1. Training Date: November 17, 2014
Introduction to SPDAT and VI-SPDAT Training for the Housing Stability System in Waterloo Region
Training Date: November 17, 2014

2. Training Outline Introductions Expectations for today Local context
SPDAT overview
Local implementation progress & resources
Overview of domains
VI-SPDAT training
What's next
Evaluation & wrap-up
** Angela: welcome and training outline **
Welcome Notes:
introduce myself and then members of the local SPDAT network/working group – acknowledge their role in planning for the training
bathrooms
refreshments
fire exits
Outline Details:
I will be covering the first hour of the training:
We will start our training with you introducing yourselves at your tables
Then I will highlight some expectations for today
I will provide some local context, give a very general overview of the tools – assisted by a short video – and conclude with review of how we have implemented them locally to date
We will break around 10am
After the break, Kendra and Julie will give a high-level overview of how the questions are organized in both tools – the "domains"
Then Ashley and Edwina will facilitate the actual VI-SPDAT training part of our session – assisted by a longer video
Holli will guide us through a "pair and practice" exercise so we get some hands-on experience with the VI-SPDAT
Then, I will wrap up with a few slides summarizing what's next and encourage you to complete your evaluations before you head out for lunch at noon

3. Introductions
Your name and your connection to the housing stability system (program/organization)
Your agency's experience with VI-SPDAT and/or full SPDAT OR plans to use either tool (if known)
Your personal experience with VI-SPDAT and/or full SPDAT (if any)
Your hopes for today
** Angela: introductions **
To start our morning, let's get to know each other a little better.
At your tables, share your… [read slide].
I've asked the lead at your tables to report back highlights of people's experience with these tools and their hopes for today.
Leads at each table – (8 tables x 8 = 64 people):
Edwina/Julie – Family table
Kendra/Holli – Youth table
Ashley
Bethany
Cheryl
Nicole
Deb
Jeff

4. What You Can Expect From Us
We will provide:
a general introduction to the tools, in the context of our local efforts to end homelessness
training on the VI-SPDAT (not full SPDAT)
We are in the "soft launch" phase in Waterloo Region
we are still in the "early days" of learning about the tools and what they can do for us
this is our very first training session on the VI-SPDAT
the VI-SPDAT is part of the 20,000 Homes Campaign
Note: Angela to post these on the wall.
** Angela: what you can expect from us **
[cover slide details]
Who here is planning to participate in the 20,000 Homes Campaign? The 20,000 Homes Campaign is a national initiative. We are piloting the "Registry Week" of the Campaign at the end of this month across Waterloo Region. Basically, this means we are surveying everyone who is experiencing homelessness using the VI-SPDAT over a few specific days and then summarizing the results. From this exercise, we will learn not only how many people are currently experiencing homelessness, but also the depth of their needs.
People who are planning to participate in this initiative will be offered training on the VI-SPDAT as part of 20,000 Homes Campaign orientation in the afternoon of November 24. If you are taking the training now, you may choose not to attend the afternoon portion of the Registry Week orientation on November 24th. It is up to you.
If anyone has questions about the 20,000 Homes Campaign, please feel free to write them over here on the flip chart during the break. Marie Morrison is leading this project locally, and will stop by before the end of the morning to answer any questions you have posted.

5. Local Context

6. Housing Stability System
one of many community systems supporting people in Waterloo Region
network of organizations (including various orders of government, businesses and not-for-profits), groups and individuals
support people who are experiencing homelessness or at- risk of housing loss
support the broader community to end homelessness
** Angela: housing stability system**
This training is specifically for people involved in the housing stability system. I know we have some new staff here today. Who here is new? I want to personally welcome you to our amazing network! You will find that we are a very special group of people. We have big hearts and a clear vision for change. I've been involved in this system for about 10 years. We are on an incredible learning journey together.
So, just to make sure we are all on the same page, I want to take a few minutes to review the foundational elements of who we are and the unique role we play in Waterloo Region.
As we all know, ending homelessness is a shared responsibility – all orders of government, businesses, not-for-profits, groups, landlords and residents have a role to play.
Over the last decade, stakeholders in the local housing stability system have adopted and strengthened their leadership role in ending homelessness in the community.
We are one of many community systems that support people in Waterloo Region.
More specifically, the housing stability system is a network of organizations, groups, and individuals that support people who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of housing loss with their housing stability issues.
In addition, the system provides support to the broader community to end homelessness.

