From: SSVF
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2016 9:55 AM
Subject: SSVF Program Update July 1,
2016
Importance: High
Topics:
1. SSVF National Webinar on July 21, 2016 at 2:00 PM EDT
2. Quarterly Certification Due July 20, 2016
3.
NAEH
Post-Conference Session Focused on Veterans
4. SOAR Training Study
5. Community Plan Updates Are Posted on the SSVF Website!
SSVF National Webinar on July 21, 2016 at 2:00 PM EDT
Topic: SSVF Homelessness Prevention Screener
The SSVF National Grantee Webinar will review the revised Homelessness Prevention Screener. VA has been working with our Technical Assistance providers to develop a standard screening tool to better support our assessment of risk factors and their connection to homelessness. The presentation will include an overview of the revisions to the tool and will provide tips for planning its use within the program. The Screener will be required for all grantees beginning on October 1, 2016 but it will also be available for immediate use. Please register here:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6130524268500540161
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Quarterly Certification Due July 20, 2016
The SSVF Program Office no longer requires Quarterly Narrative and Financial Report submissions. In place of this reporting grantees are expected to complete a Quarterly Certification. The next certification will cover the time period of 04/01/2016 to 06/30/2016 (note: Q3). The certification contains several items related to data quality/data management. Please note even though Repository Data Quality Reports have not been available grantees are expected to have internal data quality assurance policies and procedures. The SSVF Program Office expects grantees to routinely perform quality control on their program data independent of VA-provided reports. Therefore, citing a lack of VA-issued Data Quality Reports is not a sufficient response when completing your certification. Submissions are due no later than July 20, 2016 via the GIFTS grants management system (requirement will be available July 1, 2016).
NAEH Post-Conference
Session Focused on Veterans
Are you going to the National Alliance to End Homelessness conference next month in DC? If so, there is a post-conference opportunity to network with your peers and meet other colleagues and experts focused on ending homelessness among Veterans.
Please join HUD, USICH, VA and our technical assistance partners for a post conference session on Ending Veteran Homelessness on Thursday, July 28 from 1-4 pm. The convening is at the Renaissance Hotel Washington, DC (same location as the NAEH conference). The session is being organized by HUD Vets@Home TA leadership team. During this session:
· Participants will hear from a panel of experts regarding elements of successful community responses to veteran homelessness and how to sustain local efforts.
· COCs and practitioners will share information on what has worked, challenges and new ideas/solutions.
· Participants will engage and network with peers working to end veteran homelessness.
This convening is voluntary and provided at no
additional cost! Register now with the link below- space is
limited!
SOAR
Training Study
In May 2016, Frontiers in Public Health published an evaluation of the SOAR online training model, which assessed SOAR Online Course usage from October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015. The study focused on the unique integration of a practice SSI/SSDI application into the training and the support provided by local and state SOAR leads. The evaluation, SOAR Online Course Increases Capacity for Assisting Individuals with Disabilities in the US, was co-authored by Kristin Lupfer, SOAR TA Center Director, and Jen Elder, National Policy and Partnerships Coordinator, both of Policy Research Associates, Inc. The study found that successful course completions were most concentrated in areas that had local SOAR leaders, trainees through the online course had higher data entry rates for case outcomes in the SOAR Online Application Tracking system, and that trainees reported a high satisfaction rate with the course and comprehensive feedback provided. The evaluation included data mapping of course enrollments, completions, and locations of SOAR leads
Community
Plan Updates Are Posted on the SSVF Website
Thank
you to all the grantees who submitted the community plan updates in June.
The plans are now available on the SSVF Website. They can be viewed by
state:
http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/?page=/ssvf_university/community_coordination_and_plans
Thank you,
SSVF Program Office
NOTE: If you are receiving this email in error, please disregard. We request your patience as the SSVF Program Office continues to address system issues with the grants management database.