It’s another entry in our “Wednesday Wisdom” series; Where we take you, our consumers, supporters, and readers inside of LIFTT to give a detailed picture of some portion of our programs, services, operations, and related topics. This week, CFC/SDPAS Program Facilitator Tabatha Smith offers a newcomer’s perspective on the learning curve faced by team members when they join LIFTT.
A newcomer’s perspective on LIFTT
By Tabatha Smith
LIFTT CFC/SDPAS Program Facilitator
LIFTT CFC/SDPAS PCA Program Facilitator Tabatha Smith,
I came to LIFTT as an employee in November of 2022. Before I saw the ad on Indeed, I didn’t even know LIFTT existed. I was applying for employment everywhere to secure an income to provide for my children. Little did I know LIFTT would be a blessing I never saw coming.
I met Lanette, Freda, and Valerie at the first interview. With just the interaction with those three ladies, I was extremely hopeful from that point on. Then I did a second zoom interview involving Lanette, Freda, Valerie, and Carlos. That was when we confirmed I would start before Thanksgiving and work as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Facilitator. I was beyond thrilled and willing to undergo the training required for the position. I have been working at LIFTT for three months and have already passed my PCA Facilitator testing.
A few things I learned rather quickly are that Carlos is deaf, Lanette resides in Carbon County like me, Valerie has a great and quirky sense of humor, and Freda is the supervisor of both the PCA and Independent Living (IL) Programs. I learned that LIFTT stands for Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow and is a non-profit organization that helps people with disabilities in Yellowstone and 17 additional counties. LIFTT is funded through Medicaid, Part B, Part C, General Fund, and private grants. The funding LIFTT receives yearly varies.
Since being hired by the PCA department, I had to memorize what CFC/SD-PAS stands for Community First Choice/ Self Direct- Personal Assistant Services. I Learned that SDRs are Service Delivery Records, also known as Time Sheets. I am still learning, and the big-picture pieces are coming together. I am feeling more and more confident in my position. We triple-check all SDRs for every payroll period because they must comply with many policies enacted by Medicaid. A PCA Facilitator must know almost by heart all these policies to be able to review them. 3-4 sets of eyes review each piece of paper to catch mistakes that possibly got overlooked. There is no room for errors on our end. Paying attention to detail is a big part of what we do in the PCA department. If we overpay someone, it is up to LIFTT to pay Medicaid back. This process is a great opportunity for us to cooperate as a team.
I came to LIFTT with some previous knowledge of Self-Direct services. I used to work for a self-direct PCA program as a PCA through another agency in 2020 and 2021. During that time, I took care of my mother in her near-end days at home until her being at home was no longer an option. The CFC/SD-PAS program helps keep people in the comfort of their own homes and closer to family and friends. When members choose a self-direct program for their care services, they feel independence, safety, and security. They get the opportunity to control what is going on in their daily lives and how things get done. Members get a sense of comfort when they know their caregiver personally instead of receiving hands-on care from a stranger. Agency-based services could send a different caregiver often, leaving the member to receive care from multiple strangers or not due to workforce retention issues.
The Independent Living (IL) Program helps consumers with services like ADA home modification for ease of access and independence, information and referral, advocacy, youth transition, etc. An IL Specialist (ILS) can also help a member apply for SNAP, Medicaid, Social Security benefits, and grant funding for home modifications, among other things. The IL Program does a lot of outreach to get our name and what we do in the community. Some members using LIFTT’s services are working with the IL Program and the CFC/SD-PAS program simultaneously. Some members (persons who receive services) have been in the PCA program for years. Some members come to us and only need temporary assistance, while others need our long-term services.
LIFTT has taught me quite a bit so far, and I hope I continue to learn a lot more in time. Everyone here at LIFTT is very welcoming and informative and has made me comfortable enough to ask questions, even if I ask the same thing multiple times. I am excited to keep learning all about what LIFTT can offer to the community and help “LIFTT” people up in life. I believe in what LIFTT does and support our services and the team members who belong to LIFTT. I am looking forward to many years of service to the cause of independent living.
If I can assist you, please do not hesitate to contact me at (406) 294-5191 or tabathas@liftt.org.
About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides people with disabilities with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and southcentral Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Stillwater, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app on Apple or Google Play.