Focus groups-other

OMB NO. 0930-XXXX
Expiration Date XX/XX/XXXX

ATTACHMENT M
FOCUS GROUP RECRUITMENT LETTER
Public Burden Statement: An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control
number for this project is 0930-xxxx. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated
to average 90 minutes per respondent, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 1 Choke
Cherry Road, Room 7-1044, Rockville, Maryland, 20857.

M-1

Jacqueline Kauff
Senior Researcher

600 Maryland Ave. S.W., Suite 550
Washington, DC 20024-2512
Telephone (202) 484-9220
Fax (202) 863-1763
www.mathematica-mpr.com
202-484-5266

(DATE)

NAME
ADDRESS 1
ADDRESS 2
CITY, STATE, ZIP

Dear (NAME):
Mathematica Policy Research (Mathematica) is conducting an evaluation of the SSI/SSDI
Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) initiative. The goal of this evaluation is to describe the
ways in which states have implemented SOAR and to gather information about the initiative’s
initial outcomes. The evaluation is collecting and analyzing data from a variety of sources,
including individuals who have participated in the SOAR training. Results from the evaluation
will contribute to federal, state, and local stakeholders’ understanding of how SOAR works and
areas where SOAR could be modified to better serve clients. This evaluation is sponsored by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA).
In (MONTH, YEAR), two members from the Mathematica team will conduct site visits to
states that have implemented SOAR. During the visit, the team will conduct a variety of
individual or small group discussions with key SOAR stakeholders. Potential participants in
these discussions include: state and/or local team leaders, SOAR trainers, and administrators and
staff from the local Social Security Administration field offices, the Disability Determination
Service, and other key state and local agencies involved in the effort (e.g., hospitals, state and
community mental health agencies, correctional facilities, housing and other public assistance
agencies, and homeless services providers).
We will also conduct focus groups with case managers, social workers, and other individuals
who have received the SOAR training. The purpose of these focus groups is to understand
SOAR participants’ perceptions of the training and to gather information about the experiences
that individuals have had using the skills taught by SOAR. The focus groups will require
approximately 90 minutes and will be conducted at a time and location that is convenient for all
participants.
Within the next few weeks, a member of the Mathematica study team may contact you by
telephone to request your participation in a focus group. Your participation is voluntary and not

M-2

LETTER TO:
FROM:
Jacqueline Kauff
DATE:
PAGE:
3
required by your employer or the federal agency sponsoring this project. If you decide to
participate, we will not report your individual responses to the questions that are generated
during the focus group. Only summary information that does not identify individual participants
will be reported.
Your participation in a focus group will provide valuable information that can be used to
understand whether the SOAR training is likely to help improve the lives of homeless
individuals. Further, the information you provide will help to determine how SOAR could be
improved and expanded.
Please feel free to contact me at 202-484-5266 or [email protected] if you have
any questions or concerns.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and contribution to this important effort!

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Kauff
Project Director

M-3

OMB NO. 0930-XXXX
Expiration Date XX/XX/XXXX

ATTACHMENT N
FOCUS GROUP CONFIRMATION LETTER

Public Burden Statement: An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control
number for this project is 0930-xxxx. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated
to average 90 minutes per respondent including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 1 Choke
Cherry Road, Room 7-1044, Rockville, Maryland, 20857.

N-1
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Jacqueline Kauff
Senior Researcher

600 Maryland Ave. S.W., Suite 550
Washington, DC 20024-2512
Telephone (202) 484-9220
Fax (202) 863-1763
www.mathematica-mpr.com
202-484-5266

(DATE)
NAME
ADDRESS 1
ADDRESS 2
CITY, STATE, ZIP

Dear (NAME):
We appreciate your willingness to participate in a focus group about the SSI/SSDI Outreach,
Access and Recovery (SOAR) initiative in your state. The goal of the focus group is to gather the
perspectives of case managers, social workers, and other individuals who have participated in the
SOAR training. Specifically, we hope to discuss your experiences with the training and whether
the training has been useful in helping individuals who are homeless obtain SSI/SSDI benefits.
The focus group will be held at (LOCATION) at (TIME). The focus group will require 90
minutes.
We greatly appreciate your participation in this focus group. The information that you
provide will help us understand whether the SOAR training is likely to help improve the lives of
homeless individuals.
Please feel free to contact me at 202-484-5266 or [email protected] if you have
any questions or concerns or if you are unable to attend the focus group at the scheduled date and
time.
Thank you again for your contribution to this important effort!

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Kauff
Project Director

N-2
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer