September 2021 Newsletter: Jeremiah Thompson on the track to success

Editor’s note: A version of this article appears in the September 2021 edition of the “LIFTT Connection” newsletter

LIFTT Consumer Jeremiah Thompson was recently accepted to the MT Job Corp program after reciving asistance from IL Specialist Jen Hawkinson — **18-year-old Jeremiah Thompson of Glendive is back on track towards completing his high school diploma after receiving assistance from IL Specialist Jen Hawkinson.** *(submitted photo)*

18-year-old Jeremiah Thompson was afloat. He was a high school dropout with no job, no future on the horizon, and no place to go. “I didn’t know what to do,” he said, “and I really needed help!”

Jeremiah’s sister reached out to Independent Living Specialist Jen Hawkinson from the Glendive branch of LIFTT, hoping she could get Jeremiah back on track. Little did Jeremiah know that Hawkinson was a powerhouse of ideas and a relentless advocate. “Jen is super persistent, “said Jeremiah, “she was on me 24/7, no slacking’.”

Jen met with Jeremiah and his family to discuss options that would help him obtain his high school diploma which included enrolling in the High School Equivalency Test (HISET) offered by both the Dawson Community College in Glendive, and the Job Corps program in Anaconda.

Jeremiah was drawn to Job Corps because it included occupational training courses and the High School Equivalency Test. Jen obtained the application papers from a Job Corps recruiter and helped Jeremiah fill them out. Unfortunately, there was a snag. Jeremiah was missing essential documents including his birth certificate, social security card, and school transcripts. He had no idea where they were, and neither did his family, but that didn’t stop Jen.

” Jen is super persistant, she was on me 24/7, no slacking”
Jeremiah Thompson on working with LIFTT IL Specialist Jen Hawkinson

Undaunted, she told him to contact Action for Eastern Montana, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting education. Jeremiah had been enrolled at Action as a child and was able to retrieve the necessary government forms. She assisted him in getting a replacement for a lost Social Security card. Jen then invoked the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) which provides public access to all federal agency records, allowing Jeremiah to take possession of his elementary and high school transcripts.

Once everything was in place, he submitted the Job Corps application and, shortly afterward, was accepted into the program. Despite the successful outcome, Jen wasn’t finished yet. She had recognized that Jeremiah’s’ disorganization was a barrier to his future and, through guidance and providing him with a personal lockbox, Jeremiah can now locate his important documents. “It is discouraging to keep losing things and be so disorganized.” he said, “but thanks to LIFTT and Jen, now I know where everything is!”

Jeremiah Thompson with his sister Sammi Murphy. It was Murphy who directed Jeremiah to LIFTT. (Submitted photo)

Today, Jeremiah’s future is bright. He owns a car and recently landed a maintenance job. He is considering returning to Job Corps at some point, but right now, Jeremiah is attending high school in Dickinson, North Dakota, working for his dad and keeping his life on track.

December 2020 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Now Avaliable!

The December 2020 LIFTT Connection Newsletter is now available! Click here to download it (Adobe PDF)

You can request that we 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 and Twitter feeds.

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.”

Glendive Raise Your Vibrations Support Group to meet December 13

Raising Your Vibrations Peer Support Group We will meet at the Eastern Montana Mental Center @ 119 S. Kendrick Avenue in Glendive on Friday December 13 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Glendive area residents with mental health and addiction issues are invited to join with others with lived experience in addictions and mental health illness to help each other maintain your/their recovery.

The Raising Your Vibrations Peer Support Group will meet on Friday December 13 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center (119 S Kendrick Ave).