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The March 2023 LIFTT Connection is now available

The March 2023 LIFTT Connection Newsletter

The March 2023 edition of the LIFTT Connection Newsletter is now available!

Click here to download it (Adobe PDF) 

In this issue of the LIFTT Connection:

You can request that we email you an electronic copy or mail you a paper copy by sending your name and address to jedb@liftt.org  Also, look for articles from the newsletter to be posted on liftt.org and our Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Instagram feeds.

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Information & Referral: A good way of finding things out

Information & Referral: A good way of finding things out

Editor’s note: A version of this story appears in the March 2023 LIFTT Connection Newsletter. You can download the newsletter here (Adobe PDF) 

Getting to the Core of it: Information & Referal: A good way of finding things out

Editor’s note: With the March 2023 newsletter we begin a series called “Getting to the core of it” where a LIFTT Team member offers their perspective on one of our Core Independent Living Services. In this issue Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator Jed Barton talks about the service of Information & Referral.

Sesame Street ranks as one of my all-time favorite tv shows, and a search of YouTube confirms that one of the lessons imparted by that show on a regular basis was and still is (feel free to read the following in the voice of your favorite Muppet). “Asking questions is a good way to find things out.”

In my mind that is the attitude that lies at the heart of the core independent living service of information and referral. Living with a disability means living with a high level of uncertainty; not knowing where to go or what to do in a certain situation.

That is where information and referral come in; a consumer once told one IL specialist that the LIFTT team is like a “Human Google” and that there wasn’t a question they had asked that we didn’t either answer or point them in the direction of someone who did.

What are my rights under the ADA? Where can I find accessible housing? How do I ride the Met Bus? Who can help me with adaptive technology, These are some of the questions the LIFTT team has guided consumers the answers to through information and referral.

So if you or someone you know has a question about living with their disability relating to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security benefits, food insecurity, human & civil rights, affordable & accessible housing, home modification, service animals, adaptive equipment, accessible technology, employment, education, transportation or anything else find us on the web, call us on the phone or drop by the office and we will do our best to provide you with the information or referral contact you seek.

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

March 2023 Director’s Corner: Forging the Aging & Disabled Alliance

Editor’s note: A version of this story appears in the March 2023 LIFTT Connection Newsletter. You can download the newsletter here (Adobe PDF) 

With the new funding received from the USAging/Administration for Community Living (ACL), LIFTT enters a new phase of work in association with the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Adult Day Health Centers (ADHCs), Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), and other Long-Term Services and Support (LTSS) Providers. 

Even though people still tend to think that aging and disability are different life experiences and distinct from each, they are not. In Montana and all over the nation: aging and disability dynamically intersect, and the facets of aging and disability harmoniously coexist, cooperate, and mutually support each other. Americans of all races, colors, creeds, genders, sexual orientations, national origins, ages, and disabilities complement each other. In that spirit, we believe partnerships such as the one established between USAging and LIFTT will strengthen our society. 

LIFTT wants to further the alliance between aging and disability by establishing new partnerships with the AAAs to focus on aging and disability within the boundaries of their intersection, where these camps cross paths and achieve independent living goals. By establishing partnerships with AAAs and other core organizations, LIFTT will promote person-centered health and help all Montanans live longer and healthier lives. 

On our end, LIFTT handles a complexity of issues that affect the disabled population: youth transition to adulthood; meaningful and sufficiently paid employment; adequate support for workers with disabilities; incentives for work; family support; deinstitutionalization; housing; group homes; transportation; ADA accessibility 

and accommodations; Medicaid; discrimination; formal and informal in-home supports; self-direction of care; access to healthcare; and civil rights. In short, LIFTT helps people to live successfully in their homes and communities. 

From their perspective, USAg-ing/AAAs and other core partners address chronic disease; prevention and wellness; financial security and insecurity; age discrimination; medication management; dementia; family caregivers; cost of care; abuse; Medi-caid; transportation; home and community-based services; Medicaid spend down; palliative care and hospice; the role and future of nursing homes; the importance of self-direction; end of life issues, and death. In short, USAging/AAAs assist older persons in living meaningful and independent lives. 

