CA COVID-19 Rent Relief will help income-eligible households pay rent and utilities, both for past due and future payments for tenants and landlords. The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 provides funding to support the program and tenant (renter) protection laws signed by Governor Newsom. Click here to learn more.
We have come upon a year since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. When Allen Temple Baptist Church (ATBC) had its service on Sunday, March 15, 2020, we had absolutely no idea it was going to be the last service for a year plus. And even though we have not all sat together fellowshipping in the pews since that day, we still have managed to nurture a sense of community and hope among our ATBC family which we pray has extended to your own personal families.
Hear from some of the voices of Bethsaida Counseling Services Core Team Members:
“This past year as a result of the pandemic, the African American community and specifically, families have experienced tremendous challenges on many levels. These challenges were culturally, financially, physical, psychological and, spiritually. Despite it all, it is my hope that African American families can still find joy AND gratitude even in a time like this.”~Debra F. Richardson, MSW, LCSW
“The national Black History Month 2021 theme was “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity”. Family is the backbone of a community for the two are interchangeable where it provides a place of belonging. We are family and we face everything that the world throws at us daily. That unity keeps our focus on the hope of a better future.”
~Derrick E Felton, MSW, MPA, MBA
“Families are more likely to be resilient in times of stress when they have strong social and community connections. Focusing on protective factors has proven to be more productive because they are positive attributes that strengthen all families. Risk factors only focus on characteristics that are associated with a higher likelihood of negative outcomes. Promoting protective factors help families build on strengths they already have and empower them to identify the best strategies to help enhance problem solving. Here are a few examples of protective factors: being nurturing and supportive; building a close bond with family and community members; being good at listening or communicating needs; having access to resources (financial, housing, and other concrete resources & community services) that can help meet basic needs.”
~La Tronda Lumpkins, MSW, MBA
During this time, Bethsaida Counseling Services wishes you and your family joy, encourages you to practice gratitude and in unity maintain hope while continuing in the spirit of resiliency. Together, as a strong family and with God’s help, we can and will come out of this victorious.
~Ricka L. White-Soso, MSW, LCSW, BIP, CEAT
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Know that we continue to be here to help by offering information and referral, consultation, education, trainings, and workshops. Psychotherapy and counseling sessions are not available through Bethsaida Counseling Services currently. As has been shared, development of a strong infrastructure needed to offer these services are ongoing and takes time. The ATBC community and its surrounding community will be informed once psychotherapy and counseling sessions have returned to our menu of services. If you are interested in our assistance, contact us at (510) 544-8945 or by email at bethsaida@allen-temple.org Our Clinical Coordinator/Director, Sister Ricka L. White-Soso, MSW, LCSW, BIP, CEAT will manage and triage your request.
Allen Temple’s K-12 Education Ministry is continuing its’ partnership with UC Berkeley's KDSAP to provide FREE tutorial sessions for 1st - 12th grade students.
Students can receive tutoring on Thursdays from 4pm to 5:30pm. Parents/Guardians can click here to register their students
For more information, please contact Brother Brian White at bwhite@allen-temple.org
We are grateful for our own Dr. Tasha Dean, who has compiled this informative list of resources to support Distance Learning and Black History! Click here to download!
Bethsaida Counseling Center is honored to share information on SafeSpace — a Mental Health Resource for Youth.
SafeSpace is a a mental health advocacy nonprofit working to change the conversation around mental health that reaches over 50,000 students. In a storytelling format. SafeSpace stories features youth mental health stories and insights from mental health experts. SafeSpace aims to remind youth that they are never alone in what they are going through and give them advice from those who have faced similar struggles or are professionals.
You can find the podcast HERE on Apple Podcast, HERE on Spotify, and learn more about it HERE on their website.
The Alameda County Department of Public Health has prepared information on COVID-19 vaccination tiers. Click here to read the press release. To learn more and register to receive information as to when you will be eligible to receive a vaccination, click here
Welcome to 2021!
With all of the challenges 2020 brought us, we made it! To God be the Glory!!! Bethsaida Counseling Services encourages everyone to maintain self-care and embrace thinking about this pandemic which has attacked our whole being in a different way. While we follow the CDC guidelines and the most current stay at home order, consider starting a Gratitude Practice. Instead of focusing on what we do not have and what we cannot do, let us thank God for what we do have and what we can do.
Bethsaida Counseling Services continues to be available to all Allen Temple Baptist Church ministries, members and the community to provide information and referral, consultation, education, training and workshops. In 2020, we presented to some of the Allen Temple Ministries, consulted on a number of calls and emails from different Allen Temple leaders, members; as well as, the community, to assess, offer brief counsel, encouragement and connect persons to services.
We are available to accept calls and emails to assist inquirers with connecting to much needed community resources and services including counseling. Psychotherapy and counseling sessions are not available through Bethsaida Counseling Services at this time. Know that our efforts to develop the strong infrastructure needed to offer these services are ongoing. The ATBC community and its surrounding community will be informed once psychotherapy and counseling sessions have returned to our menu of services.
Again, we are still here to help. Use Bethsaida Counseling Services as a resource. If you are interested in our assistance, contact us at (510) 544-8945 or by email at bethsaida@allen-temple.org Our Clinical Coordinator, Sister Ricka L. White-Soso, MSW, LCSW, BIP, CEAT will attend to and triage your request as needed.
Contact Tracing of people who are exposed to Coronavirus is one of the main tools we have to keep the virus in check. Johns Hopkins University is offering a free 6-hour certified course via Coursera to anyone who may wish to obtain one of the paid or volunteer positions available in your city or county. The vast majority of the work is done by phone in front of your computer. Anyone with a high school diploma or above is qualified. Click here to be redirected to the course website.
To meet the unprecedented need for assistance during the COVID-19 emergency, the Alameda County Social Services Agency (ACSSA) is deploying additional online resources to connect residents with food distribution sites and other essential services.
The Social Services Agency in partnership with the Alameda County Emergency Operations Center, Alameda County Community Food Bank and other community partners have worked together to assemble and organize county-wide data on food distribution and emergency resource information to help cut through the confusion and connect residents with vital services that they need to meet their basic needs.
The information provided is meant to be as comprehensive as possible, which includes dates and time of operation, a description of services provided and location information (www.acgov.org/maps/food-services.htm). County residents are encouraged to visit the website early and often – resource information will be updated regularly as more information becomes available. Click here to be redirected to the website.
As of Wednesday, April 29, 2020, the Alameda County Shelter in Place Order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has been extended.
The collective efforts taken to date regarding this public health emergency have slowed the virus’ trajectory, but the risk to public health remain significant. The scientific evidence shows that at this stage of the emergency, it remains essential to continue to slow virus transmission.
The Health Officer Order requires that most people stay home unless they are engaged in certain “Essential Activities” which are discussed in the full Health Officer’s Order.
Please click here to read the Alameda County Shelter in Place order in its' entirety.