UCAN director eyes retirement — again
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Dec. 31 is a target date the executive director of the United Christian Advocacy Network (UCAN) City Mission has kept on his radar for some time.
Bruce Baehr has been at the helm of the city mission located at 7 W. First St. through periods of expansive growth, programming expansions, challenging times and multi-agency collaborative efforts.
However, the eclectic leader is ready to step back into retirement -- once again.
"I was retired," said the former ministry leader, pastor and aid/adoption worker. "When I came on board here, it was only supposed to be for a three-or-four-month period. I guess you could blame my son for this," he said, laughing.
Jay Baehr, Bruce and his wife’s son, serves as the administrative pastor for adult ministries and worship at Zion Covenant Church, located at 520 Fairmount Ave. With deep connections to the community and grandchildren nearby, Bruce and his wife decided to pack up their belongings and relocate to Western New York, with the intent of working in the marital ministries field.
"We bounced around after I retired," said Bruce Baehr. "We lived in a few places like Virginia and D.C., but felt God had called us to this area. The plan was we were going to work with families in crisis -- we felt called to the marriage ministry. But my son recommended me for this position at UCAN -- so you can say it’s at least partially his fault."
However, "expansive growth" is a term some of his staff often use to describe his tenure at UCAN.
Baehr said he is excited to see the multi-agency collaborative efforts UCAN has established during the last two years of his tenure. Some of the program partnerships include classes offered by Prevention Works; a four-bed partnership with the Sheriff Cares program, also known as the Chautauqua Comprehensive Addiction Response and Evaluation System -- CARES, which aims to improve access to substance use disorder services in Chautauqua County.
The program includes a four-bed stay at UCAN, counseling services, and a skills-training component in collaboration with the local Board of Cooperative Educational Services, along with a possible work partnership to help clean up Jamestown and more. Furthermore, the mission is in the process of establishing a women and children's shelter in the near future, which has also taken place under his tutelage.
Baehr said the new women's and children’s shelter is scheduled to be located at the old Jamestown Business College building at 7 Fairmount Ave. It is a multi-million dollar project that is currently underway.
"This has truly been a blessing," said Baehr. "I couldn't have done anything on my own. First, I give credit to God, and the amazing support the mission receives from the community, and all the support of the local granting agencies, non-profits, and our governmental partners."
Baehr said the UCAN Board of Directors is actively searching for his replacement, and he expects the mission to continue its positive upward momentum.
"God has continued to bless the work we are doing here at the mission," he said. "I can’t wait to see what happens in the future with the organization, and the positive steps it is taking."
For more information about UCAN City Mission, visit www.ucancitymission.org/ or visit the mission’s official Facebook page at UCAN City Mission.