Mississippi

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State Information

Mississippi SOAR State Team

TA Center Liaison:

Dazara Ware
Email: dware@prainc.com
Phone: (518) 439-7415 x5260

SOARing in Mississippi

SOAR State Plan

In 2012, Mississippi Department of Mental Health (MDMH) created a Division of Community Living and hired a Director for this new Division. It was decided that both PATH and SOAR fit within the scope of this new division. MDMH worked with other team members in Mississippi (MDMH, SSA, DDS, MS State Hospital, PRA, PATH grantees) to draft a plan for implementing SOAR in Mississippi.

SOAR Plan basics

Be more strategic as to who needs to be SOAR-trained
Identify/clarify the key players
Determine where SOAR fits best in the Mississippi service delivery system

SOAR Techniques in Mississippi

Following the development of a basic Mississippi SOAR Plan in 2012, MDMH identified need to incorporate SOAR into Mississippi’s mental health system to be included in the overall MDMH Recovery initiative. A key component of Mississippi’s SOAR plan is the implementation of SOAR in the State psychiatric hospitals while individuals are receiving inpatient services that will lead to discharge back into the community. SOAR trainings were conducted and MS State Hospital (MSH) was identified as the initial site for addition of SOAR to the hospital’s Social Services Department. In 2014, MS Department of Mental Health received a SAMHSA CABHI-States grant award. Part of the Mississippi CABHI plan includes implementation of SOAR into the state’s comprehensive mental health community services plan.

Inpatient Psychiatric Facility SOAR Techniques Used in Mississippi

The SOAR Specialist in the Social Services Department at MSH collaborates with the Field Office of Social Security and with the Disability Determination Local Offices to facilitate the initial SSDI/SSI Claims for individuals receiving inpatient services. If a benefits application reached the Denial/Reconsideration/Hearing Level, the MSH SOAR Specialist actively participates in the process of resolving claims issues at these levels. The SOAR Specialist maintains contact with the individual SOAR applicant while they are hospitalized and continues to follow-up and correspond with the individual and their community service provider following discharge regarding approvals or non-approvals as needed.

Expectations of Participation in SOAR

Individuals in Mississippi who successfully complete the SOAR online training need to understand that there are additional activities or steps that must be completed in order to be considered a Mississippi certified SOAR Processor. These additional activities will be directed and approved by the MS Department of Mental Health SOAR Specialist. Potential SOAR trainees need to understand what the SOAR model requires and be able to commit to following this process before seeking to become a SOAR Processor in Mississippi. Read more here.

Local Leads:

Kimberly Barta
Gulfport, MS
Email: kbarta@msmentalhealth.org
Phone: 228-864-6274
Michelle Hearn
Whitfield, MS
Email: michelle.hearn@msh.ms.gov
Phone: 601-351-8419
Faith Long
Jackson, MS
Email: FSLong@mdoc.state.ms.us
Phone: 601-359-5283
Lashetta Wilder
Jackson, MS
Email: LWilder@mdoc.state.ms.us
Phone: 601-359-5708

SOAR for Children Leads:

Imari McDonald
Jackson, MS
Email: imarimcdonald@yahoo.com
Phone: 601-826-6147

State Events

Events List

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State Documents

Filename	Description
Mississippi SOAR Certification Process.docx

Success Stories

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