7. 5 Program Areas
Emergency Shelter Street Outreach Housing Help Time Limited Residence Affordable Housing and Supportive Housing
** Angela: program areas**
To fulfill our role in the community, we have a set of inter-related programs.
Housing stability programs support people to find, establish, and/or retain housing. As part of this work, programs also support people to increase their sense of belonging – both to the community and to a place they can call home.
In each program, at least 50% of the activities are dedicated to supporting housing stability and/or a sense of belonging. We have over 100 different programs in Waterloo Region that identify that this is what they do.
In addition to these programs in the formal system, we know that a significant number of people access housing stability resources from informal or natural supports – like friends and family – and also from the private market such as private rentals, motels, campgrounds and other businesses.

8. ** Angela: community systems**
And here are some of community systems in Waterloo Region where people may access the resources they need – housing, income and/or support – to help them maintain housing stability.
Housing stability is a very inclusive term – one that covers a wide range of activities extending across different community systems. As such, our system includes stakeholders representing different community systems that intersect in the area of housing stability. These inter- connections are part of the reason why adopting a collaborative approach in our work is so important.
Depending on the goal of the housing stability program, it may also be part of one or more other formal community systems. For example, programs that are designed to provide housing retention support to people with mental health issues would be part of the housing stability system and the addiction and mental health system. Or, for example, we would identify that longer term programs designed to provide financial assistance to people with no other source of income – like Ontario Works – are part of the income assistance system. However, given that these income programs have a shelter component, there is clearly an overlap between our systems.
Ensuring coordinated ACCESS to all our programs, regardless of whether or not they are part of another community system, is an important part of what we do.
In addition, some community systems may be jointly involved with supporting the same person or family experiencing housing instability. Under these circumstances, having supportive relationships with people who work in other, complimentary community systems is very important.

9. The Strategy
1) Policy Framework: Common point of reference for thinking about how to end homelessness.
2) Action Framework:
Supports the community to take action to end homelessness.
** Angela: the Strategy**
I’m now going to provide a brief review of our local Strategy, which guides what we do and how we approach our work.
In 2004, Waterloo Region first identified the need for a system plan in the area of homelessness. The Strategy was developed in response to this need for a collective voice, calling for a shift in thinking and doing to end homelessness. Since that time, we have engaged with several hundred people in our community through our collective planning processes to end homelessness.
Our current Strategy consists of two complementary frameworks:
The Policy Framework which serves as a common point of reference for thinking about ending homelessness. It includes a comprehensive review of four main things: #1) the essential elements for ending homelessness and other key concepts, #2) who is working to end homelessness locally, #3) what resources are available and #4) our key policy directions for the future.
Then we have an Action Framework which includes 4 focus areas, 8 strategic directions, 40 action areas, and over 200 activities. Implementation of the VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT is an initiative that falls under Strategic Direction #7 to "support housing stability system-level initiatives designed to end homelessness".
The Strategy, along with the Region's Housing Action Plan for Households with Low to Moderate Incomes, now forms part of the Region's 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, which will guide us from now to 2024.

10. Goals Primary for the community – to end homelessness.
Secondary for the housing stability system:
1. Support a shared approach.
2. Support people.
Increase housing retention.
Reduce the length of time people experience
transitional homelessness.
End persistent homelessness.
Increase sense of belonging.
3. Strengthen the system.
** Angela: goals**
The primary goal of the Strategy is to end homelessness.
The Strategy also identifies three goals specific to the housing stability system. These three goals are designed to support the community to reach its goal of ending homelessness.
The first goal is to support a shared approach. Reaching this goal means that a full range of partners take action to implement the Strategy.
The second goal is to support people experiencing homelessness or at risk of housing loss. More specifically, we want to:
Increase housing retention.
Reduce the length of time people experience transitional homelessness.
End persistent homelessness.
Increase sense of belonging.
Our third goal is to strengthen our system.

