Bay Area Community Services (BACS)

Supporting People, Supporting Community

Connections August/September 2022

Google Partnership Announcement

An illustration of four housing complexes in the Bay Area with a car and a bike in front of them. One of the buildings is under construction.

BACS is so excited to share that we are partnering with Google to prevent homelessness before it starts for 100 Oakland households – and working with UCSF to run a longitudinal study to determine the effect of cash assistance on housing stability, while also measuring the potential reduction of racial disparities in those who become homeless.

Through this partnership, we are demonstrating:

  • homelessness can be prevented before it starts
  • preventing homelessness is cost-effective
  • non-profits can rapidly implement innovative pilot programs
  • BACS data practices are consistent with validated longitudinal studies
Thank you to Google for putting funding, data, and support directly into the Bay Area community of your headquarters!

CORE Wellness Center Launch

Announcing a new resource for Sacramento community members – our CORE Wellness Centers are now open!

Every door is the right door when you come to us, so people who need assistance with housing, employment, behavioral health, food, healthcare, community-building, and more are all welcomed and will find the support they need at our neighborhood hubs.

BACS Wellness Centers are a hub for support for individuals with behavioral health challenges, who want to manage their symptoms and move forward with their lives in healthy and positive ways. Our first Wellness Center, Towne House, opened in 1969 in Oakland.

Come visit us at Sycamore Wellness Center (9333 Tech Center Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, 95826) and Cedar Wellness Center (4600 47th Street, Suite 111, Sacramento 95824) today. Willow Wellness Center coming soon.

BACS Solutions in the News

Almost everyone agrees that homelessness is an emergency – an urgent crisis that needs to be addressed for the health of our community. So what if we really invested in treating it like one?
Keep Oakland Housed was founded in 2018 with the idea that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and 3.5 years of data show that it is cheaper to prevent homelessness before it starts.
San Francisco Chronicle‘s Fixing Our City podcast takes a look. Listen today, and get involved in the solution by donating to keep your neighbors housed!

KidsBikeLane and Workday Build Bikes for Kids Exiting Homelessness

Thank you Kids Bike Lane and Workday for all your work in assembling all the bicycles for the community! We are excited to see the smiling faces of the kids who will be receiving these gifts. Cycling is important not only for getting around and being eco-friendly but also for developing a child’s balance and motor skills – and a vital skill and opportunity that kids experiencing homelessness sometimes miss out on because of bicycle affordability. Thank you again for your hard work!

Annual Staff Appreciation BBQ Returns

After 3 years, BACS held its Annual Staff Appreciation BBQ at Lake Chabot Regional Park. This was an overdue appreciation for all the hard work our teams have put in these past few years. BACS  did not shutter during COVID, we stayed open and engaged in the community! After what felt like a lifetime, we were once again reunited as a team and celebrated the hard work we have done over the past few years.

“It was so much fun!!! The games, children playing, pets, dancing, food, prizes, recognition,  and most of all the LAUGHTER that filled the air. Seeing Staff that has been around for 5yrs and more and meeting new staff was wonderful. COVID had us on shut down but we did WHATEVER IT TAKES to make this happen. We needed this REUNION!!  To the new staff, we welcome you to the BACS Family.” – Gail Clough, HCS Supervisor.

BACS Connections July 2018

First Graduate of Thunder Road under BACS Leadership!

Jeremiah is a musician, and one day will hit it big. He is making music and is our first Thunder Road graduate under BACS new management of the program!

Jeremiah graduated high school while at Thunder Road, got a job, and used the program to propel him forward! Jeremiah invited both Jamie Almanza, CEO, and Benjamin Blake, COO to his graduation. If you know of a recording artist or producer interested in meeting with Jeremiah, please email us!

Staff Appreciation BBQ

BACS celebrates our wonderful staff members each year at our Annual Staff Appreciation BBQ! This year, we celebrated the 180+ staff, and their friends, family members, and pets who help lift them up and make BACS special. Our team celebrated each other and the hard work each person has done over the last year. Shout out to Rueb’s Qin BBQ for providing the awesome food – an awesome BBQ catering company started by former BACS staff member Rueben!

BACS is fortunate to have an incredible, talented, and dedicated staff. Thank you to everyone who came!

Birthday Fundraiser for BACS

Rena Rickles, Immediate Past Chair on the BACS Board of Directors, hosted a birthday fundraiser for BACS on Facebook. BACS is so grateful to the 20 people donated, who collectively raised more than $1,000 for our Housing Fast Support Network! Happy birthday, Rena, and thank you for generously using your birthday to benefit the community.

If you want to set up a birthday fundraiser, Facebook makes it super easy. Get started here!

Program Anniversaries

BACS is celebrating the anniversaries of two of our programs: IPS Supported Employment (2013) and OPC (2011).

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.

