SSVF Program Update December, 2, 2016
Topics:
1. Register Now: SSVF National Webinar on December 15, 2016 at 2PM EST
2. FY 2017 SSVF SOAR and Legal Survey: Due by December 21, 2016
3. Reminder: Final FY16 HHS Account Transfer
4. Notice: New URL for Payment Management Services
Register Now: SSVF National Webinar on December 15, 2016 at 2PM EST
Topic: SSVF FY 2017 Program Updates
This webinar will cover items related to grantee operations including a review of the FY16 SSVF Participant Survey results and new tools for FY 17. The new Critical Incident reporting process that is being converted to the SSVF online grants management system (GIFTS) will also be reviewed. Please register at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
FY 2017 SSVF SOAR and Legal Survey: Due by December 21, 2016
The new SOAR & Legal Survey aims to provide a more in-depth picture of how SSVF grantees are utilizing the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) model and legal services to connect Veterans and their families with Social Security disability benefits, when eligible. It builds on the individual SOAR and legal surveys released by the SSVF Program Office in prior fiscal years to document the progress of community collaborations in increasing access to mainstream benefits and can lead to further efforts in establishing technical assistance with specific communities based upon their stated needs.
Survey Goals:
• Obtain an update on SOAR model and legal service utilization among SSVF grantees;
• Document grantee success in increasing access to SSI/SSDI using SOAR;
• Document success resolving legal cases via direct SSVF provision of legal services;
• Assess future SOAR training needs;
• Determine barriers to SOAR and legal service implementation and technical assistance needs;
How to submit: Similar to the previous survey the SSVF Program Office can only accept one survey submission per grant award. Do not access the survey link unless you are designated to complete the survey and are ready to submit your answers. The survey link is contained in the Nov 2016 SOAR & Legal Survey Companion Guide, available on the SSVF Website at
http://www.va.gov/homeless/
Tools: The SSVF Program Office has prepared several materials to assist with this process: These tools are also available on the SSVF Website.
1.) Companion Guide (pdf)
• This guide provides an in-depth description of each question, the question format, and response options and should be used as grantees are preparing their responses.
2.) Blank Survey Question Document (Word document)
• This document includes each question and the responses. It is expected that grantees use this as a worksheet to prepare their answers prior to accessing the Survey Monkey link. This way, grantees will have a copy of what they submitted and it should streamline the process for entering data into the survey, since the survey software does not allow users to save drafts of the survey or to save a copy of the final submission.
Survey Deadline: All survey responses must be submitted no later than December 21, 2016
Final FY16 HHS Subaccount Transfers
Please be reminded that HHS Subaccount Transfers for FY16 grants will be processed on the 1st and 15th of December 2016. Grantees that require a final transfer of funds among the HHS subaccounts in order to complete the grant close must use the HHS Subaccount Template to prepare the transfer request. Submit this form to your Regional Coordinator for review and processing. Please do not submit to the SSVF general inbox. To avoid denials of the subaccount transfer requests, please access your HHS grant account within the Payment Management System and carefully review the authorized subaccount balances, as any Program Changes granted throughout the year may have resulted in changes to these authorized balances. If you have questions about how to complete the template or verify your authorized subaccount balances (prior to submitting your request) please contact your Regional Coordinator. The template is available at http://www.va.gov/homeless/
Notice: New URL for Payment Management Services Starting on December 3, 2016, the URL to access the Payment Management Services' homepage and the Payment Management System will be https://pms.psc.gov. The previous URL www.dpm.psc.gov will still be active and redirect you to the new URL. Please save the new URL to your favorites. As part of the update, the webpage will have a new and improved layout. The goal with this updated webpage is to provide a website that is interactive and easy to navigate. The functionality and access to the Payment Management System will remain the same. Click the below URL for a preview of the new page https://www.dpm.psc.gov/news_
Thank you,
SSVF Program Office
NOTE: If you are receiving this email in error, please disregard. We request your patience as the SSVF Program Office continues to address system issues with the grants management database.
