SOARing Above the Numbers
There is a Cherokee saying “When a storm is coming, all other birds seek shelter. The eagle alone, avoids the storm, by soaring above it.” I was reminded of this when I put together Emma Norton’s SOAR numbers for a report to the Minnesota Department of Human Services during the state’s fiscal year (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021).
During the pandemic, Emma Norton’s SOAR program provided services to 66 children, youth and adults, submitted 20 initial claims and 24 reconsiderations with 22 claims still in process. 11 claims were approved at the initial level or 55% which is well above the national average of 36%.
During the pandemic, Emma Norton’s SOAR program engaged in outreach too and collaboration with 37 community partner organizations. Through this outreach and these collaborations, Emma Norton’s SOAR program advocated for and provided additional services to 59 individuals to help them achieve their goals.
Emma Norton’s SOAR program helped 25 people achieve housing stability, 8 to acquire needed medical services, 17 to acquire needed mental health services, 10 to acquire needed substance use treatment, and 14 to obtain or maintain General Assistance, Minnesota Family Investment Program, MSA-housing benefits or unemployment insurance. Emma Norton’s SOAR Program also assisted 5 people to obtain or maintain Medical Assistance, 4 to manage and achieve full benefit of their Medicare after RSDI approval, 10 to obtain employment services including volunteer opportunities and vocational rehabilitation, 3 to obtain educational opportunities and 8 to obtain representative payee services, IRS stimulus checks and low income friendly financial institutions to open checking and savings accounts.
Emma Norton’s SOAR program has also kept in touch with its 66 clients on a weekly, monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly basis during the pandemic and provided assistance with food support, discussions around getting vaccinated, vaccine site locations and appointments and free vaccine transportation services.
Soaring above the number, I am humbly reminded of the Cherokee saying “When a storm is coming, all other birds seek shelter. The eagle alone, avoids the storm, by soaring above it.” And this is how the saying ends, “So, in the storms of life, may your heart soar like an eagle.”
Jon Katherine Martins
SOAR Practitioner