Congratulations to both of these programs for their collective 13 years of making a difference in our community!

Employee of the Month

Jose Barrera, from the Oakland Project Connect program, won BACS’ Whatever It Takes Award this month! Jose says, “It took me a while to understand the motto: “Whatever it takes” until my manager pointed out that I was already doing it. Everyday services and client face-to-face contact made the difference. BACS does what other agencies and organizations do not do consistently, treat clients with dignity and recognize their potential at whatever stage they bring.”

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?

Micah square

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!

Currently the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation is matching all new gifts up to $50,000! This funding will go to end homelessness in the Bay Area.

Do you work for Cisco? You can donate to BACS, and the Cisco Matching Gifts program will match your gift!

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 Celebrates 10 Year Staff Anniversary

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.”
[Read more…]

BACS Connections August 2016

Board of Directors Accepting Applications

Rena Rickles, Board President
Rena Rickles, Board President

BACS is excited to announce that our Board of Directors is now accepting applications!

Our mission is to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes. BACS is the leading provider of recovery-oriented behavioral health services. We operate the largest program to end homelessness in the Bay Area, which sees more than 80% of participants go in to permanent housing. Our Senior Day Programs are the most popular and affordable option in the Bay Area, providing engaging day services for elders with memory disorders.

If you share the BACS mission, want to give back to our community, and are interested in joining the BACS Board of Directors, fill out the Board of Directors Application and return it via email to Nora Daly.

Prevention Engagement Program Celebrates 2 Years

Portrait of an Asian man.

BACS is pleased to celebrate the 2 year anniversary of BACS’ Prevention Engagement Program (PEP).

BACS opened PEP, a prevention and early intervention program, in 2014 to fill a crucial need in the community: 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.

Our PEP team has made a huge difference in Solano County. Happy anniversary, and congratulations on all your hard work! Learn more about our Prevention & Early Intervention programs here.

First Graduate from SAGE Program

SAGE Team
SAGE team in March 2016

When the Homeless Action Center referred her to BACS, Jane (pseudonym) was in the process of applying for Supplemental Securities Income (SSI). She was struggling to connect to community providers and resources, and she needed support to get the benefits she qualifies for.

Jane was independent, and had substantial family support, and was determined to get SSI and support herself independently. BACS’ Success At Generating Empowerment (SAGE) program staff worked with Jane to get her the resources she needed.

This month, Jane is celebrating getting SSI benefits because she feels that she can finally support herself, and is finally more connected to community resources.

Congratulations to Jane, and to the SAGE staff who helped her achieve this success!

Staff Appreciation BBQ Picnic

BBQ 2016

BACS hosted our 2nd Annual Staff Appreciation BBQ Picnic this month at Lake Chabot! Over 100 staff, friends, and family members of BACS spent a beautiful day in the sunshine playing lawn games, enjoying grilled goodies, and winning exciting prizes like a new iPad, massage gift cards, and a gift card to the Claremont hotel.

We announced several exciting staff programs based on feedback, including a comprehensive and ongoing training program, a tuition reimbursement program, and more.

BACS is fortunate to have an incredible, talented, and dedicated staff. Thank you to everyone who came!

The Claremont Donates to BACS

Claremont Hotel

The historic Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel, in Berkeley has made an incredibly generous donation to BACS! Rachelle Owen, Board Secretary on the BACS Board of Directors, helped connect The Claremont Club & Spa to BACS.

The Claremont Club & Spa donated nearly $10,000 worth of linens, which were delivered to our Housing Fast Support Network and our Crisis Residential Treatment facility. This donation empowers BACS to focus on our bigger goals – ending homelessness permanently, and ensuring quality care and support for everyone with behavioral health issues. Every year, BACS provides services to more than 2,000 individuals in need.

To learn more about our generous donor, the Claremont Club & Spa, a Fairmont Hotel, visit their website!

Amazon Smile

Amazon Smile

Did you know that just by shopping on Amazon, you can donate to BACS? Amazon Smile donates a portion of your purchase to your selected non-profit, and BACS is registered on Amazon Smile!

  1. Visit smile.amazon.com. Hover your mouse over the charity you currently support, and in the dialogue box, click Change Your Charity.
  2. On the next page, type Bay Area Community Services into the search bar, click search, then select BACS.
  3. Visit Amazon Smile every time you shop for the same deals and inventory, with the added bonus of donating to BACS!

If you would like a more detailed explanation of how to sign up for Amazon Smile, email us at bacs@bayareacs.org.

Employee of the Month

Soren Perry

Congratulations to our August Employee of the Month – Soren Perry, Support Counselor in BACS’ Solano County programs.

Soren is the embodiment of two BACS values, Accountability and Integrity. He has worked with our Solano programs since the beginning, and recently helped to develop and start our SHAPE program. He delivers critical, excellent services to our participants, while being a great team member who supports his colleagues.

