2012 SOAR Outcomes
The webinar will begin shortly.
Audio: 1-888-989-3093
Passcode: 5436419
PIN: This was provided in your
registration confirmation e-mail. If you experience
difficulties, please stay on the line for an operator.
2012 National
SOAR Outcomes
Presented by:
Kristin Lupfer, Associate Director
Margaret Lassiter, Senior Project Associate
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


Welcome
2012 National SOAR Outcomes
– Kristin Lupfer, MSW, Associate Director, SAMHSA SOAR
Technical Assistance Center, Policy Research Associates,
Inc.
– Margaret Lassiter, MA, Senior Project Associate, SAMHSA
SOAR Technical Assistance Center, Policy Research
Associates, Inc.

Questions and Answers
Thank You!




You made this possible!
48 states and the District of Columbia
reporting
Sharing and celebrating successes
together
Supporting sustainability and
expansion efforts
Changing Lives Since 2005




22,648 initial applications
15,025 approvals
66% approval rate overall; many states
much higher…
Decisions in an average of 98 days (from
date of application submission to date of SSA decision)

72% literally homeless average of 2 years
(preliminary data based on 1,634 cases in OAT)
Outcomes on Initial Decisions by Year
Year
2006-2007
Initial
Decisions
Number
Approved
Percent
Approved
Average
Days to
Decision
821
506
62%
87
2008
1,072
1,004
94%
92
2009
2,493
1,648
66%
93
2010
4,592
3,400
74%
83
2011
5,872
3,935
67%
101
2012
7,828
4,532
58%
98
TOTAL
22,648
15,025
66%
NA
SOAR Super Stars
Highest Approval Rates for 100+ Decisions
State
Total Decisions
Approval Rate
Pennsylvania
1,015
99%
Washington
116
93%
Tennessee
718
87%
Arkansas
287
81%
Maryland
210
81%
North Carolina
553
80%
Kansas
369
80%
Rhode Island
171
77%
Oregon
883
75%
The Big Ten
States with the Most Decisions
State
Total Decisions
Approval Rate
Utah
2,410
53%
Florida
2,211
66%
Ohio
1,911
54%
Michigan
1,653
61%
Minnesota
1,589
71%
Georgia
1,579
59%
Pennsylvania
1,015
99%
Oregon
883
75%
California
861
55%
New York
755
67%
TOTAL
14,867 (two-thirds of all SOAR decisions)
SOAR-Assisted Appeals





37 states used SOAR for appeals
More than 3,000 decisions on appeal
since 2010
1,920 Approvals
60% Approval Rate
Decisions in an average of 125 days
Initial and Appeals Together…

In all, 16,945 persons have been
approved for SSI/SSDI since 2005
at the initial or appeals levels
through SOAR

5,136 persons were awarded
SSI/SSDI in 2012
Fiscal Impact on State and
Local Economies

In 2012 alone, SOAR-related SSI/SSDI brought
$142 million into the 48 participating states and
the District of Columbia

14 states report Medicaid reimbursement totaling
$7.0 million since 2010 -- an average of $9,093
per approved application

Eight states report public assistance reimbursement by SSA totaling $1.0 million -- an average
of $2,362 per approved application
Implementation of Critical
Components

Improved communication with SSA & DDS
– 98% of applications submitted with the SSA1696

Fewer consultative exams
– Only 26% of applications required a CE
Collaborations: PATH
SAMHSA Projects for Assistance in Transition
from Homelessness (PATH) program:
– Dedicated benefits specialists on PATH
teams
– SOAR applications required as part of
contracts with PATH providers in some
states (GA, KS, TN, MO, MI, ME, MT, WA)
– State PATH contacts serve as SOAR
coordinators and trainers
Collaborations: Hospitals

Agreements with medical records
departments for expedited records at no cost

Easier access to needed assessments

Dedicated benefits specialist positions within
the hospital

Grant funding to support local nonprofit
SOAR programs

Discharge planning in state hospitals
Collaborations: Corrections

Jail in-reach and collaboration with parole
and probation to coordinate services

Jail diversion programs

Pre-release planning from state prison

Training in state departments of
corrections
Sustainability in 2012






Connecticut – New Haven and Bridgeport received SAMHSA grants
that fund SOAR benefits specialists
Georgia – First Step in Atlanta received funding from the State of
Georgia to expand SOAR in the state
Idaho – $20,000 was received by the community action program in
the Twin Falls area to fund SOAR
Maryland – State Mental Hygiene Administration Office of Special
Needs Populations funded 5 SOAR benefits specialists out of the
state’s Alcohol Tax Appropriation
Minnesota – Funding 14 SOAR programs throughout the state
New Mexico – Albuquerque received 3-year SAMHSA grant for a fulltime benefits specialist; University of NM Hospital dedicated 1 FTE to
SOAR applications and trained 4 ER staff to work on apps for
homeless inpatients
MORE 2012 Sustainability…




Nebraska – Funding 2 more SOAR staff in 2013 and collaborating
on SAMHSA grant where 2 staff will do SOAR as part of a Critical
Time Intervention pilot
North Carolina – The NC Division of State Operated Facilities has
contracted with the NCCEH to support the SOAR program and the
SOAR state lead position for two years with Olmstead funding. They
are also working to develop a billable service definition for SOAR
with the Department of Mental Health
Ohio – Awarded 2-year Medicaid Money Follows the Person grant to
maintain and add new SOAR sites and reach persons in institutions;
also received 3-year hospital grant for training and TA
Wisconsin – Legal Action of WI received CDBG funding for second
year in a row; also funded through HUD Supportive Housing
Program
SOAR TA Center Focus in 2013

All states now participating at some level; working to
improve outcomes, sustain and grow SOAR in every state

CoCs receive SOAR TA – 9 CoCs awarded TA in 2012
(30 applied); 10 in 2013 (30 applied)

Improving data collection and reporting through OAT

Finalizing online Stepping Stones to Recovery curriculum

Integrating implication of ACA into in-person training
curriculum

Creating stronger linkages between SOAR and
employment and recovery
Questions and Answers
Facilitators:
SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center
Policy Research Associates, Inc.
For More Information on SOAR
Visit the SOAR website at www.prainc.com/soar
Or contact:
SAMHSA SOAR TA Center
Policy Research Associates, Inc.
Delmar, NY
518-439-7415
soar@prainc.com