Current Wave Training Information

Wave 3 Session Descriptions and Slides
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Session One provides an overview of the practice of CTI with a focus on the core elements of the practice and what distinguishes it as a model from other case management approaches. The session reviews the connection between CTI and housing stability and the transition process and resources needed to achieve stability. Phases of CTI and CTI-informed modifications to the assessment and planning processes are introduced. ​
Session Two focuses on building the housing stabilization plan. This includes connecting Veterans’ personal short- and long-term goals to the planning process to increase motivation and likelihood of attainment. Identifying and connecting with a network of care to support the achievement of the goals in the plan is reviewed. The session concludes with a discussion of the Pre-CTI Phase of the practice and the use of warm handoffs to bridge Pre-CTI and Phase One.  ​
Session Three focuses on Phases 1-3 of CTI, once Veterans have moved into housing. This discussion of the phases includes the different staff roles, frequency of contact, tasks and focus in each phase. Techniques to help Veterans develop skills in managing resources and attaining goals and housing stability are reviewed. Small group discussions allow deeper dives into each of the Phases.  ​
Session Four focuses on the critical partnership between landlords, service staff and Veterans. The session discusses how to use the structure of the lease, coordination with landlords and a focus on building tenancy skills to improve housing stability. Mechanisms for coordination with landlords to prevent eviction are reviewed and participants have an opportunity to practice developing a harm reduction plan for eviction prevention with Veterans.  ​
​Session Five focuses on implementing CTI in your program and reviews implementation models, organizational supports needed, and tools and sample forms that support integration of the CTI practice. The use of team supervision forms and the CTI fidelity scale are highlighted. Action planning discussions provide opportunities for participants to identify program-specific strategies and approaches to implementation post-training.​
Session Six is presented by the Education Unit of the National Center on Homelessness among Veterans (NCHAV) and provides an overview of VA homeless services, encompassing the breadth of VA health and social services for Veterans with homeless experiences. ​
Meet Your Trainers
Suzanne Wagner, MS, LMSW

​Suzanne Wagner is a principal and founder at Housing Innovations (HI), a consulting group that assists organizations to develop and implement effective solutions to homelessness. She has provided training and consultation to hundreds of nonprofit and public agencies to expand their capacity to provide effective services and implement evidence-based practices (EBP’s) proven to end homelessness. She has worked with organizations to implement Critical Time Intervention (CTI), Housing First, Moving On from Supportive Housing (MOSH), and other EBP’s. 

A member of the Steering Committee of the Center for the Advancement of CTI at the Silberman School of Social Work at CUNY Hunter College, Suzanne has over 30 years of experience in the design of housing programs & services for homeless people, ranging from adolescents and families to single adults with complex needs.

Suzanne is a licensed Social Worker. She holds a Master Degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor Degree from Barnard College.
Andrea White, MS, LMSW

Andrea White has 30 years of experience providing programs to the most vulnerable homeless individuals and families. As a service provider in shelters in NYC in the 1980s, Andrea worked in close cooperation with researchers from Columbia University in the initial development of the CTI Model. She worked on the SAMHSA toolkit for Permanent Supportive Housing and participated in the development of the Safe Haven model and contributed to the Safe Haven Manual. 

Using lessons learned from her experience in street outreach, shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing projects, Andrea has provided training and technical assistance to look at the system of care for homeless people and people with disabilities.

Andrea has worked with the Veterans Administration for the HUD VASH program, including tribal HUD-VASH and provided video sessions, web based training, on-site training, technical assistance, the development of the HUD VASH Resource Guide, and presented at numerous conferences. She has also provided technical and program design assistance with new initiatives such as the Rapid Re-housing Program and the Covid 19 Response efforts.
Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
We are pleased to offer CEUs for attending the live CTI trainings. The following are requirements from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in order to receive CEUs for this training series:

  1. Participants must attend all of the first four training sessions live to receive their certificate for a total of 8 CEUs (attendance is tracked on Zoom, which automatically lists each participants entry and exit time). 
  2. Participants should be on time for each presentation. 
  3. Cameras should be kept on for participants
  4. Participants must complete a post-program summary evaluation after the Feb 1st session (this will be provided to participants on the date of the last session)

We will also provide, separately, 2 CEUs for the 5th training session (geared towards supervisors, available to ALL)

If you would like to receive CEUs for the trainings, please email Jenny.Barnard@va.gov with the following information:
  • Name
  • Phone number
  • E-mail address  
On-Demand Training Videos
Session One
  • Overview of the CTI model
  • Evidence for the CTI model'CTI and the GPD Case Management Aftercare Grantee Program
  • CTI core practices
    • Assessment domains for CTI
    • Housing stabilization / service planning
    • Goal identification and increasing motivation
    • Linking to resources
  • ​The links between CTI and housing stability
Session Two
  • ​​Assessment domains for CTI and risk factors for housing instability
  • Developing the housing stabilization/service plan
    • Tools to build motivation
  • Linking to community resources and developing a network of care
    • Individual resource guide tool
Session Three
  • Phases of CTI: Case manager tasks and roles
    • Pre-CTI: Housing planning phase
    • Phase One: Transition to the community
    • Phase Two: Try out
    • Phase Three: Step down and termination
      • CTI closing meetings, warm handoffs and transfer of care
Session Four
  • Case studies/discussions
  • Coordination with property managers in housing retention and eviction prevention
  • Harm reduction strategies for eviction prevention
Session Five: Supervisors Session
(Geared towards supervisors, ALL are invited):
  • Introductions and reflections on the CTI model
  • Practice shifts in CTI
  • Fidelity to the model
    • Implementation Self-Assessment Tool
  • Supports for CTI implementation
    • Forms: Assessments, Plans, Caseload Tracking Tool, Team Supervision Template, Sample Progress and Closing Notes
  • Supervision framework, tasks and tools
Session Six: ​VA Homeless Programs Overview 
(Intended for ALL participants)
  • The Education Unit of the National Center on Homelessness among Veterans (NCHAV) will provide an overview of VA homeless services, encompassing the breadth of VA health and social services for Veterans with homeless experiences. ​
  • No webinar is available for this session.
​QUERI-VISN Partnered Implementation Initiative (PII) 21-285
Principal Investigators: Drs. Sonya Gabrielian, Kristina Cordasco, Erin Finley
Last update:   September 2023