11. WHAT WE ALL NEED
** Angela: 5 essential elements for ending homelessness – people**
The Strategy describes five essential elements for ending homelessness. This is the "people perspective" – what everyone needs in their personal lives.
With the first three essential elements, people have “housing stability” at any one point in time:
adequate housing,
adequate income, and
adequate support.
With the other two essential elements, people feel that they “belong”:
a sense of “home” or belonging to a personal space and
a sense of “community inclusion” or belonging to a shared space.
We've learned that belonging is what helps people to maintain housing stability over the long term.

12. Homelessness is Always a Housing Issue*
We support people to find, establish and/or retain adequate housing.
What is "adequate housing"?
permanent,
desirable to the person/family,
affordable,
safe,
adequately maintained,
accessible, and
a suitable size.
** Angela: homelessness is always a housing issue**
I want to take a moment to expand on how we define adequate housing in our system. This definition was developed through community consultation during the last update of the Strategy in They are [read them].
We know that, right now, Waterloo Region does not have enough housing options that meet all of these criteria for everyone experiencing homelessness.
That is the reality we are faced with in our work, and something that the system as a whole is working very hard to address.
* but it may not be the only issue!

13. WHAT THE SYSTEM NEEDS Collective Impact Ending Homelessness
** Angela: 10 essential elements for ending homelessness - system**
Part of the work we are doing as a system involves thinking about how homelessness is created and sustained by systems – basically how systems or communities experience homelessness. As an extension of that, we are also thinking about what our system needs to end homelessness. Through community consultations over the last year, we came up with a "top 10 list" and even rated how strong we are in each area at our last community forum in June. Who was at that forum? I'm referring to the very popular "clicker" exercise.
The first 5 are conditions that support collective impact [read them]. Research has shown that, to achieve the desired social change with complex social issues like homelessness, a coordinated approach across all sectors is required – not the isolated interventions of individual organizations. This type of approach is referred to as "collective impact". With a “collective impact” approach, organizations from different sectors agree to solve a specific social problem by using a common agenda, aligning their efforts, and using common measures of success.
The second 5 conditions support ending homelessness specifically – these conditions are outlined in our Strategy. To reach our goal of ending homelessness by supporting housing stability and belonging, we need to focus on four system-level functions or processes.
First, we need to ensure that people have ACCESS to housing stability resources.
Depending on their circumstances, households should be supported to access resources through efforts related to:
HOUSING RETENTION – helping people at-risk of housing loss to stay housed OR
RAPID RE-HOUSING – helping people to find and establish housing as quickly as possible
3. Each of these processes should align with our local Housing First approach.
You will see that I have some happy and sad faces on this slide.
The results of our clicker exercise in June showed that our top strengths were related largely to our shared belief – our common agenda (read flip chart).
It also showed that our top challenges were about accessibility (read flip chart).
Common Agenda 
Cross-Sector Collaboration
Learning Culture
Continuous Communication
Backbone Support
Housing Stability & Belonging
Accessibility 
Housing Retention
Rapid Re-Housing
Housing First

14. Draft Housing First Applications
Belief that everyone deserves housing, is housing ready, and is better able to address challenges once housed
Person-directed: focus on housing choice, reducing harm
Philosophy
Working together to end homelessness by:
Prioritizing investments in supporting people to retain and/or find permanent housing as quickly as possible
Supporting people to access the right programs, at the right time
System Approach
No housing pre-conditions, no treatment required, re-house as needed
Designed for people experiencing persistent homelessness
Small staff to participant ratios (ICM or ACT models)
Support to find, establish and/or retain permanent housing, often with rent subsidy
Minimum once/week visits from Housing First worker
Program Model
** Angela: Housing First**
What does that look like? Well, we are still working to define Housing First locally and explore how implementing a Housing First approach can help us to end homelessness.
Right now we are exploring Housing First at three levels: as a philosophy, as a system approach, and as a program model.
[READ THEM]
The VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT can help communities to implement Housing First at both the system and program levels.
At the systems level, Housing First often is often connected to having coordinated entry to resources like affordable or supportive housing programs. For example, people would be "assessed" and then matched with the type of housing and/or support that best meets their needs. The VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT can help with that. In fact, through the 20,000 Homes Campaign, we will be piloting using the results of the VI-SPDAT to help inform who should access 40 new rent supplements with support through STEP Home.
At the program level, locally, we already have STEP Home programs that are designed specifically for people experiencing persistent homelessness. Some of these programs have features that align very closely to the Housing First program definitions I just described – like small staff to participant ratios and being very flexible. STEP Home programs are receiving some intensive Housing First training and research focus over the next few years. Through this process, we expect that our approach to helping people experiencing persistent homelessness will get even stronger.
If you are interested in learning more about Housing First, consider joining us in early December for some free training. Who here is planning to attend one or both days?

