East Bay Agency for Children

To truly support a child, we must support their entire world. 💙 For Dr. Poonam Chokshi, working with children has always been the "center of who I am." As the daughter of immigrant parents, she grew up witnessing the quiet burdens families carry—an experience that led her to a career dedicated to building resilience in others. Today, she leads EBAC’s Intensive Behavioral Health programs, helping over 800 children and youth in Alameda County navigate trauma and find their path to success. 🔗 Read our latest feature at bit.ly/EBACYouthCare #Leadership #BehavioralHealth #TraumaInformed #MentalHealthAdvocacy #YouthCare

Big news! 🎉 We’re proud to share that EBAC has earned another 3-year accreditation from CARF International! Since 2015, we have continued to meet the highest international benchmarks for health and human services. This prestigious recognition highlights our team’s hard work in providing trauma-informed, compassionate care for children and families in our community. CARF reviewers noted that, “EBAC demonstrates a strong, mission-driven approach that guides its comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence-based treatment designed to strengthen emotional and physical health.” We couldn’t be more proud of our team! Thank you to our staff and supporters, and the families who trust in us every day. #EBAC #QualityCare #CARF #CommunityHealth #TraumaInformed #NonprofitExcellence

A statement from Center Director Shawana Booker after the uncertainty around SAMHSA funding.

We're #hiring a new Occupational Therapist in Oakland, California. Apply today or share this post with your network.

EBAC Accountant Eliane Orru has lived in the East Bay for 25 years. It’s her home. ♥️ And as a single mother, immigrant, and neighbor, she understands the real-life challenges families face. Watch the video to learn about Eliane’s heartfelt connection to our work and her passion for our afterschool program and family support services. "EBAC’s contribution to our community resonates with my own personal values. I am very proud to be part of EBAC’s team and share a culture that is supportive and indispensable to our community." We’re also very proud you’re a part of the team, Eliane. Thanks for all you do! #EastBay #CommunityFirst #EmployeeAppreciation https://lnkd.in/gF395GPP

Every day, families walk through our doors carrying the weight of food insecurity, unstable housing, immigration fears, financial strain, and the daily stressors that make it difficult to keep their children safe, healthy, and connected. And every day, our Family Resource Center teams respond with dignity, compassion, and practical support that meets families exactly where they are. Our Family Resource Centers are the beating heart of EBAC’s work. They are where early support, crisis response, and long-term stability come together. They are where we see, every day, how much possibility unfolds when families are met with care rather than judgment, and with solutions rather than barriers. But to sustain this work, and to respond swiftly as needs evolve, we rely on the generosity of our community. A gift of any size strengthens this safety net for thousands of children and caregivers who depend on it. 💙 Make your gift today at EBAC.org/donate

With looming rollbacks to SNAP and Medi-Cal, and immigrant families facing rising fear and instability, our Family Resource Centers are seeing more strain (and more courage) than ever. These centers do quiet, life-changing work: preventing crises before they begin, helping families navigate impossible systems, and offering trust in a moment when trust is hard to come by. If you care about prevention, child well-being, or strengthening communities before they reach the breaking point, we encourage you to read this piece by EBAC CEO Josh Leonard. 🔗 bit.ly/FRCLifeline Share your thoughts in the comments!

In the middle of interviewing for the East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC) CEO role years ago, it was a visit to one of our Family Resource Centers (FRCs) that changed everything for me. I saw staff who were the community- multilingual, trusted, deeply rooted- and families who viewed the center not as a program, but as a lifeline. That feels even more urgent today. With the impending roll-back of SNAP and Medi-Cal benefits, and with immigrant families navigating unprecedented fear and instability, FRCs are places where families can get help, in their language, from people they trust. I continuously hear stories that make the stakes painfully clear: CalFresh disruptions that resulted in the loss of food benefits, a young mother overwhelmed until she finds support, a family terrified of seeking services because of their immigration status. FRCs can’t prevent many of these crises. But we can help families access support and identify solutions. And on a population level, the data is unequivocal: FRCs reduce child welfare involvement, strengthen economic stability, and deliver one of the strongest returns on investment in the prevention space. But despite their impact, California does not provide sustainable public funding for them. If we are truly committed to interrupting crises before they reach foster care, hospitals, or homelessness systems, we need to invest in the spaces that keep families stable long before things fall apart. I wrote about this in more depth, including why this work changed my own career trajectory, and why the moment we’re in demands action: https://lnkd.in/gW4ZukQZ If it resonates, I’d be grateful if you’d share it.

"Grief is not simply an emotion to be 'gotten over'; it is an active process tied intrinsically to love." – Sarah Silverman, EBAC Grief & Loss Intern 💙 We are honored to feature Sarah, one of our exceptional MSW interns, who helped launch the BRIDGES Program! In this powerful blog piece, Sarah shares her unique perspective on the critical need for grief support for children and families. Sarah highlights the alarming societal misconception that children don't grieve, and the long-term mental health risks when early loss is unsupported. Learn how programs like Circle of Care and BRIDGES create safe, normalized spaces for processing loss. Read the full story at bit.ly/SarahGrief #GriefSupport #YouthMentalHealth #SocialWork #Internship #BRIDGES #CircleOfCare

We all love giving. ♥️ It’s in our bones. The core of what makes us human. When we give, we feel good — hugs, support, or the gift of time. At EBAC, we feel the gift of giving all year round. We see it in the resilience of a child accessing our School-Based Behavioral Health Services, the strength a family gains at one of our six Family Resource Centers, and the hope fostered through our Child and Family Grief & Loss Services. Your support contributes to a vital continuum of care that our dedicated staff, caregivers, volunteers, and partners create to help children and families thrive. So, this #GivingTuesday, do what lifts you up. Whether you offer a financial gift, volunteer your time, or simply share a message of hope, you are helping us deliver accessible, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant services. Thank you for giving, and thank you for being part of our EBAC community! ➡️ Make your meaningful gift today at EBAC.org/Donate #PowerOfGiving #CommunityCare #Joy #TraumaInformedCare #BuildingResiliency