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Arizona

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Please select your state to view information and contacts for SOAR in your state. While there is SOAR activity in every state, there are not SOAR services available in every community.

State Information

Arizona SOAR State Team

State Team Lead(s):

  • Cristina Benitez
    Email: cristina.benitez@azhousing.gov
    Phone:

TA Center Liaison:

  • Dan Coladonato
    Email: dcoladonato@prainc.com
    Phone: (518) 439-7415 x5241

SOARing in Arizona

SOAR is a national program designed to assist with the completion of SSI/SSDI applications for individuals experiencing or at-risk of homelessness who have a mental health or co-occurring substance use disorder. Anyone can become SOAR trained to learn the model and educate themselves about the disability process. It is hoped that if case workers become SOAR-trained they are implementing it in direct practice settings on a need-to or full-time basis. Additional training and support is available for full-time SOAR case workers.

Questions, comments, or recommendations?  Please contact the Arizona state SOAR lead (contact information above).

Expectations of Participation in SOAR

Arizona SOAR looks like this:

  • Complete the SOAR Online Course to become “SOAR certified” (it’s free!)
  • Any case worker who completes the SOAR Online Course can attend local steering committee meetings (contact your Local Lead listed on the contact tab for more info)
  • Case workers completing SOAR applications on a regular or full-time basis can attend refresher training for further support and Arizona-specific logistics or best practices (contact your Local Lead for more info)
  • Supervisors, program leads, or stakeholders representing an agency can attend quarterly state SOAR committee meetings (contact the Arizona state SOAR lead listed on the contact tab for more info)

Local Leads:

  • Lori Kiefer
    Tucson, AZ
    Email: lori.kiefer@va.gov
    Phone: 520-591-9682

  • William B. McGruder
    Phoenix, AZ
    Email: bmcgruder@HSC-az.org
    Phone: 602-834-8731 xx207

State Events

Events List

No Events currently exist for this state.

State Jobs

No Job postings currently exist for this state.

State Documents

Filename Description
Arizona SOAR Infographic 2022.pdf

Success Stories

No Success Stories currently exist for this state.