Challenge
The Staffing Support for Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program provides supportive services grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives to coordinate or provide supportive services to very low-income Veteran families. Within SSVF, service provision is designed to be flexible and tailored to meet the immediate needs of the Veteran and his or her family members. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans (National Center) sought a contractor with certification and expertise to participate in a special study in social services to audit, track, and report SSVF grantees’ activity to VA staff by conducting onsite monitoring visits to report on performance and compliance with program regulations, the relevant Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), and signed grant services agreement between the grantee and VA.
Solution
Atlas Research assembled an integrated team of nationally recognized expert organizations, Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) and Abt Associates (Abt), to work with the National Center to provide staffing assistance to conduct onsite monitoring visits of SSVF grantees. Atlas is leading a team to monitor the SSVF grantees and ensure that they are in line with VA program goals and objectives. The team is conducting 286 monitoring reviews and performing analyses of progress, available data, and identified next steps.
Result
Atlas developed a Project Management Plan, assigned monitors grantees, and planned and executed Monitor Training. Monitors are conducting comprehensive reviews to SSVF grantees nationwide, helping them comply with program requirements and adhere to SSVF best practice standards. Atlas also created vital tools and procedures to ensure optimal project performance, and help monitors and grantees develop and improve their programs. The team provides subject matter expertise in advising grantees on various topics during the review process, along with working closely with VA to address any grantee issues and mitigate any risks prior to the monitoring visit. In addition, Atlas identifies and records findings to report recommendations to VA in order to enhance the monitoring process. Atlas helps VA communicate with grantees on the results of monitoring visits to facilitate program improvement.