiser Permanente

Huge shout-out to two of our major local partners, the Golden State Warriors and Kaiser Permanente, for providing hundreds of farm-fresh food bags to the people we serve!

Thrive City on Wheels is helping the farmers and farmers’ markets and the families who are struggling to access healthy local foods. This 8-week program has already helped more than 150 families just at BACS. Thank you Warriors and Kaiser Permanente!

A New Approach: Housing in San Francisco

Tipping Point is also funding BACS to establish the Shared Housing Collaborative, focused on a coordinated effort to make multi-bedroom units with shared common spaces a viable housing option for people experiencing homelessness. The project will simultaneously build the system infrastructure and help service providers adjust to this strategy to ensure successful implementation.

This model is successful, neighborhood-oriented, and keeps a high standard of living for all people. CEO Jamie Almanza said, ““BACS is thrilled to bring a shared housing and client voice/choice framework to our decades-long success of supporting communities working towards solving homelessness. We are honored to step in and help San Franciscans and community partners implement a shared housing collaborative to increase permanent housing options for our community.”

Tagged With: AAPI, antiracist, board of directors, kaiser permanente, monterey, nonprofit, nonprofit board, salinas, SHARE center, thrive, thrive city on wheels, tipping point, tipping point community, warriors, whole person care

BACS Connections June 2019

June 24, 2019

Ending Senior Homelessness in Oakland

Victor N. receives his keys to his new home in Oakland. Victor is a veteran, and became homeless in January. He lived in his car, which made his health problems worse. After being hospitalized, he came to BACS and we were able to get him into housing. #HOUSED

BACS is partnering with Kaiser Permanente to house 515 homeless seniors in Oakland. This is a transformative change to how someone goes from homelessness to housing in the Bay Area.

“This partnership with Kaiser is a game-changer. So far, we have more than 250 seniors out of encampments, off the streets, and into permanent housing. With more programs like this, we are going to end homelessness in Oakland.” – Jamie Almanza

BACS is so grateful to Kaiser Permanente for funding this initiative, and proving that with flexible investment from our community, homelessness is a problem that can be solved.

Contra Costa County Welcomes BACS

BACS housing

Due to great community need in Contra Costa County, BACS is stepping in to sustain a crucial homeless program and two mental health programs after Anka Behavioral Health discontinued its services. BACS is now provides the Don Brown Housing Fast, Nierika House, and Nevin House programs. These three programs meet BACS’ mission, and support mental health and housing for populations that BACS has worked to uplift for more than 65 years.

After a very fast process, BACS stepped into these programs in June with zero interruption of client care. BACS is honored to work with the community, partners, and County of Contra Costa. To support this work, make a sustaining donation today.

Programs Celebrate Annual Successes

This month, BACS is celebrating 3 program anniversaries!

STAIR Center in Berkeley: In 2018, BACS partnered with City of Berkeley to open the STAIR Center – and in just one year, the 87 people are off the streets in Berkeley and in permanent housing.

Rosewood Place in Vallejo: Rosewood opened in 2017, providing community-based support to supplement or replace psychiatric hospitalization. This program helps hundreds of people each year, and saves taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Full Service Partnership (FSP): BACS’ first FSP opened in 2007 as the original “whatever it takes” program – and last year, we opened 3 more programs helping people who need it most. BACS’ FSPs break mental health, housing, and community barriers that hold people back.

Achieving Incredible Goals

Robert, a participant in BACS’ Supported Employment program and regular member of our Wellness Centers, recently completed a Biotecehnology Certificate Program at Ohlone College! Robert showed extreme dedication in reaching this goal, and his proud family joined him at his graduation to celebrate his achievement in completing the course, managing his wellness, and working full time. Congratulations, Robert!

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.

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: anka, kaiser, kaiser permanente, nevin house, oakland homelessness

“We are going to end homelessness in Oakland”

June 6, 2019

BACS is partnering with Kaiser Permanente to house 515 homeless seniors in Oakland. This is a transformative change to how someone goes from homelessness to housing in the Bay Area.

