Mission & Values

Our Mission

To improve social service delivery through innovative strategies in workforce development and capacity building.

Our purpose is to improve the performance and practice of social services through the delivery of evidence informed workforce development, implementation, and capacity building services.

vision

Guided by a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and equity, Bay Area Academy strives to strengthen the child welfare workforce and transform the child welfare system with trauma-informed and culturally-responsive services.

Values

  • Equity: Ensuring equitable opportunities for both counties and employees we serve. 

  • Empowerment: Empowerment of individuals and communities to make positive change in their lives and spheres of influence. 

  • Advocacy: Advocacy for our staff and those we serve. 

  • Accountability: Accountability to our staff and our partners in our efforts to provide the best services possible. 

  • Integrity: Integrity in our decision-making within the Bay Area Academy and with the services we deliver. 

  • Teaming: Teaming internally and with the counties we serve to ensure the voice and choice of children and families are integrated into case planning. 

  • Partnership: Partnership between our staff, agencies, child welfare and families. 

  • Community: Cultivating a culture of community internally and with those we serve that provides natural supports. 

  • Innovation: Innovation to bring creative, useful and effective strategies and services within BAA and to those we support. 

  • Collaboration: Collaboration through trust, mutual respect and clear and timely communication for better outcomes together. 

History

Established in 1997, the Bay Area Academy is a workforce development and intermediary organization charged with supporting the workforce learning and organizational improvement needs of public social service agencies. As one of four regional training academies for the state of California, BAA is a program housed at California State University, Fresno Foundation.

In partnership with the California Department of Social Services, the Central California Training Academy, the 12 Bay Area counties, the California Social Work Education Center and the Child and Family Policy Institute, BAA delivers an array of training, coaching, professional development and implementation support services. Learn More...

The Academy serves the following California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma.

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Commitment to Racial Equity in Child Welfare

As part of California’s child welfare workforce development and capacity-building system, Bay Area Academy strives toward increasing racial equity in the work we do. BAA's Racial Equity goal aims to mitigate bias, eliminate disproportionality and eradicate disparity of outcomes for children, youth and families in the child welfare system. BAA partners with the child welfare workforce to identify and advance behaviors that recognize, value, and respect race, culture, diversity, and inclusion. BAA welcomes the ways diversity deepens our shared understanding of the applications of our work. We celebrate and honor the strength, creativity and growth that comes from valuing and uplifting different viewpoints, backgrounds and cultures.