From: SSVF
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2020 2:41 PM
Subject: SSVF Program Update Friday September 11th, 2020
Attachments: SSVF_Marketing_Cost_Benefit_Template.pdf;
SSVF_Program_Guide_Outreach_and _Marketing_updated_September20.pdf;
SSVF_SocialMedia_Posts.docx
Topics:
1.
NEW: Updated Guidance on Outreach and Marketing
2.
REQUIREMENT: FY2020 4th Quarter Program Changes GIFTS Requirement Due Friday,
September 18, 2020
3.
ATTENTION: Support Veteran Voting Rights by Helping with Getting Registered
4.
ATTENTION: Homeless Veterans Outreach Campaign – Social Media Options
5.
ATTENTION: September is Suicide Prevention Month - #BeThere
NEW: Updated
Guidance on Outreach and Marketing
Beginning
September 14, 2020, SSVF has expanded guidance for SSVF grantees use of
marketing and advertising to reach homeless Veterans during the COVID 19
crisis. This provides SSVF Grantees with an update to the SSVF Program Guide on
Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations and an SSVF Cost Benefit Analysis
Advertising/Marketing Template The expanded guidance and template
outlines the standards for incurring advertising and marketing costs, and the
documentation needed to justify the costs during a FOFA audit. The
updated guidance and Cost Benefit Analysis Advertising/Marketing Template
are attached to this update and are available on the SSVF website at:
https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_Marketing_Cost_Benefit_Template.pdf
REQUIREMENT:
FY2020 4th Quarter Program Changes GIFTS Requirement Due Friday, September 18,
2020
The SSVF Program
Office has published Program Change Requirements for the 4th Quarter; the due
date for these requirements is September 18, 2020. Grantees may request
changes to align their FY2020 budgets with changes that were made to program
design or concept while operating under the recent CARES award. In
addition, grantees may request anticipated changes for operating year FY2021,
as most grantees may be using FY2020 funds for part of the first Quarter of
FY2021.
This is an
optional submission. Before completing, please refer to the SSVF Companion
Guide to Program Changes available on the SSVF Website at: https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_Companion_Guide_to_Program_Changes.pdf
ATTENTION:
Support Veteran Voting Rights by Helping with Getting Registered
The SSVF Program
Office is requesting Grantees work with the Veterans they serve to get
registered to vote. The Veterans we work with have supported their
country by signing their name on the line to serve in the United States
Military to fight for our Freedom. Now is our time to support them, by
helping them get registered to vote. The link below provides information
about voter registration deadlines, guide for new voters, and a voter
registration link.
https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote#item-212645
ATTENTION:
Homeless Veterans Outreach Campaign – Social Media Options
The Department of
Veterans Affairs and the VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
(OPIA) are continually working to get the word out about VA supported programs
for homeless Veterans. Thus, OPIA has developed social media posts that
Grantees are able to utilize to continue promoting VA homeless services.
Please see attached for VA approved post information.
ATTENTION:
September is Suicide Prevention Month - #BeThere
Please join the
SSVF Program Office in educating your staff and sharing tools and resources to
support the VA’s #BeThere for Veterans campaign to help prevent Veteran
Suicide.
As a reminder,
each grant year, all SSVF Grantee staff must have SAVE training, a suicide
prevention training course developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Staff should first attempt to request in-person training from their locally
certified SAVE trainer, either a VAMC Suicide Prevention Coordinator or
Homeless Program Staff Point of Contact (POC). For assistance in locating your
local Suicide Prevention Coordinator, click here https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/local-resources.
If in-person training is unavailable, all staff should view the SAVE training
webinar on Suicide Prevention found at the link below:
https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_National_Webinar_2019_12_12_FY2020_Suicide_Prevention.pdf
SSVF Grantees are
encouraged to share VA suicide prevention resources with your community
partners by discussing the SAVE training and other suicide prevention resources
when working with community members at COC, CES, and other community partner
meetings.
Below are
additional resources and opportunities to support Veteran suicide prevention
efforts and the #BeThere campaign.
• Add #BeThere to
your email signature and the http://bethereforveterans.com/
webpage link to highlight an array of suicide prevention resources and spread
awareness of this critical campaign.
• Ask your staff
to familiarize themselves with the website http://www.veteranscrisisline.net
and add to your phone contact the Veterans Crisis line number of
1-800-273-8255 (press 1 for Veterans).
• Learn the signs
of crisis and suicide red flags at http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/education/signs-of-crisis
• Share with
employees and community members the link to VA’s Mental Health resource page at
http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov.
Thank you,
SSVF Program
Office