Program Guidance for Managing Entity Contracts

Incorporated Document 9

Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance(SSI/SSDI)

Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR)

Requirement:Attachment I, Section B.1.a.(3)(b)5)

Frequency:QuarterlyReporting of SOAR data

Due Date:N/A

Discussion:SOAR is a national project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that is designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible adults with mental illnesses who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The Managing Entity shall ensure that Network Service Providers implement the SOAR process within the contractually defined geographic area. Network ServiceProviders musthave case managers trained in and utilizing the SOAR model. The Department has a SOAR State Team Lead (STL)available to provide technical assistance in collaboration with the SAMHSA funded SOAR Technical Assistance Center. The SOAR Technical Assistance Center also provides ongoing data collection on the SOAR model.

The Managing Entity shall:

  • Identify a local planning team that includes representatives from the local Social Security Administration (SSA), Division of Disability Determinations, Network Service Providers, andstakeholders serving this population to develop an action plan based on the SOAR Process.
  • Convene regular meetings of the team to explore and identify strategies for ongoing funding and sustainability.
  • Create a distribution list for ongoing communication and disseminate minutes of meetings to the local planning team and the STL.
  • Report progress and challenges to the STLto ensure local implementation is consistent with the state initiative.
  • Coordinate and follow up on the implementation of the action plan and SOAR Process.
  • Provide logistical support and technical assistance to trainers to conduct live trainings locally.
  • Register as the local lead in the SOAR Online Application Tracking (OAT) database at soartrack.prainc.com/and report data and outcomesincluding:
  • Number of SOAR-assisted SSI/SSDI applications;
  • Decisions on applications, including appeals; and
  • Number of days until applications are approved from date of application submission to date of decision.

The SOAR Technical Assistance Center offers several three-day Leadership Academies annually to assist local SOAR leads in building successful SOAR initiatives. Attendance at a Leadership Academy requires prior approval by the STL. Applicants must successfully complete SOAR training before becoming eligible to attend the Leadership Academy. The SOAR training course is available online at (

More information on SOAR can be viewed at:

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Effective: July 1, 2015