15. Local Context Summary We are part of a well organized system
common agenda (local Strategy, 10 Yr Plan)
learning culture supports us to evolve (e.g., access)
Ending homelessness requires housing options and a focus on long term housing stability
Housing Retention, Rapid Re-Housing, Housing First
adequate housing (permanent, affordable, desirable…), belonging, person-directed support
We are guided by our core values
Collaboration, Accessibility, Respect, Excellence
So I've covered a lot in a few slides. I'd like to review the main points…
We are looking for ways to improve accessibility.
We know our approach will always be focused on housing.
And we know that long term housing stability means that it can't just be about keeping or getting housed, but that, for housing to "stick":
people need to access the housing that is right for them,
there needs to be an investment in belonging and
support must be person-directed
Collaboration – we work together
Accessibility – we meet people where they are at
Respect – we value all people
Excellence – we are committed to doing our best (which is why we are here today – to learn by trying new things)

16. SPDAT Overview

17. What Is It? SPDAT's birth story:
Born in Toronto. Idea generated from direct support experience (shelters and street outreach).
Extensive research/testing.
Measures risks to housing stability in key domains:
VI-SPDAT identifies the presence of an issue.
Used in thousands of communities.
SPDAT identifies the depth of an issue.
Used in more than 500 communities.
** Angela: what is it?**
Who remembers Toby and Art – the two guys who helped us develop our local STEP Home programs back in 2006? They worked for Iain at the City of Toronto. Iain is the man who designed the VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT.
Iain was very involved in Toronto's "Streets to Homes" programs from the early to mid 2000s. He worked closely with emergency shelter and street outreach programs during this time.
Who here has met Iain in person? I have had the pleasure of meeting him on several occasions and I really like the way that he thinks. I always enjoy reading the musings he posts about ending homelessness through social media. Iain is very innovative and also very grounded. Because he was directly involved in the housing stability sector for many years, his vision of ending homelessness is rooted in the day-to-day realities of our work. He has a deep respect for lived experience and is a strong advocate for person-directed approaches to system change.
Part of the struggle he encountered in his work in Toronto was the lack of evidence-informed strategies for prioritizing who should get access to different types of housing stability resources – like more intensive supportive housing programs. He knew that there would never be enough resources for everyone who presented with an interest in accessing them. And, as we all know, long wait lists for services means people are held back from being able to move forward with their housing plans.
Iain was inspired by his struggles. He left the City of Toronto and created a consulting company called OrgCode. OrgCode supports communities to end homelessness. They are responsible for the VI-SPDAT and the full SPDAT.
The VI-SPDAT is a shorter tool sometimes also referred to as a Pre-Screen. It merges the Vulnerability Index tool with the domains of the full SPDAT. Right now, thousands of communities are using this tool. It identifies the presence or absence of an issue.
Then there is the longer tool or the full SPDAT. More than 500 communities are using this version of the tool.
Both tools are grounded in extensive research and consultation with service providers and people with lived experience.

18. http://vimeo.com/94910414 ** Angela: video #1**
Iain has a short video – its less than 10 minutes – that provides a bit more background to the VI-SPDAT.