Soren says: “I enjoy  ‘meeting clients  where they are’ and  spending time with them.   I also like to  support other staff by helping them grow in their jobs.  I sense some people have come to experience more hope and stability and that is wonderful to have been a small part of.”

Congratulations, Soren, and thank you for all you have done and continue to do to make our agency and program so strong!

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.

BACS Connections July 2016

Program Anniversaries

IPS team 2015

BACS is pleased to celebrate the two program anniversaries this month: the 5 year anniversary of Oakland Project Connect, and the 3 year anniversary of IPS Supported Employment!

Oakland Project Connect opened in 2011 to fill a crucial need in the community: outreach, housing and financial support, mental health and case management, substance use, and primary care to individuals who are homeless and have mental health issues.

BACS’ IPS program opened in 2013, providing job placement services to help individuals with complex needs find competitive, satisfying, and sustainable employment to uplift them from poverty.

To learn more about either of these programs, visit our website.

Ursula Sears Promoted

Ursula sears 2

Ursula Sears, previously a BACS Peer Counselor, has been promoted internally to Program Supervisor at BACS’ Hedco Wellness Co-Op in Hayward. For more of her story, see our special feature here.

Many congratulations to Ursula, whose promotion is well deserved. She is exemplary of the high caliber BACS staff, many of whom go on to become supervisors and managers!

 

Longest Day – Memory Care event

Staff ADC Fremont

On June 21st, Fremont ADC hosted a ‘Longest Day’ event in participation with the Alzheimer’s Association. The Alzheimer’s Association is the leader in Alzheimer’s research and valuable resources for caregivers. The idea to do an event was brought to us by one of our client’s family member who is a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s association.

Our Longest Day event was a popular Pancake Breakfast! Caregivers and clients came out for this special event. Many thanks to Craig from the Alzheimer’s Association, who spoke about caregiver stress and resources they have available to them. Our goal was to raise $500 and we exceeded that goal with online, check and cash donations.

Congratulations to Fremont Adult Day Program staff for hosting this amazing event!

BACS is Hosting a Job Fair

Latin_male_stairs_landscape

BACS is hosting a job fair! Join us for delicious food, job opportunities, and same day job offers to work for BACS!

Positions available*: Peer Counselor, Personal Services Coordinator, Program Manager, Peer Supervisor, and more!

Join us at 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland CA 94611 on August 12th, from 1:30 to 6:00 p.m.

*Clear background check and driver’s license required.

Rise and Shine at Hedco

Rise and Shine

BACS’ Hedco Wellness Center is hosting Rise and Shine, a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) every Thursday morning from 10 to 11 a.m..

In community, many of our participants live with addiction or are in recovery, which can complicate or intensify behavioral health symptoms. All BACS services are offered within the framework of ‘harm reduction’, and we are glad to partner with Mission Peaks to provide this support.

Rise and Shine is taking place at 590 B Street, Hayward, every Thursday morning. Rise and Shine is a space for participants to work on their recovery and engage in wellness.

Employee of the Month

HIP team receives award

Congratulations to our July Employee of the Month – the entire Hope Intervention Program (HIP) team!

This is a rare award, and the whole team really deserves it. The HIP team has grown tremendously in the last two years, evolving into an inspired, youth-centered, and dynamic team. The team is collaborative, culturally-responsive, diverse, and innovative, and models collective integrity.

The work the HIP team is doing has been restorative, centered in humility for our participants and one another, and has really created a program culture that is inclusive and FUN – all while working with some of the hardest-to-reach young people who are experiencing confusion and lack of belonging – coupled with challenges with family and friends, not having a home, substance use, self-harm, LGBTQI issues, and more.

Congratulations to each of the recipients, and to the whole team!

Yvonne Ying, Entrepreneur

Yvonne's goodbye party

After more than 15 years with Bay Area Community Services, Yvonne Ying has left BACS to run her own business.

Yvonne started with BACS as a temp in our Finance Department, and quickly became an integral part of our team. Her entrepreneurial spirit served her well at BACS, as we expanded our program services dramatically during her tenure, and now it will serve her well in her next step.

Yvonne’s business is California Quality Printing, whose dedication to high quality printing services help them stand out. Congratulations, Yvonne, and we will miss you!

Hope Intervention Program Hosts BBQ

TAY BBQ

This month BACS’ Hope Intervention Program (HIP) hosted a BBQ for TAY (transition aged youth) at Towne House wellness center. Our HIP team wanted to host a community-building event where TAY in Alameda County could come together and build fun relationships. Our staff facilitated activities to help the TAY step out of their comfort zones, with everything from icebreakers to a water balloon fight!

We are glad we could host such a fun and positive event, and we look forward to hosting many more, so that TAY have a safe space in the community to hang out, eat, and chill.

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.

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