1. Register Now: SSVF National Webinar on December 15, 2016 at 2PM EST
2. FY 2017 SSVF SOAR and Legal Survey: Due by December 21, 2016
3. Reminder: Final FY16 HHS Account Transfer
4. Notice: New URL for Payment Management Services
Register Now: SSVF National Webinar on December 15, 2016 at 2PM EST
Topic: SSVF FY 2017 Program Updates
This webinar will cover items related to grantee operations including a review of the FY16 SSVF Participant Survey results and new tools for FY 17. The new Critical Incident reporting process that is being converted to the SSVF online grants management system (GIFTS) will also be reviewed. Please register at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
FY 2017 SSVF SOAR and Legal Survey: Due by December 21, 2016
The new SOAR & Legal Survey aims to provide a more in-depth picture of how SSVF grantees are utilizing the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) model and legal services to connect Veterans and their families with Social Security disability benefits, when eligible. It builds on the individual SOAR and legal surveys released by the SSVF Program Office in prior fiscal years to document the progress of community collaborations in increasing access to mainstream benefits and can lead to further efforts in establishing technical assistance with specific communities based upon their stated needs.
Survey Goals:
• Obtain an update on SOAR model and legal service utilization among SSVF grantees;
• Document grantee success in increasing access to SSI/SSDI using SOAR;
• Document success resolving legal cases via direct SSVF provision of legal services;
• Assess future SOAR training needs;
• Determine barriers to SOAR and legal service implementation and technical assistance needs;
How to submit: Similar to the previous survey the SSVF Program Office can only accept one survey submission per grant award. Do not access the survey link unless you are designated to complete the survey and are ready to submit your answers. The survey link is contained in the Nov 2016 SOAR & Legal Survey Companion Guide, available on the SSVF Website at
http://www.va.gov/homeless/
Tools: The SSVF Program Office has prepared several materials to assist with this process: These tools are also available on the SSVF Website.
1.) Companion Guide (pdf)
• This guide provides an in-depth description of each question, the question format, and response options and should be used as grantees are preparing their responses.
2.) Blank Survey Question Document (Word document)
• This document includes each question and the responses. It is expected that grantees use this as a worksheet to prepare their answers prior to accessing the Survey Monkey link. This way, grantees will have a copy of what they submitted and it should streamline the process for entering data into the survey, since the survey software does not allow users to save drafts of the survey or to save a copy of the final submission.
Survey Deadline: All survey responses must be submitted no later than December 21, 2016
Final FY16 HHS Subaccount Transfers
Please be reminded that HHS Subaccount Transfers for FY16 grants will be processed on the 1st and 15th of December 2016. Grantees that require a final transfer of funds among the HHS subaccounts in order to complete the grant close must use the HHS Subaccount Template to prepare the transfer request. Submit this form to your Regional Coordinator for review and processing. Please do not submit to the SSVF general inbox. To avoid denials of the subaccount transfer requests, please access your HHS grant account within the Payment Management System and carefully review the authorized subaccount balances, as any Program Changes granted throughout the year may have resulted in changes to these authorized balances. If you have questions about how to complete the template or verify your authorized subaccount balances (prior to submitting your request) please contact your Regional Coordinator. The template is available at http://www.va.gov/homeless/
Notice: New URL for Payment Management Services Starting on December 3, 2016, the URL to access the Payment Management Services' homepage and the Payment Management System will be https://pms.psc.gov. The previous URL www.dpm.psc.gov will still be active and redirect you to the new URL. Please save the new URL to your favorites. As part of the update, the webpage will have a new and improved layout. The goal with this updated webpage is to provide a website that is interactive and easy to navigate. The functionality and access to the Payment Management System will remain the same. Click the below URL for a preview of the new page https://www.dpm.psc.gov/news_
Thank you,
SSVF Program Office
NOTE: If you are receiving this email in error, please disregard. We request your patience as the SSVF Program Office continues to address system issues with the grants management database.