19. What Can It Do?
Supports participants to strengthen housing stability and belonging:
Reduces the number of times people need to “tell their story” to access resources
Informs planning within the supportive relationship
Identifies changes in depth of need over time
Supports systems to strengthen collective impact:
Supports greater access and equity; assists with prioritization and triage
** Angela: what can it do?**
As Iain highlighted in his video, the VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT are both designed specifically for people experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of housing loss. There is one tool of each kind for singles and for families.
There are a number of benefits to the use of the VI or full SPDAT with participants:
With consent, results can be shared between programs, even those in other community systems. This means that people only need to tell their story once, reducing the traumatizing effect associated with sharing details about painful past events.
These tools provide a framework for supporting participants to create greater housing stability and belonging, over time. Completing the VI or full SPDAT opens opportunities for new conversations about what is happening in people's lives and what goals they may like to set for themselves, based on their lived experiences, and focused on strengths and risks related specifically to housing stability.
Basically, these are tools designed for ending homelessness, created by someone who has direct Ontario-based experience in our field, with the support of people with lived experience.
There are also a number of benefits at the system level:
Iain developed the tools because none existed that could inform, based on all available evidence, how people could best access resources across the system – not just within one specific agency. He was interested in helping people to access the right programs at the right time to end their homelessness.
Where systems have embraced the tools in this way, they have found that it has created greater accessibility and equity.
Staff moved away from using their "assumptions" about what participants "need" based on a "first come, first served" approach to service delivery.
Participants shared that they no longer felt access to resources was based largely on knowing a certain, well-connected person or being "lucky enough" to be somewhere at a certain time when the gateway to resources happened to be open. Resources were available to people who actually needed the level of support provided. And the person who really needed these resources the most, got them first.

20. SYSTEM VIEW Depth of Need Informed by SPDAT Different People,
Different Needs
Permanent
Supportive Housing
& STEP Home
Housing First
Programs
SYSTEM VIEW
Depth of Need Informed by SPDAT
** Angela: diagram – system flow**
Here is what this might look like. As I just outlined, right now, staff often make "assumptions" about what people experiencing homelessness need. They may consider a variety of factors, like length of stay in emergency shelters, different service transactions or anecdotal stories.
The VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT offer an alternative to this conventional approach.
Here are 7 people, who’s acuity or depth of need is not the same. All 7 get assessed by the same tool. The results help to inform what programs will best meet their needs, when they should access those programs, and how they should access them.
Only a very small number of people – maybe 15% - have a high level of need, high enough to suggest that permanent, supportive housing or more intensive support through STEP Home is required to end their homelessness.
About 30% of people have a moderate level of need. They may need some kind of time-limited support to help them find and establish housing. For families, these needs would be met through our Family Shelter Diversion pilot, for example.
Most people have a lower level of need and can end their homelessness largely on their own, through general housing help support like what may be offered through self-directed resource centres in the community that provide information about housing, income and support options.
The portion of people aligned to each approach reflects what we know about depth of need in the general population of people experiencing homelessness based on data from hundreds of communities across North America.
So, again, what are the benefits to adopting a coordinated approach like this?
Well, with limited resources – both time and money – we need to align our investments appropriately – saving the most intensive and expensive programs for people who actually need that level of support to end their homelessness.
And it only seems fair that the people who need the most intensive resources should get them first. Even if that means that people with lower level of needs have to wait longer.
Really the goal is to connect people with the right programs at right time, based on all available evidence about their depth of need and available resources.
Rapid Re-Housing
Support
General Housing Help Support
= Right Program, Right Time

21. What It Is Not?
SPDAT does NOT take the place of other valuable tools or other ways of understanding:
What you see with your own eyes
What you hear with your own ears
What you read from documents shared with you*
What other professionals have to contribute*
SPDAT does NOT provide a diagnosis of any sort.
* Applies to full SPDAT only.
** Angela: what is it not?**
Even if you use the VI-SPDAT or full SPDAT in your work, you still have the opportunity to add your own insights based on what you see and hear.
For the full SPDAT, you also have the opportunity to complement what you learn from the tool with documents that are shared with you and also what other professionals have to say.
Neither tool provide any diagnosis of any sort.

22. Local Implementation Progress
Spring 2014 pilot with 6 agencies included:
Training
3 month trial
Final evaluation
Identified the following strengths:
supports a unified approach and common language;
provides a quick, easy, and objective overview of support needs and barriers to housing stability;
informs referrals; and
useful for assessing people’s changing needs over time.
** Angela: local implementation progress**
To explore the potential utility of this type of approach, and local interest in supporting further implementation, the Region piloted both the VI and full SPDAT in spring 2014.
The pilot included the following:
Full-day training. Twenty-five staff received training in January In addition, pilot participants received phone and webinar support.
A three-month trial of the tool between March and May During this period, over 200 households were assessed, mostly through the VI-SPDAT.
A final evaluation. Evaluation activities included a short survey and pilot wrap-up meeting with pilot participants in June.
Six agencies participated in the pilot, including: Argus Residence for Young People, the House of Friendship, Lutherwood, ROOF, The Working Centre and YWCA Emergency Shelter Services. In general, at the end of the pilot, people thought it was a good idea to explore further implementation across the system.
People said the tools:
supports a unified approach and common language among service providers.
provide a quick, easy, and objective overview of an individual’s or family's support needs, and barriers to housing stability.
Help inform referrals to programs for which people are best suited.
And are useful for assessing people’s changing needs over time.
Based on these results, we decided to move forward with implementation across the system more formally.

