SAMHSA SOAR

Pennsylvania

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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

Pennsylvania SOAR State Team

State Team Lead(s):

  • Courtney Iorio
    Email: ciorio@pa.gov
    Phone: 717-346-0752

TA Center Liaison:

  • Abigail Kirkman
    Email: akirkman@prainc.com
    Phone: (518) 439-7415 x5226

SOARing in Pennsylvania

The SOAR effort in Pennsylvania is an initiative designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder.

Individuals interested in training are encouraged to reach out to the State Lead and SOAR TA Center Liaison using the contact information above for more information about SOAR. Local PA SOAR Leads help with training and SOAR network building around the state. Their information can be found on the right-hand side of this page. We encourage you to reach out to them for local information about SOAR in your area.

Expectations of Participation in SOAR

Individuals may become eligible to utilize the SOAR model by completing the SOAR Online Course. Prior to beginning the online curriculum, individuals are encouraged to contact the State Team Lead or SOAR TA Center to discuss their training needs and expectations.

Expectations of SOAR-trained Caseworkers

  • Serve as appointed representative for the purpose of applying for SSI/SSDI. Representation includes “standing in” for the applicant, responding to questions, receiving copies of all mail sent to the applicant, and communicating back and forth with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD).
  • Complete the applications for both SSI and SSDI.
  • Collect medical records from providers who have treated the applicant over the last two years.
  • Write a comprehensive SOAR Medical Summary Report that includes psychosocial, treatment, and functional information that is co-signed, if at all possible, by a physician or psychologist who has seen the individual.
  • Conduct ongoing outreach and engagement with the individual to stay connected throughout the process and to work with the individual to obtain other needed services and treatment such as housing, physical and mental health care, other support services, food, and clothing.
  • Track applications and outcomes, including number of applications completed, approvals/denials, and time to decision from application submission to receipt of SSA’s decision.
  • Report outcomes on at least an annual basis within the stated timeframes as requested.
  • No fees will be collected for completion of the application.
  • Actively collaborate with local SOAR Leads.
  • Participate in refresher courses and quality reviews of applications. SOAR caseworkers are encouraged to send redacted versions of their first few Medical Summary Reports to the SOAR TA Center for quality review before submission to BDD.
The ability to submit SOAR applications is contingent upon following the local SOAR process.
 
SOAR-trained individuals will also be connected with the State Team Lead, the SOAR TA Center Liaison, and Local SOAR Leads. Any of these persons may be contacted for information or questions at any time about SOAR and they are available to assist with connections to SSA and BDD offices in the state. Additionally, the state SOAR team provides on-site training for the following:  SOAR fundamentals refresher courses, technical assistance, and the implementation of a collaborative local process that includes state specific SOAR guidelines. Additional trainings can be provided upon request.

Outcomes Tracking

Training in the use of the SOAR Online Application Tracking (OAT) program is available, and the SOAR TA Center can answer questions about the OAT system. It is expected that SOAR-trained caseworkers will enter data about their SSI/SSDI applications using the SOAR model as they complete each application. The SOAR TA Center will review data periodically and follow up with SOAR caseworkers regarding this data and quality review of applications.

Local Leads:

  • Rebekah Jentes
    Norristown, PA
    Email: Rebekah.Jentes@vnacs.org
    Phone:

  • Murielle Kelly
    Langhorne, PA
    Email: mkelly@fsabc.org
    Phone: 215-949-1727 xx301

  • Christopher Korbar
    Warren, PA
    Email: ckorbar@wfeoc.org
    Phone: 814-726-2400 xx140

  • Shaun Kostiuk
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Email: skostiuk@pittsburghmercy.org
    Phone: 412-488-4376

  • Linda Loughin
    Upper Darby, PA
    Email: loughinl@delcohsa.org
    Phone:

  • Katie Lundy
    Norristown, PA
    Email: katie.lundy@vnacs.org
    Phone: 215-572-7880 xx115

  • Rita Masi
    Uniontown, PA
    Email: rmasi@fccaa.org
    Phone: 724-430-3013

  • Jamie Stevens
    York County, PA
    Email: jstevens@ycpc.org
    Phone: 717-771-9870 xx104

  • Tom Walker
    Bethlehem, PA
    Email: twalker@magellanhealth.com
    Phone: 610-814-8082

SOAR for Children Leads:

  • Laura Kolb
    Philadelphia, PA
    Email: lkolb@haplegal.org
    Phone: 215-523-9597

State Events

Events List

No Events currently exist for this state.

State Jobs

Job Title Location Description
SOAR Benefits Specialist (Full-time) Pittsburgh Mercy

Pittsburgh
PA

Our SOAR Benefits Coordinators follow the National SOAR model to assist eligible adults apply for SSI and SSDI benefits. In addition to meeting persons served where they are at, the SOAR Benefits Coordinator conducts interviews and assessments, collects medical records, authors detailed medical summary reports, and partners with SSA/DDS to facilitate the entirety of the SSI/SSDI application process. (Close date: 5/31/23)

State Documents

Filename Description