The Bay Area Social Services Consortium (BASSC) is an agency-university-partnership founded in 1987 that promotes social service research, training, and policy development to strengthen public sector social services in the San Francisco Bay Area.
BASSC is currently led by co-chairs Kari Beuerman, Director of the Marin County Social Services Agency, and Peter Lee, Director and Professor of the School of Social Work at San Jose State University.
BASSC Co-Directors
Research
BASSC research responds to the needs of public sector social service agencies for evidence to inform services and build organizational capacity. We conduct practice research studies using multi-county surveys, case studies, and an array of qualitative methods, as well as structured literature reviews, to develop knowledge to support practitioners. Studies and projects are carried out through close collaboration between our staff, the Mack Center, and agency managers, supervisors, and line staff.
Professional Development
BASSC fosters the development of a professional and skilled public sector human service workforce through the cohort-based Executive Development Program (EDP) and the Supervisors Learning Collaborative, along with other programs, as needs emerge. The EDP was launched in 1994 to meet the management training needs of middle and senior managers in county human service organizations, particularly with a goal to increase the number of women and people of color in managerial and leadership roles in the public sector. The EDP involves agency leaders, University faculty, and local experts as instructors, and includes an inter-agency project designed to facilitate the sharing of promising practices. In addition to coursework, participants complete a case study about their project and a formal presentation on the topic (add a link to case studies here).
Launched in 2023, the Supervisors Learning Collaborative (SLC) supports the vital role of county social service agency supervisors to ensure that high-quality services are delivered to the community. As conditions change, both within and external to the organization, supervisors must be able to support and guide their staff to meet changing needs. Effective supervisors can also foster employee growth, retention, and well-being while promoting an inclusive organizational environment. The SLC provides an opportunity for supervisors to explore new ideas and best practices in supervision, discuss issues regarding supervising staff and managing work, engage in skill-building activities, and receive support from peers.
Policy
BASSC invests in policy analysis and development through case studies aimed at capturing agency efforts to design and implement promising and innovative programs and practices in response to state and federal policy initiatives. In addition, BASSC convenes ongoing regional exchanges among agency leaders and senior managers to coordinate, communicate, and share best practices and strategies for emerging issues..
BASSC policy groups bring together expert staff from each Bay Area county to further regional goals through a planning and policy framework.
BASSC policy groups include the following Committees: Human Resources, Research, Planning and Evaluation, Adult Services, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, and Public Information Officers. The following committees initially began with BASSC coordination and currently meet independently or as needed: Self-Sufficiency, Adults’ Services, Children's Services, and Administration and Finance Committee.