Bay Area Community Services

Supported Independent Living Program

1814 Franklin St. 4th Floor

Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 613-0330

CLIENT REFERRAL INFORMATION FOR SUPPORTED INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM

Bay Area Community Services (BACS) provides a minimally-supervised supported independent living program (SIL). This type of small group housing is designed to meet the housing support needs of emotionally disabled adults who do not require 24-hour live-in supervision.

Residents in the program live in apartments or houses (in groups of 4-6) leased or owned by BACS. The cost of the housing and all living expenses are shared by the residents in each unit. Specifically, the residents are responsible for paying the rent (which may include utilities) and the phone bill, buying and preparing food, cleaning, etc. Counseling and training in these areas are provided by staff assigned to each unit.

Essential counseling services are provided to the residents through a required weekly group meeting and individual counseling sessions. Crisis intervention services are available by BACS staff, in addition to the client's primary psychiatrist and/or therapist.

The SIL program is not suited to work with clients who are actively psychotic, excessively aggressive or current substance abusers. Therefore, the program cannot accept or work with clients who display these behaviors.

The following factors are closely examined in determining whether a client is suited for the SIL program. Prospective clients are to:

1.	Be 18 years of age, or older,

2.	Have a psychiatric disability, defined as an emotional or mental problem that:

	has interfered with the person's ability to live independently in the community,

	has lasted or is expected to last a significant period of time,

	has led the person to receive psychiatric treatment, either in an inpatient facility or an outpatient facility for a significant period of time,

3.	Be able to function within a minimally supervised setting and not require a great deal of	supervision,

4.	Maintain an ongoing involvement in a structured daytime activity (e.g., paid employment,	school, socialization center, or volunteer job, etc.),

5.	Agree to regular visits with a psychiatrist for medications or, if not taking medications, agree	to see a psychiatrist at the recommendation of staff.

6.	Take own medication with a minimum of supervision,

7.	Meet financial responsibilities to the program and roommates.

This generally means that clients have steady income (pension, SSA, SSI, wages from work)	and are able to manage their money.

8.	Demonstrate a capability to care for basic everyday needs, such as cleaning, cooking, personal hygiene, shopping, and use of public transportation,

9.	Demonstrate an ability to communicate and act socially appropriate with others.

For example, clients should be able to:

 be accepting of people from different cultural, racial and sexual backgrounds,

 have good impulse control,

 respect property and personal boundaries of others.

10.	Show personal motivation and commitment to self-development and utilization of the SIL	program. (Clients are required to attend weekly group meetings and individual meetings as	assigned by their counselor/case manager.)

11.	Prospective residents may not have any of the following:

a. current alcohol or drug abuse,

b. a history of or propensity toward destruction of property or fire setting,

c. a history of serious criminal behavior,

d. a history of or propensity toward violent behavior towards others,

e. a need for greater care and/or supervision than can be provided in a minimally-supervised

setting.