Arizona

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.

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)