From: SSVF

Sent: Friday, September 24, 2021 7:30 AM

Subject: SSVF Program Update Friday September 24, 2021

NOTE: This weekly update is targeted towards the SSVF Grantees and also shared with valuable partners for awareness.

TOPICS:

REGISTER: SSVF Office Hour Series: Shallow Subsidy: Planning and Implementation September 24, 2021 at 12PM EST

REGISTER: SSVF Office Hour Series: SSVF Veteran Satisfaction Survey Update and Shallow Subsidy and Supplemental Funding Update October 8, 2021 at 12:00PM EST

REMINDER: New HMIS Data Standards

ATTENTION: September is Suicide Prevention Month – Reach Out

RESOURCE: SSVF Webinar You Tube Page

REGISTER: SSVF Office Hour Series: Shallow Subsidy: Planning and Implementation September 24, 2021 at 12PM EST

The SSVF Program Office and Technical Assistance Providers will host a Shallow Subsidy Office Hours conference call for SSVF Grantees and their community partners on Friday, September 24, 2021. The SSVF Program Office staff and Technical Assistance staff will provide an overview of recommendations for inclusive and strategic community planning processes, emerging best practices on implementing assessment and targeting strategies, and an overview of Affordable Housing Resources.   

Please register using the following link:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8271667075105027856 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

REGISTER: SSVF Office Hour Series: SSVF Veteran Satisfaction Survey Update and Shallow Subsidy and Supplemental Funding Update October 8, 2021 at 12:00PM EST

This FY 22 SSVF Veteran Satisfaction Survey introductory webinar will provide an overview of the updated registration process for Grantee staff.  The webinar will provide a step by step process to register Veterans to complete a survey online, text, or with a live phone interviewer.  

Shallow Subsidy and supplemental funding updates: The SSVF Program Office has received additional specific purpose funds to support the Shallow Subsidy expansion as well as supporting Health Care Navigator and Legal Services expenses for each Grantee. This webinar will discuss the roll out of those funds and what to expect regarding MOA addendums and revised budgets.  SPECIAL NOTE: This webinar is 90 minutes.

Please register using the following link:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7902400493271370253 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

REMINDER: New HMIS Data Standards

As a reminder: Final SSVF HMIS Uploads are due October 1 – October 5 and must be in the HUD Data Standard in place for the past fiscal year: FY 2020.  After your final upload is completed (no later than October 9), you can work with your HMIS Lead/HMIS Vendor to implement the changes to the HUD Data Standards and Reporting for FY 2022 – but not until after your upload for the fiscal year is complete. HUD is aware of this requirement. CoCs will not be penalized for accommodating SSVF HMIS uploads on the current data standard through October 9th; however, SSVF Grantees could be penalized for not being able to upload the final dataset of the year. 

Please communicate to ssvfhmis@abtassoc.com if you foresee any issues with submitting a CSV file October 1^st – October 9^th using the current CSV standard for FY 2020.

ATTENTION: September is Suicide Prevention Month

Please join the SSVF Program Office in supporting this year’s VA Suicide Prevention campaign called Reach Out. You can make a difference in helping prevent Veteran suicide by educating your staff about the importance of Veteran Suicide Prevention and sharing tools and resources to support this critical effort.   

As a reminder, all SSVF Grantee staff must complete S.A.V.E. training annually by September 30^th.  S.A.V.E. is a Suicide Prevention training course developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Staff should first attempt to request in-person training from their local certified S.A.V.E. 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 SSVF S.A.V.E. Training Webinar on Suicide Prevention found in the SSVF Program Guide and below, or the PsychArmor S.A.V.E. Training Webinar on YouTube.

• SSVF SAVE Training Webinar: https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_National_Webinar_2019_12_12_FY2020_Suicide_Prevention.pdf
• VA/PsychArmor SAVE Training Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49Vg-xM9L7Q&t=3s

SSVF Grantees are encouraged to share VA Suicide Prevention resources with your community partners. Please consider discussing S.A.V.E. Training, the Reach Out campaign, and other Suicide Prevention resources when working with community members at COC, CES, and other homeless provider meetings.

Below are additional resources and opportunities to support Veteran suicide prevention efforts and the Reach Out Campaign. Please ask your staff to familiarize themselves with the following: 

• Add the Veterans Crisis line number: 1-800-273-8255 (press 1 for Veterans) to your phone contacts.
• Use the toolkit found at: REACH.gov/SPM and add this link to your email signature block for Suicide Prevention information, awareness, and resources to share with your staff and fellow community providers. This site provides numerous ideas and resources to help prevent Veteran suicide including offering downloadable e-billboards, posters and ways to post support on social media.
• The Veteran Crisis Line webpage: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net has an array of suicide prevention resources including ways to call, chat, email or text with responders 24/7.
• The VA’s website on Suicide Prevention: Veteran Suicide Prevention | Veterans Affairs (va.gov) outlines VA and community Suicide Prevention resources including mobile apps, ways to access mental health, and resources for families and caregivers.
• Share the “VA Coaching into Care” number, available M-F 8am-8pm, 1-888-823-7458, where Licensed Psychologists and Social Workers will help Veterans and family members access critical VA mental health services.
• 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 to find facilities, treatment options, and information on Veteran mental health concerns.
• Visit the National Center for PTSD: Resources for Survivors and the Public Following Disaster and Mass Violence - PTSD: National Center for PTSD (va.gov) to familiarize yourself with resources for helping Veterans cope in the wake of disasters and trauma.

RESOURCE: SSVF Webinar You Tube Page

The SSVF Webinar You Tube Page is updated and contains past webinar play lists.  This link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-8_WCqFkCnDV89sjPQ6Gnw/playlists will allow Grantees, staff, and Veterans to see all videos after the webinars.

With Regards,

SSVF Program Office