Deborah Dennis is Vice President for TA at Policy Research Associates, Inc. where she has conducted research and provided technical assistance on federal, state, and local homelessness policy and practice since 1988. She is the SOAR TA Center’s Project Director and has written extensively on the housing, treatment, and support service needs of persons who are homeless, particularly those who have behavioral health disorders. Since 2001, she has been developing a variety of training and technical materials for SAMHSA and others related to enhancing access to SSI and SSDI for people who are homeless, including SAMHSA’s Stepping Stones to Recovery (SSR)training curriculum. Deb is responsible for the overall direction of the Center and provides TA to the states of MI and NJ.
Yvonne Perret is Director of Technical Assistance and Training for the SOAR TA Center, Executive Director of the Advocacy and Training Center in Cumberland, MD, and a psychiatric social worker. Ms. Perret has worked assisting people who are homeless for the last 25 years. She is former Program Director of the University of Maryland Medical System’s SSI Outreach Project, which was named a Best Practice by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Alliance to End Homelessness. This project achieved a 96 percent approval rate for individuals assisted with the SSI process. In addition, it became the model for the SOAR initiative and curriculum. She is lead author of the Stepping Stones to Recovery (SSR) training curriculum and has been a trainer and facilitator with the SOAR initiative since its inception in 2005. She is also the lead author for Stepping Stones to SSI/SSDI, a curriculum for assisting individuals with HIV/AIDS with SSI/SSDI. Yvonne is responsible for developing new materials and curricula; providing on-site and other TA; and conducting SSR trainings and train-the-trainer events. She is responsible for TA to the states of CA, CO, LA, MD, MT, ND, NM, SD, UT, WV, and WY.
Margaret Lassiter is a Senior Project Associate for the SOAR TA Center. Previously, she coordinated TA to 56 States and territories though both the PATH Program and Policy Academies on Homelessness. She also coordinated the CMHS Supported Housing Initiative. She has written articles on working with consumers in a cross-site study and on program sustainability and also coordinates a study of grant impacts, sustainability and “multiplier” effects for SAMHSA. Margaret is responsible for SSR curriculum revisions, the development of a Web-based version of the training, and compiling annual outcome data from SOAR states. She is responsible for TA to the states of IA, KS, MO, and NE.
Pamela Root is the SOAR TA Center Coordinator. For fifteen years she was the Division Director of Disability Services at Liberty Resources, Inc. More recently, she was a supervising auditor for the Medicaid Eligibility Quality Control program in NYS. She is responsible for overall coordination of Center activities including logistics for forums, TTTs, and observations; production of SOAR e-News; and website updates. Pam is responsible for TA to the states of CT, ME, NY, RI, and VT.
Kristin Lupfer is a Senior Project Associate for the SOAR TA Center. Her previous experience includes serving people who are homeless in New York City and Atlanta and conducting research and data analysis with the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. As the director of the State of Georgia’s SOAR program, she provided technical assistance and Stepping Stones to Recovery trainings to more than 500 front-line case managers. She also facilitated monthly SOAR Provider Coalition meetings and quarterly Southeastern SOAR Consortium meetings. Under her leadership, the Georgia SOAR program had a 70 percent approval rate statewide in less than 90 days for SSI applications submitted by SOAR-trained providers. Kristin is responsible for providing on-site TA; co-training SSR and TTTs; the SOAR eNews; and assisting in development of new materials. She is responsible for TA to the states of AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MN, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, and WI.
Will Connelly, Senior Project Associate for the SOAR TA Center, is the founder and former project director of the SOAR program in Nashville, TN, where he had an approval rate on SSI/SSDI applications of 98 percent over a two-year period. He successfully secured funding for the SOAR program in Nashville that resulted in a significant expansion of staff during his tenure. He has been a SOAR trainer since 2006. Before joining PRA’s SOAR TA Center, he was the coordinator for outreach and housing for Nashville’s Metropolitan Homelessness Commission. Will is responsible for TA to the states of DE, MA, NH, PA, DC, and VA.
Marge Tully, Senior Project Consultant for the SOAR TA Center, has more than 30 years experience in direct service and administrative social service positions. She has had a range of experiences that include domestic violence, adult learning, mental health, trauma, transportation and homelessness. She was the Wisconsin State PATH contact for six years and was active in national work groups. As State PATH contact, she brought focus to Wisconsin PATH projects, as well as cultural competence and consistency in expectations among providers. She guided a very successful SOAR initiative through a pilot project in Waukesha that was the foundation for statewide expansion. Marge is responsible for TA in the states of AK, AZ, HI, ID, NV, OR, and WA.
Suzy Sodergren, SOAR Project Assistant, is responsible for supporting the Center Coordinator and Project Director with all aspects of the Center’s operation. She has an MSW from the University of Kansas as well as experience in community education and training. Suzy has primary responsibility for the SOAR Web site, eNews, listservs, contact database, and SOAR e-mail.