With these commonalities in mind, LIFTT has accepted funding from the USAging/ACL and committed itself to the alliance between aging and disability. 

The intersection of aging and disability provides a common need to focus on helping people live in their communities by aligning our policies and programs to focus on how best to support a person’s need for long-term support and care. 

The partnership is a powerful force capable of facing some of our most significant social challenges, such as COVID-19 and Influenza. LIFTT is inviting the AAAs and other aging core-partner organizations to preserve, protect and promote the aging and disability alliance and help the people with disabilities and older adults of the great state of Montana to live good long lives. We look forward to making our plans a reality. 

Thank you, 

Carlos Ramalho 

Executive Director 

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.

Make sure your address is updated with OPA

Make sure your address is updated with OPA

Editor’s note: A version of this story appears in the March 2023 LIFTT Connection Newsletter. You can download the newsletter here (Adobe PDF) 

Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS)

With the end of the federal public health emergency and accompanying extra Medicaid funding set for March 31, 2023, the state of Montana Office of Public Assistance (OPA) has begun the process of determining if everyone who received Medi-caid coverage during the public health emergency will remain qualified to do so under normal circumstances.

To that end, OPA is contacting all Medicaid enrollees via mail to start the eligibility redetermination process. Therefore, all Medicaid enrollees must provide OPA with their accurate mailing addresses. You can check and correct your address information at https://mt.accessgov.com/dphhs/Forms/Page/medicaid/changeofaddress.

If you need assistance in checking or changing your address online or with filling out and submitting the Medicaid eligibility redetermination forms, contact the LIFTT office in your area at (406) 259-5181 (Billings) or (406) 948-8500 (Glendive).

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

“Luck of the Draw” Raffle to be drawn March 30, Get Tickets Now!

“Luck of the Draw” Raffle to be drawn March 30, Get Tickets Now!

Editor’s note: A version of this story appears in the March 2023 LIFTT Connection Newsletter. You can download the newsletter here (Adobe PDF) 

The Glendive office of Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) is now selling tickets for its “Luck of the Draw” raffle with the prize drawing scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30. Ticket holders will have the chance to win one of four unique prize packages made up of items from local Glendive businesses. LIFTT would like to thank all the businesses that donated to the raffle and we encourage everyone to show their support for these businesses that have supported LIFTT!

The prize packages are:

Grand Prize: Grill’N More: (Valued at $555)

Even Ember 6 Burner Gas Grill – Donated by Tractor Supply $25 Gift Card – Donated by Albertsons

Softer Side: (Valued at $450)

$150 Refurbished 3-drawer Dresser – Donated by Neighbor’s Helping Neighbors, $100 Gift Basket – Donated by Crav’ns, $150 Gift Basket – Donated by Montana Glam (2) $25 Gift Certificates – Donated by Fitzerelli’s.

Ruff & Tuff: (Valued at $450):

$100 Gift Card – Donated by Holiday Gas Station, $250 Various Gift Certificates – Donated by Robins Service, Gift Certificate for 1 Free Haircut (Valued at $30) – Donated by Salon 406, (2) $25 Gift Certificates – Donated by Fitzerelli’s, Small set of Tools & 3 Ball Caps (Valued at $20) – Donated by Auto Value, A Wall Décor Sign – Donated by Glendive LIFTT Employees.

Date Night: (Valued at $375)

Gift Certificate for 1 Free Night Stay (Valued at $100) – Donated by Holiday Inn, $50 Gift Certificate – Donated by The Flower Basket, (2) $50 Gift Certificates – Donated by Fitzerelli’s, (2) $25 Gift Cards -Donated by Penny’s Diner, $50 Gift Card – Donated by Yellowstone River Inn, $25 Gift Card – Donated by Re-Treat, 2 Home Décor Items – Donated by Glendive LIFTT Employees

Tickets are $20 each and are available for sale Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the LIFTT office at 120 South Kendrick Avenue in Glendive. For more information contact the Glendive LIFTT office at (406) 948-8500.

