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You’ve Trained Them, Now What? Presented by: SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center Policy Research Associates, Inc. Under contract to: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Webinar Instructions Question instructions Muting Recording availability Downloading documents Evaluation

Agenda Training Follow-Up: Ideas Across the States –Kristin Lupfer, SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center Follow-Up Support for SOAR Reps –Lisa Huval, New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, Albuquerque, NM After Training: MSR Workshops and Technical Assistance –Emily Palmer, Outreach Community Health Centers, Milwaukee, WI Practical Lessons Learned –John Loring, Washtenaw County CSTS, Washtenaw, MI Questions and Answers

Training Follow-up: Ideas Across the States Kristin Lupfer SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center Policy Research Associates, Inc.

Thank You For Training! The hard work isn’t over What’s next? –Send registration lists to Lisa Guerin –Keeping in touch –Supporting new trainees –Tracking outcomes

Creative Ideas- Keeping In Touch List-serv messages Newsletters Monthly calls In-person meetings Local planning groups Sharing successes Addressing barriers

Creative Ideas- Supporting Trainees Refresher trainings Targeted workshops Mentors Reviewing 1 st applications Reviewing Medical Summary Reports Include SSA and DDS

Creative Ideas: Tracking Outcomes Remind participants –Friendly s/calls Review periodically –Monthly/quarterly meetings Celebrate and honor successes –Recognition –Awards

Follow-Up Support for SOAR Reps Lisa Huval Policy and Advocacy Director New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness Albuquerque, NM

Goals of Follow-up Support Helps reinforce use of all components of the model Give SOAR reps confidence to undertake their first SOAR application Help SOAR reps feel they are part of a statewide/national initiative and that their work helps build the success of that initiative

Goals of Follow-Up Support Recognize and understand the challenges to doing SOAR applications and involve SOAR reps in developing solutions to those challenges Communicate decisions/clarifications that happen in SOAR Steering Committee to all SOAR reps

Strategies from New Mexico Follow-up in the week after training with key components, electronic copies of key documents and links (e.g. SOAR website) Short 1-2 page newsletter Linking new SOAR reps to a “mentor” Calls to check in with new SOAR reps Refresher trainings Monthly peer support meetings

After Training: MSR Workshops and Technical Assistance Emily Palmer Benefits Coordinator, SOAR Trainer Outreach Community Health Centers Milwaukee, WI

The Challenge We found that we trained lots of people We advocated for SOAR and spoke about it in every forum we could Still, we were the only agency actually doing SOAR

What Did We Do? As an agency –Designed and hosted MSR Workshops –Expanded our SOAR Community Collaborative As a State –Pulled together agency heads from the five agencies receiving funding –Designated a State TA person –Began to implement SOAR Certification

MSR Workshops- The Idea To give practical guidance and information about writing an MSR To give participants time to practice writing To allow participants to complete a full MSR by the end of the workshop

Workshop Structure Limited trainings to 8 people Trainers had regular contact with participants about 2 months in advance –Reviewed how to set a Protective Filing Date –Reviewed tips for the application –Reviewed the collection of information through records collection and interviews Spread actual workshop over 2 weeks Met for 3 hours each week

The Setup: Workshop Structure Reviewed key sections of the report: –Introduction –Personal history –Psychiatric history –Functional information: ADLs, social function, and concentration, persistence and pace Each section was set up and introduced similarly: –We watched the video with Andrea for that section –We read the sample medical summary report section –The trainers gave tips and advice on writing the section –We gave time for participants to write the section –We discussed the writing in peer pairs and as a group

Expanding the Collaborative- The Idea We thought perhaps people are intimidated by the word “SOAR” in the title Purposefully invited agencies that don’t do just SOAR and repurposed to a collaborative for those who work with SSI/SSDI –Shelters & the CoC –FQHCs –State/County workers –Veteran’s advocates –Healthcare partnerships –SSA/DDS

On the Agenda Reports from agencies on what they do -- especially updates on SOAR Reports from SSA and DDS Case staffings with suggestions that are SOAR-focused Open discussion about collaboration and fund development Announcements, including upcoming Stepping Stones trainings

State TA Person- The Idea Many people would leave SOAR trainings energized, but overwhelmed about how to implement a program We thought that if they knew they had easy access to one person to guide them, it would help The TA Person: –Works for anyone within the state of Wisconsin –Is easily accessible for questions about SSA apps in general –Develops relationships with past trainees –Helps with individual questions –Reviews MSRs –Can do follow-up with an agency setting up their SOAR program

SOAR Certification- The Idea We got feedback that some people were taking the SOAR training, using only parts of it, and saying they were doing SOAR We wanted to give incentive to learn and really use the SOAR process Borrowed North Carolina’s Certification process

SOAR Certification Structure Started a pilot study in Dane County Funding from United Way of Dane County Trained 30 people Invited them to a meeting on 04/30/12 Will combine TA to complete the first MSRs with a process to turn in a total of five MSRs for review to be certified

What Worked Well? The easiest to implement has been having a TA Person Expanding our Community Collaborative has increased our exposure and enhanced our SOAR discussions There has been great interest in the MSR workshop

What Is Still A Challenge?  Having a TA Person still requires that trainees contact her. Perhaps at some point, the TA Person can have more funding to be able to reach out to trainees.  MSR Workshops are very helpful, but logistically tricky. They are time-intensive. We are considering doing one per year and offering it to those trained the previous year.  SOAR Certification is still in its baby stages, but we are gathering more momentum.

Take-Aways  All of our steps have one thing in common: continuing the discussion after the training.  SOAR inspires people, but it is also intimidating. Creating a forum for continuing the discussion and getting assistance with implementation is key.  With these few steps, we’ve noticed agencies are more engaged and more critical components of SOAR have been discussed and used.

Practical Lessons Learned John Loring Program Administrator- Adult MI Services Washtenaw County CSTS Washtenaw County, MI

Practical Lessons Learned Round pegs don’t fit into square holes The system of care can change –Leadership vision –Community “buy in When in doubt, do what works –Flexible model of service delivery critical Teamwork breeds success –Synergy, flexibility, adaptability Cannot succeed without community partners –Leverage system of care

Expectations of SOAR Be real Be flexible Start where the client is Be patient Embed diagnostic and functional assessment

SOAR Staff Roles Opportunity to design the team from the ground up Specialist vs generalist roles Cross-training Team case management All staff responsible for all consumers Quarterback of care

Questions and Answers Facilitators: SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center Policy Research Associates, Inc.

For More Information on SOAR Visit the SOAR website at Or contact: SAMHSA SOAR TA Center Policy Research Associates, Inc. Delmar, NY