23. What's Available to You Now
OrgCode website:
Description of tools (and other great resources!)
Videos (also check out Vimeo)
Articles and blog entries (also check out FB)
VI-SPDAT:
Manual for singles
Survey for singles and families
Excel data entry and scoring spreadsheet
** Angela: review resources*

24. Overview of Domains
** Kendra and Julie: share the general introduction of domains in this section**
Refer people to their packages. They can follow along as you introduce the sections.
Indicate that we will be walking through the tool in more detail using an on-line video after the general introduction.
Perhaps highlight a question from each?
Julie – in the last slide for this section, please describe how the F-VI-SPDAT differs from the VI-SPDAT for singles.

25. Wellness Risks Socialization & Daily Functions Housing History
Family Unit
Page 18

26. Wellness Mental Health and Wellness & Cognitive Functioning
Abuse/
Trauma
Substance Use
Physical Health & Wellness
Medication

27. Risks Harm Interaction with Emergency Services Managing Tenancy
High Risk & Exploitive Situations
Legal

28. Socialization & Daily Functions
Meaningful Daily Activities
Administration & Money Management
Social Relations & Networks
Self-care & Daily Living Skills

29. History of Homelessness & Housing
Housing History
History of Homelessness & Housing

30. Family Unit Family Dynamics
Julie – highlight the differences with the tool with respect to families. Edwina will do the detailed question-by-question review with scoring.

31. VI-SPDAT Training
** Ashley and Edwina: introduce VI-SPDAT training section**
Edwina – walk through the F-VI-SPDAT specific questions at the end and how to score.

32. Overview of Roles Participant Role: Seeking access to resources
Agree to participate
Answer questions honestly
Your Role:
Follow general script
Ask the questions exactly as they are presented
Score the results
Offer participants a summary
Share your learning with the local network
** Ashley and Edwina: roles**
Re: share your learning with the local network (the SPDAT Working Group) – indicate that we are interested in hearing about what's working, what's challenging, etc. so that we can support people with the tools better

33.
** Ashley and Edwina: introduce video – VI-SPDAT for single households**

34. Children
Edwina – walk through the F-VI-SPDAT specific questions at the end and how to score.

35. Family Unit
Edwina – walk through the F-VI-SPDAT specific questions at the end and how to score.

36. F-VI-SPDAT Score

37. Learning from Each Other
Don't change the wording or the order.
Encourage honest answers.
Practice.
Keep it brief – it's a survey, not therapy.
If part of intake, consider doing it last.
You can do it over the phone.
Minimize distractions. Pick a good time.
** Ashley and Edwina: share presenting on these tips**
The questions are written the way they are for a reason. Please don't change the words or the order of the questions. This is especially true for the last question about abuse and trauma. It was written very carefully by trauma experts. It is designed to protect people from being re-traumatized.
Encourage honesty. Assure participants that there is no judgment in their answers. Answering honestly helps to make sure the housing plan is right for them, based on wherever they are at right now with their housing stability.
Practice so you feel more comfortable with the words and phrasing. There is special phrasing in certain questions that makes a difference:
For example: questions 12, 15, 19, and 39.
Keep it brief. Ensure that participants understand that you are only looking for one word answers: yes or no. A common mistake is to try and offer support during the process, if an issue comes up. Wait until the end of the survey to engage with the participant deeper.
If you are doing the VI-SPDAT as part of your intake processes, consider doing it last. If you do everything else first, you can usually anticipate the answers to some of the questions or already know the answer and can refer back to something they have already said. If there are inconsistencies based on what you already know, you can ask for clarity. This helps to deepen your understanding.
You can do the VI-SPDAT over the phone. We have a special script for that, as well, that we will be releasing with our full set of materials when the VI-SPDAT is officially launched. But if you want to see the phone script sooner, let Angela know.
Sometimes participants can become distracted and may want to rush through the survey. A few things may help:
Make sure that people have had a meal, a drink or, if they smoke, a cigarette before sitting down to do the survey to minimize these distractions.
If a participant is really tired, very emotional, or if you suspect substance use, wait and conduct the survey at more appropriate time.

