December 2020 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Now Avaliable!
You can request that we mail you a paper copy by sending your name and address to jedb@liftt.org
Sign up to receive the newsletter and other updates from LIFTT via email by clicking here
Also look for articles from the newsletter to be posted on liftt.org and our Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Billings Food Bank schedules Farm to Trunk Food Distribution
The Billings Food Bank plans three more Farm-to-Trunk distributions.
The food bank will distribute 40-pound food boxes from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, Tuesday-Thursday, Nov. 10-12, in the food bank’s parking lot at 2112 Fourth Ave. N.
The pre-packaged USDA cartons will contain dairy, protein and produce items.
Everyone is eligible to receive the items. In a press release, the food bank asked individuals receiving food to be courteous and follow traffic instructions at the venue.
Volunteers are needed to assist with food distribution. Anyone willing to help should call 406-259-2856.
Vocational and Rehabilitation and Independent Living Virtual Town Hall Meeting to be held November 10
The Disability Employment Transitions Division (DETD) invites the public to join via zoom a town hall meeting on the Vocational Rehabilitation & Blind Services (VRBS), and Independent Living Programs (IL) on Tuesday November 10.
DETD welcomes Montanans to come and share about your experiences, suggestions, comments, concerns, and questions related to both VRBS and/or IL.
The virutual town hall meeting will be held on Tuesday November 10 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and can be acessed using the zoom platform at:
https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/96189937060 Meeting ID: 961 8993 7060 Dial by Telephone: (646) 558-8656
If you cannot join for the live meeting, comments can submitted online https://dphhs.mt.gov/detd/PublicComment or can also be submitted via US Mail to: Disability Employment Transitions Division PO Box 4210 Helena, Montana 59604
**Written comments must be received by November 30, 2020 to be included in response report. Be sure to provide an email or mailing address to receive responses.
Review the VRBS State Plan here
Review the State Plan for Independent Living here
Minutes from the October Board of Directors Meeting now available
The minutes from the LIFTT board of directors meeting held on September 13, 2020 are now available for review. Click on the link below to download them (Adobe PDF)
https://www.liftt.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/LIFTT-Board-of-Directors-Minutes-10.13.2020.pdf
LIFTT to open office in Glendive
Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) is pleased to announce that it has opened a new office in Glendive, in order to accommodate the growing need for independent living services in the eastern portion of the agency’s 18 county service area.
The Glendive office will be located at 100 ½ South Merrill Street Unit #12 and can be reached via phone at (406) 606-1766 or via email at jenh@liftt.org
“The decision to reestablish an office presence in Glendive is a logical step in our growth strategy,” said LIFTT executive director Carlos Ramalho. “Eastern Montana has a diverse population in need of independent living services that recognize and celebrate the uniqueness and diversity of the region.”
To begin with the office will be staffed by one independent living specialist, Jen Hawkinson who will act as LIFTT’s front line presence in eastern Montana communities providing the region’s disability community with programs and services in several core areas including: Information and Referral, Advocacy, Peer Support, Skills Training, Youth Transition, and Institutional Transitions. Hawkinson has many years of experience in the human service field and has long been a part of the Glendive community.
Ramalho says that the hiring of Hawkinson and the opening of the Glendive office are just the beginning of LIFTT’s plans for offering independent living services in the region. “LIFTT hopes to further expand its staffing and professional capabilities as well as to establish partnerships with schools, human service agencies and other community institutions that will allow us to further increase our ability to provide services to consumers in the counties we are charged to serve.”
LIFTT Board of Directors Elects New Officers
Billings MT- The board of directors of Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) recently elected new officers at its annual meeting held on October 13, 2020.
The officers elected by their fellow directors are: Chair Andy Fox ,Vice-Chair Sandra Meehan Treasurer Paula McMahon and Secretary Lee Hoblitzell. The elected officers will serve a five-year term from October 14, 2020 through October 13, 2025.
Also serving on the board as directors are: Chad Hooker, Dan MacDonald, Lavonne Miller-Kautzmann, Ian Elliot and Bob Maffit.
“We appreciate the efforts of these committed volunteers and look forward to working with our board of directors to do great things for people with disabilities and the independent living movement in southeastern Montana,” said LIFTT executive director Carlos Ramalho.
Minutes from September Board of Directors Meeting Now Avaliable
The minutes from the LIFTT board of directors meeting held on September 8, 2020 are now available for review. Click on the link below to download them (Adobe PDF).
https://www.liftt.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/LIFTT-Board-of-Directors-Minutes-09.08.2020.pdf
LIFTT Staff to work remotely from October 7
In response to the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in Yellowstone County and the surrounding area, starting October 7, 2020, with exception of the management team, the staff of Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT), will be working remotely.
This period of remote work will run through the close of business on Friday November 6, 2020 at which time LIFTT will reevaluate the situation and make further determinations regarding our operations. Updates will be posted to our website, Facebook and Twitter pages as they become available.
During this period of remote work, LIFTT staff will be, during regular business hours, continue to provide services via phone, email, fax, and other technology. We will monitor and respond to all voice messages and emails to LIFTT in a timely manner.
LIFTT is taking these actions out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our staff, consumers and the community. We thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.
The LIFTT staff and board assure you that during this challenging time LIFTT remains committed to our mission of empowering persons with disabilities to “LIFTT” themselves over the barriers of life.
Click here for a directory of a complete directory of LIFTT Staff.
LIFTT Board of Directors to hold Annual Meeting via Zoom October 13 @ 4:30 p.m.
The board of directors of Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow will hold its Annual Meeting to elect officers for the new fiscal year on Tuesday October 13, beginning at 4:30 p.m. MDT.
Due to the continuing need for social distancing the board meeting will be conducted virtually using the Zoom platform.
The public is invited to attend and offer comment during the public comment period.
Click here to view the meeting agenda and Zoom info (Adobe PDF)
Living Well in the Community Workshop begins October 6
Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT) is pleased to offer a 10 session workshop entitled “Living Well in the Community (LWC)”
Designed as part of the Healthy Community Living (HCL) program, LWC is a peer led workshop for people with disabilities to set goals to support their overall quality of life and wellbeing.
Workshop participants can:
- Identify what is meaningful to them and then set quality of life goals around ways they want to make their lives better
- Make progress toward the goals they set by applying problem-solving skills and managing emotions like frustration and discouragement, feelings that can get in the way of reaching goals
- Discover tools and skills that can make goal achievement easier like communicating effectively and finding important resources
- Explore ways to improve their overall health by changing daily habits
- Practice self-advocacy and systems-advocacy to help them make changes that can support them and others in living well
Class sessions will be held virtually via the zoom platform. A zoom link will be provided when you register.
Class Dates: Tuesdays October 6 – December 8
Time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information or to register contact Tanya Thomas at (406) 690-6324 or tanyat@liftt.org during regular business hours. Please let us know if you need any special accommodations when you register.
To learn more about Living Well in the Community visit: http://healthycommunityliving.com/living-well-in-the-community.html
For more information about using, or obtaining our services call (406) 259-5181 or (800) 669-6319.