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

USAging/ACL grant to help LIFTT facilitate access to vaccines

USAging/ACL grant to help LIFTT facilitate access to vaccines

LIFTT receives vaccine access grant from USAging/ACL

Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) is pleased to announce a grant received from the USAging/ Administration for Community Living (ACL), to help facilitate LIFTT’s participation in a new multi-organization collaborative to provide greater person-centered access to vaccines such as COVID-19 and flu to the aging and disabled community.  

“The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the fact that people with disabilities face a myriad of barriers in accessing the health care resources they desire to utilize including vaccines. We hope through this project to work with our partners as well as the individual consumers to tear down some of those barriers and get people the care they want,” said LIFTT executive director Carlos Ramalho. 

“We are grateful to USAging/ACL for the opportunity and resources to engage in this vital work. The ability of anyone regardless of disability to live independently in the home and community of their choice begins with the ability to manage their healthcare as they choose.”    

Through the Aging and Disability Vaccine Collaborative (ADVC), LIFTT will partner with public health agencies, clinics, providers, and community groups to further facilitate access to vaccines across the LIFTT’s 18-county service area in Southeastern & Southcentral Montana including Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Stillwater, Wibaux, and Yellowstone counties. 

While plans are still to be finalized activities to be undertaken as part of the ADVC project include hiring and training additional independent living specialists and community health workers, holding community vaccination clinics, facilitating transportation to vaccination sites, assisting with in-home vaccinations, and providing accurate and timely education and outreach to LIFTT consumers and the public in physically accessible and culturally competent formats. All these activities will be person-centered.

For more information about the ADVC and the other services LIFTT offers please visit http://www.liftt.org, download the LIFTT app for your Apple or Android mobile devices, or call LIFTT in Billings at (406) 259-5181 or in Glendive at (406) 948-8500.  

LIFTT Board of Directors to meet March 9

LIFTT Board of Directors to meet March 9

 

The board of directors of Living Independently for Today &Tomorrow (LIFTT) will hold a meeting on Thursday, March 9, 2023, beginning at 4 p.m. The meeting will be conducted virtually using the Zoom platform. The public is invited to attend and offer comments during the public comment period.

Click here to view or download the meeting agenda and zoom information for the March 9, 2023, LIFTT board of directors meeting. (Adobe PDF)

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.

Glendive office reopens

The Glendive LIFTT office is open today February 22, 2023

The LIFTT Glendive office has reopened for business, today Wednesday, February 22, 2023. You can stop by the office at 120 S. Kendrick Avenue or call (406) 948-8500. Please follow LIFTT on Facebook or our website and app to keep up with any notices regarding weather-related changes to our operations.

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.

Glendive Office closed until further notice

Glendive Office closed until further notice

Due to weather and Illness the Glendive LIFTT office will be closed until further notice
We are sorry but due to the weather and illness, LIFTT’s Glendive office (120 S. Kendrick Avenue) will be closed until further notice. All appointments are canceled and team members will not be traveling to other communities.
Keep an eye on the Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT) FB page or our website LIFTT.org for updates about when we will be reopening. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

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.

Pint Night for LIFTT March 30 at Thirsty Street in Billings

Pint Night for LIFTT March 30 at Thirsty Street in Billings

LIFTT Pint Night @ Thirsty Street Brewery on Thursday March 30 from 5-9 p.m.

A Pint Night for LIFTT will be held at Thirsty Street Brewing Company, 2321 1st Avenue North in Billings from 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 30.

$1 from every beverage (both alcohol and non-alcohol) sold will be donated to support our mission to “LIFTT” people with disabilities over life’s barriers. LIFTT team members will also be on hand to introduce themselves to the community and provide information about our programs and services.

So grab your friends for a night out and support a good cause at the same time by joining us for the Pint Night for LIFTT on March 30!

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.