Success Stories
California
Last week SOAR TA Center team member and California liaison Abigail Lemon attended an SSA Field Hearing in Los Angeles, California. The hearing aimed to strengthen relationships with SSA and SOAR providers ahead of increased funding for benefits advocacy throughout Los Angeles County. The series of meetings included representatives from SSA headquarters and regional offices, USICH, Los Angeles county and community service providers. Attendees were also given a tour of the Skid Row neighborhood, which only served to drive home the continued need for SOAR and SOAR trained providers in the community.
Missouri
Kelly Wallis, Director of Boone County Community Services in Missouri, is seeking to hire a dedicated SOAR specialist using funds from the county's Community Health Fund. "The position is a result of the county's Stepping Up Initiative, which aims to reduce the number of inmates with mental health illnesses in jail. Mental health professionals, law enforcement officers, court representatives, and social service agencies identified the need for a SOAR specialist during an August workshop…" Way to go, Boone County!
Virginia
Latasha Howlett, SOAR State Coordinator for Virginia, shared these inspirational success stories in response to the question, "What about your SOAR program are you especially proud of this year?"
SOAR efforts have continued to expand across Virginia with four new communities joining the effort. We have also experienced continued expansion within our current communities. Our SOAR workers consistently go above and beyond to help their clients obtain benefits and access to services and housing.
One such example occurred in the Norfolk community, where SOAR workers from several agencies joined forces to assist an individual that fell through the cracks. They worked together to obtain detailed assessments and old medical records for the claimant. He was denied several times before because he would disappear and in the midst of completing the process. DDS determined the individual met the criteria for an Intellectual Disability and he was finally able to receive benefits, housing, and services!
As in previous years, we continue to marvel at the collaborative spirit exhibited by our partners at the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Disability Determination Services (DDS). One shining demonstration of their commitment to this effort occurred in Virginia Beach, when a DDS analyst went out of his way to find out the date of death for a SOAR applicant's mother to determine if the applicant was also entitled to Survivors Benefits as her child. The DDS workers looked through old newspapers from another state to get that information because the applicant was unable to provide this information about his mother.
In August, Alberta Thomas, SOAR practitioner with the Norfolk Community Services Board, received SSA's Public Service Award in recognition of her outstanding achievements. Alberta has completed over 150 applications using the SOAR model and has an impressive 86 percent approval rate on initial applications! Latasha praised her work saying, "Time and time again Alberta has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to assisting the clients that are the most vulnerable and experiencing homelessness. This was a well-deserved honor."
We truly appreciate the outstanding work of SOAR providers across Virginia and the amazing support of SSA and DDS! Thanks, Latasha, for sharing your successes with the SOAR Community!
