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Peer Mentor named new Data Manager

Tricia Cutright has been named LIFTT’s new Data Manager. Cutright has been with the agency since 2019 as a peer mentor.

Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) is pleased to announce that Patricia (Tricia) Cutright has been chosen as the agency’s new Data Manager. Cutright succeeds Steve Woodard who is retiring after more than a dozen years with LIFTT; the last two as Data Manager.

Cutright is no stranger to LIFTT. Since 2019, she has been part of the organization as a Peer Mentor, becoming enmeshed in the workings of LIFTT and promoting the independent living philosophy. Tricia has also assisted with the Peer Support Group, assisting IL Specialists in the Billings office, and representing LIFTT as part of the Yellowstone County Local Behavioral Health Advisory Committee.

“Our peer mentoring program is designed to educate about independent living and prepare the participating peers to learn skills that prepare them for further work either here at LIFTT or in the wider community,” said LIFTT Executive Director Carlos Ramalho.

“Tricia rising from the peer program to become our next Data Manager is a perfect example of that concept working as intended. I would hope people with disabilities would look at what Tricia has accomplished and see themselves doing similar things through our peer program.”

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. Please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app on Apple or Google Play for more information.

LIFTT & Carbon County Public Health to hold Red Lodge COVID Vaccine Clinic 12/12

A Covid-19 vaccine clinic will be held in Red Lodge on December 12 sponsored by LIFTT and Carbon County Public Health.

Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) is joining with the Carbon County Public Health Department to provide a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Monday, December 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the conference room of the Public Services Buliding located at 10 South Oakes Avenue in Red Lodge. The clinic will be providing the Moderna Bivalent Covid Booster.

Anyone interested in receiving a vaccine is asked to make an appointment by calling Carbon County Public Health at (406) 446-9941. Participants in the clinic are asked to bring their vaccine cards and insurance information with them to their appointments.

Valerie Rowlison: #TeamMemberTuesday

Valerie Rowlison has been a Program Facilitator with LIFTT’s Community First Choice Self-Directed Personal Assistance Program since 2020.

HI! My Name is Valerie Rowlison. I have been a personal care program facilitator at LIFTT since 2020. I have enjoyed learning about the Community First Choice self-direct personal assistance program and assisting consumers that wish to remain in their homes with the assistance of a caregiver who provides them with hands-on help with daily living activities.I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation from Eastern Montana College (now known as MSU Billings).

My career path has been working with the developmental disability population; spanning from early intervention to aging and long-term care. I have had the opportunity to provide case management services for adults in Wyoming and New Mexico and enjoyed my time as a family support specialist working with young kids and their families in Eastern Montana. For me, the focus was providing person-centered services and promoting the goals and dreams of those I served. I’m a Montana native. I enjoy spending my free time watching movies, hanging out with family and friends; getting competitive on game nights, or window shopping for antiques. When the opportunity arises traveling is highlighted even if it’s just a day trip.

Please call me if you or a family member are Medicaid eligible and need hands-on assistance with dressing, hygiene, bathing, etc. I will be able to assist you if you live in one of the 18 counties of our service area.

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.

RSV: Keeping yourself safe

Using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, this photomicrograph revealed the presence of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in an unidentified tissue sample, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants and children under 1 year of age. (CDC/Dr. Craig Lyerla)

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), an extremely contagious virus, can severely affect the lungs and respiratory airways in disabled and older individuals. Maybe you have not heard of the RSV yet, but it has arrived in Montana and has become a health concern.

The RSV symptoms go from mild to severe and last up to two weeks. They include fever, headaches, coughing, sore throat, running nose, congestion, and fatigue.We regret to inform you that no vaccine is available against RSV. To avoid being infected by the RSV, you have to keep social distance and not have contact with anyone infected.

If the RSV infects you, cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid close contact, such as kissing, shaking hands, and sharing cups and eating utensils with others.

For more information about RSV please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s RSV page by clicking here.

