SOAR Works!

SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Online Course: Adult Curriculum

About the SOAR Online Course: Adult Curriculum

The SOAR Online Course trains case managers to assist individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder to apply for the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

The SOAR Online Course is FREE and self-paced. It includes comprehensive information about SSI/SSDI, SSA's disability determination process, and the SOAR Critical Components for completing and submitting high-quality SSI/SSDI applications.

Trainees also have the unique opportunity to apply what is learned through the completion of a Practice Case Application Packet for a fictional applicant. This packet is submitted to the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center for review and individualized feedback.

Who Should Take the SOAR Online Course?

Anyone who would like to learn more about SOAR and the SSI/SSDI application process is welcome to enroll! The techniques taught in this course can improve the quality and completeness of any application for SSI/SSDI.

However, completion of the entire course, including the Practice Case Application Packet, takes an estimated 20 hours and is geared toward case workers who plan to assist individuals who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness with SSI/SSDI applications.

There is no obligation to complete the course once enrolled and you are free to read as few or as many articles as you wish. Class 1 of the SOAR Online Course provides a broad overview of the SOAR model, often referred to as “SOAR 101.” This can be helpful for agency administrators and supervisors of SOAR-trained staff.

Enroll

Feedback From the Field

An evaluation of the SOAR Online Course was published in Frontiers in Public Health and found that trainees highly value the practice SSI/SSDI application and comprehensive feedback provided by experts at the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center. After completing the SOAR Online Course, 94% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “I feel more confident about assisting with an actual SSI/SSDI application having completed the practice case.”

Your (website) is an amazing resource. I worked for over twenty years for the NYC Department of Social Services (retiring as a Administrator) and have never seen such a well put together guide to applying (for) and getting SSI and/or SSDI. It is a work of art!
-Barbara, Tucson, AZ

"This training is excellent. It exceeded my expectations."
- Cindy Schwartz, Eleventh Judicial Criminal Mental Health Project, Miami, FL

"(The feedback I received on my Practice Case application) was very much appreciated. It’s nice to hear the positives and find out what needs to be improved so when I implement this program I can help someone become successful. The SOAR training program is great and I feel like I have a much better understanding of what it takes. I am looking forward to finding clients I can work with."
- Julie Pflanzer, Case Manager, Lapeer, MI