“This partnership with Kaiser is a game-changer. So far, we have more than 250 seniors out of encampments, off the streets, and into permanent housing. With more programs like this, we are going to end homelessness in Oakland.” – Jamie Almanza

Thanks to Kaiser, BACS helped Victor N. end his homelessness. Victor, pictured here, receives his keys to his new home in Oakland. Victor is a veteran, and became homeless in January. He lived in his car, which made his health problems worse. After being hospitalized, he came to BACS and we were able to get him into housing. 

[Read more…]

Tagged With: homelessness, kaiser permanente

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

BACS Connections October 2016

October 25, 2016

Kaiser Permanente Awards BACS a Grant to Bring Healthy Living to Our Supported Independent Living Sites!

kaiser-permanente-logo

BACS was awarded a $20,000 Healthy Eating, Active Living grant by Kaiser for our Supported Independent Living Houses for people living with behavioral health needs!  This will enable us to invest in our housing sites with healthy activities so that the individuals living there are exposed to health and wellness.

BACS provides six affordable housing sites for adults who have behavioral health issues and are at risk of becoming homeless, and will use this grant funding to promote healthy lifestyles, including breaking the cycle of poor nutrition that many homeless individuals experience.

BACS would like to extend our gratitude for Kaiser Permanente for this grant, and for promoting healthy living for the most vulnerable members of our community.

“Power of Faith” Event

jamie-at-power-of-faith

Jamie Almanza, MBA, BACS’ Executive Director, was invited by Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson’s office to speak at the September “Power of Faith” event. This event was designed to “highlight and celebrate the work of faith-based organizations, as well as bring together faith-based organizations and community members to collaborate to amplify our collective work in the community.”

Jamie participated in a panel on homelessness and housing with our local faith-based community. On behalf of BACS, thank you Supervisor Carson for the invitation, and thank you to our very own Housing Coordinator, Mike King, for blessing the event with your presence!

Volunteers Build Garden Boxes at Woodroe Place

woodroe-volunteers

BACS would like to extend a huge “thank you” to volunteers from Beacon Health Options – Laura, Lori, Sam, Gina, Laine, and Sarah – who spent a Friday afternoon building garden boxes at Woodroe Place!

Our volunteers came and learned more about our Crisis Residential Treatment program, then made a permanent impact by starting our gardening project off right. BACS’ vision is for participants to get involved in gardening, and to use the seasonally rotated foods grown in the garden as part of cooking groups. The Beacon volunteers built 8 garden beds, and were happy to work with one of our interested participants.

Employee of the Month

BACS is delighted to honor our wonderful nursing staff by recognizing both Erin Tolva and Sunita Suman as our Employees of the Month for October!

eotm

Both Erin and Sunita were nominated by their peers to appreciate the integral role they play in our programs. Here is what our staff had to say:

Erin is such an incredible asset to our programs. She is smart, she is dedicated, and her training as a nurse is invaluable to our participants. Erin is an advocate for our participants, she works hard in the community, and she is an endless morale booster for her team members! Her hard work inspires all of us to work harder. With Erin, you can always trust that client care comes first.

Sunita embodies the spirit of Woodroe Place. She routinely responds to the needs of the house and the residents without hesitation or prompting. She is the consummate team player and has been observed to step in to support her team even outside her job duties. Sunita is the first staff to point out the strengths of the residents that we work with and she is often observed by her team to hold the hope that some of our most challenged residents will do better.  Sunita also has a very sharp sense of humor that keeps her team light on their feet!

Congratulations, Sunita and Erin!

HIP Annex Revitalization Project

annex

BACS’ Hope Intervention Program, which provides mobile outreach and crisis intervention services to youth age 16-24, is planning an artistic revitalization project for one of Towne House’s many welcoming spaces!

Volunteers will be creating a mural or another large-scale design project, and making the space perfect for youth to chill, get focused, and accomplish their goals.

If you are interested in helping with this project, call the HIP main line at 510-593-5629.

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: healthy eating active living, jamie almanza, kaiser, kaiser grant, kaiser permanente, keith carson, nonprofit jobs, power of faith, volunteers

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