Stay safe and happy holidays,

LIFTT’s Team

Disclaimer: This information in this post is intended for educational and informative purposes only and are not intended to serve as medical or professional advice. You should always consult your physician or other health care professional regarding your individual healthcare needs

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.

Tonnette Jensen: #TeamMemberTuesday

white female with brown hair wearing a green dress with red, yellow white, powder blue and pink wildflowers

Tonnette Jensen is an Independent Living Specialst and Assistant Manager of LIFTT’s Glendive office which serves Carter Custer, Dawson, Fallon, McCone, Power River, Prairie, Richland, and Wibaux Counties.

My name is Tonnette Jensen, I was born and reared in Washington State. When I was 18, I felt like I needed to be elsewhere, and that is when I decided to make a big move to Eastern Montana. I have been a part of the LIFTT team for almost two years, and I am excited to be a part of the constant improvements and changes of LIFTT as well as the amazing team we have here. I love challenges and problem-solving. I hope to be able to assist you in getting to where you want to be in life!

Coming to LIFTT, I bring the knowledge of being a strong advocate for myself and others. Working with people who have disabilities has made me want to see change, address the tough issues, and provide a voice for those who feel like they don’t have one. When I hear the word “disability” I think of something beautiful, and strong, I want to help people with disabilities think that way about themself.

During my free time, I like to hang out with my husband as well as my three dogs and three cats at home. Nothing beats watching “Golden Girls” while being with the people and animals I love.

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.

Happy Thanksgiving from LIFTT!

Happy Thanksgiving!

LIFTT Offices are closed Today November 24th and Tomorrow November 25th so our team can celebrate with their friends and families.

We will reopen on Monday, November 28 at 8 a.m.

All of us at LIFTT wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

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.

Tricia Cutright: #TeamMemberTuesday

My name is Tricia Cutright and I have been at LIFTT as a Peer Mentor since 2019. Peer mentors provide education, recreation, and support opportunities to individuals. The peer mentor may challenge the mentee with new ideas and encourage the mentee to move beyond the most comfortable things. Most peer mentors are picked for their sensibility, confidence, social skills, and reliability. Currently, I am training with Larry Ketchem to become an Independent Living (IL) specialist. He is blind and I am his reader.

I am a person with invisible disabilities. I have PTSD, Bipolar Disorder 1, and Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar type. These disabilities are challenging because most people do not understand Mental Health disabilities. I decided to share this information with you on this blog to encourage those who deal with invisible disabilities and let them know that we can live independently. I hope with my work through LIFTT and Mental Health Advocacy I can bring awareness to this issue.

Because of my disabilities, I became involved in the Butte-Silver Bow Mental Health Local Advisory Council in 2016. I was a part of the committee that worked with Montana’s Peer Network to bring the Certified Peer support pilot program to work with Butte’s police department and Mental Health providers.

I moved back to Billings in 2018 and contacted the local Mental Health Advisory Board to continue my involvement with Mental Health Advocacy. I met the board chair who happened to work at LIFTT. He got to know me and interviewed me for the Peer Mentor program. I have been involved with the council now known as the Yellowstone County Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council and LIFTT ever since.

I have an extensive background in Computers, and I hope to someday complete my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. I only need 5 classes to finish but funding is currently my roadblock. While I am not able at this time to work in the demanding field of technology, I am able to use the skills that I learned in previous work experience to help support staff at LIFTT. I love helping people and making their life easier.

I crochet hats for the homeless and paint pictures for my own enjoyment.

I would encourage anyone with a disability across our service area who wants to help people to please consider becoming a Peer Mentor at LIFTT and we will be able to work together for the advancement of the independent living 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.

LIFTT partners with KTVQ to produce “Helping Everyone Rise”

We hope you enjoy this video entitled “LIFTT: Helping Everyone Rise” featuring LIFTT team members talking about how they live and thrive independently with their disabilities. LIFTT offers people, of all ages with all types of disabilities, the advocacy, and resources to do the same.

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.