(SSVF) Program Update Friday August 28, 2020
From: Supportive Services for Veteran Families
Date: August 28, 2020 at 2:03:41 PM EDT
Subject: SSVF Program Update Friday August 28, 2020
Topics:
1. ATTENTION: Support Veteran Voting Rights by Helping with Getting Registered
2. NEW: SSVF Health Care Navigator Functional Statement Sample Available
3. REQUIREMENT: FY2020 4th Quarter Program Changes GIFTS Requirement Due Friday, September 18, 2020
4. ANNOUNCEMENT: Veteran Employment Resources Available From: COMPASS Vocational Materials for Veterans with Barriers to Employment, South Central MIRECC
5. ATTENTION: September is Suicide Prevention Month - #BeThere
ATTENTION: Support Veteran Voting Rights by Helping with Getting Registered
The SSVF Program Office requests that 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, guides for new voters, and a voter registration link.
https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote#item-212645
NEW: SSVF Health Care Navigator Functional Statement Sample Available
On July 17, 2020, the SSVF program office notified grantees that they would receive additional CARES funds. At that time, the program office also informed grantees that they would use a portion of their increased funding allocation to hire designated health care navigators. The SSVF Program Office has published the first of several documents and information regarding the Health Care Navigator position. This document provides information about the general scope of work, functions, assigned duties, and expected knowledge base for a potential candidate. Follow the link below to the document found on the SSVF Announcements page:
https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.asp
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 made to program design or concept while operating under the recent CARES award. In addition, grantees may request anticipated changes for the 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
ANNOUNCEMENT: Veteran Employment Resources Available From: COMPASS Vocational Materials for Veterans with Barriers to Employment, South Central MIRECC
COMPASS job readiness courses have been developed to address the needs of Veterans seeking employment. Materials available for this include a manual covering skills, job applications, resumes, interviews, networking, identifying interests, naming weaknesses, and exploring options. Twenty-one videos demonstrate job readiness concepts discussed in the manual. Those working with Veterans who are experiencing legal barriers to employment are likely to find these materials particularly useful. A link to this resource is available below:
https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn16/compass-vocational-materials-for-veterans.asp
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