(SSVF) Program Update Friday September 11th, 2020.
From: Supportive Services for Veteran Families
Date: September 11, 2020 at 3:43:45 PM EDT
Subject: SSVF Program Update Friday September 11th, 2020.
Topics:
1. NEW: Updated Guidance on Outreach and Marketing
2. REQUIREMENT: FY2020 4th Quarter Program Changes GIFTS Requirement Due Friday, September 18, 2020
3. ATTENTION: Support Veteran Voting Rights by Helping with Getting Registered
4. ATTENTION: Homeless Veterans Outreach Campaign – Social Media Options
5. ATTENTION: September is Suicide Prevention Month - #BeThere
NEW: Updated Guidance on Outreach and Marketing
Beginning September 14, 2020, SSVF has expanded guidance for SSVF grantees use of marketing and advertising to reach homeless Veterans during the COVID 19 crisis. This provides SSVF Grantees with an update to the SSVF Program Guide on Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations and an SSVF Cost Benefit Analysis Advertising/Marketing Template The expanded guidance and template outlines the standards for incurring advertising and marketing costs, and the documentation needed to justify the costs during a FOFA audit. The updated guidance and Cost Benefit Analysis Advertising/Marketing Template are attached to this update and are available on the SSVF website at:
https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_Program_Guide_Outreach_and_Marketing_updated_September20.pdf
https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_Marketing_Cost_Benefit_Template.pdf
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 that were made to program design or concept while operating under the recent CARES award. In addition, grantees may request anticipated changes for 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
ATTENTION: Support Veteran Voting Rights by Helping with Getting Registered
The SSVF Program Office is requesting 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, guide for new voters, and a voter registration link.
https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote#item-212645
ATTENTION: Homeless Veterans Outreach Campaign – Social Media Options
The Department of Veterans Affairs and the VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA) are continually working to get the word out about VA supported programs for homeless Veterans. Thus, OPIA has developed social media posts that Grantees are able to utilize to continue promoting VA homeless services. Please see attached for VA approved post information.
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