38. Keep In Mind…
It is a TOOL! (Decision Assistance TOOL not Decision MAKER tool)
There will always be exceptions – a “notwithstanding” clause will be necessary in some instances
The SPDAT is evolving – your voice is important to its evolution!
** Ashley and Edwina: share this slide too**

39. Let's Try It! "Pair and practice" exercise. Surveyor role:
Follow the general script provided.
Ask the questions. Do not change the words or order.
Participant role:
Answer from the perspective of someone you support.
Give feedback to each other. Then to the group.
** Holli: facilitate exercise**
We can give about 30 minutes for this exercise. People can pick a partner, take turns being the surveyor and the participant. Then give feedback to each other.
People can then offer feedback if they want to the larger group – this can be optional. Questions like: How did that feel? Insights about the questions, etc.

40. What's Next Implementation of VI-SPDAT through programs
** Angela: what's next*
Implementation of VI-SPDAT is being coordinated through our housing stability programs:
We have already started this process with Emergency Shelters, most of which piloted the tool earlier this year.
We have also begun the process of integrating the VI-SPDAT with our Family Shelter Diversion pilot program offered through Lutherwood.
Two STEP Home programs are likely next: the Streets to Housing Stability and Shelters to Housing Stability.
Planning for more training next year. Training on the full SPDAT is planned for later next year.
Our immediate priority is to move forward with implementing the VI-SPDAT and taking some time to learn about what impact it is having, before implementing the full SPDAT.
We know that implementing the full SPDAT requires a greater investment of resources. It is a longer tool and, within more intensive programs like Supportive Housing programs, it is generally repeated with participants at certain points in time to measure change in their lives within each of the different domains.
Given that the full SPDAT is a more involved tool, it requires a deeper level of commitment to implement – including more intensive training, participation in opportunities to ensure that the tool is being applied consistently across different programs, and the commitment to implement it within the context of support plans, etc.
Local SPDAT network is developing resources to further support implementation across the system :
Peer Support: Locally, we have learned that having some experience with the VI-SPDAT before using the full SPDAT has been helpful. We also know that skill with these tools develops over time. As we move forward with implementation for both tools, we will build a network of peers who can support each other. If you are interested in participating in peer networking, sign up on the sheet at the registration desk and we’ll get you connected.
Scripts: We have some general scripts that programs are working with now as part of our "soft launch" of the VI-SPDAT, but these need to be reviewed more formally to make sure they align with other scripts currently being used for other purposes in our programs. The script you used today was just for the purposes of this training, although you may want to consider using it during this "soft launch" period.
Consent Forms: Again, we already have consent forms in place, particularly for programs that use HIFIS. One of the great things about the VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT is that they are standard tools. We will look to support agencies with sharing the results with other support providers in order to serve people better. In order to move forward with this, though, we need to formally review the consent forms we have and likely make some adjustments.
Housing Barriers Tool: The VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT do not go into housing barriers specifically – like lack of references and credit issues. But we know that it is important to consider housing barriers when supporting people. So we are thinking of developing a common housing barrier tool to complement the VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT.
Support Plans/Processes: We will want to explore how the VI-SPDAT and full SPDAT can enhance the work we already do to support participants, particularly in our more intensive programs that support people over longer periods of time.
Training in HIFIS: For programs that use HIFIS, we will coordinate training opportunities so that people feel confident with how to enter the answers and print summaries of the results for themselves and participants.
Implementation of VI-SPDAT through programs
More training planned for later in 2015
SPDAT network is developing resources to further support implementation across the system:
peer support opportunities
scripts
consent forms
complementary housing barriers tool
integrating tools within support plans/processes over time
training in HIFIS

41. Evaluation & Wrap Up
Please complete your evaluation forms and leave them at your tables.
** Angela: thank you & evaluation/wrap up*