FROM THE MELVIN J. & CLAIRE LEVINE LIFEPLANNING® PROGRAM ON JULY 14, 2021
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – June 16, 2021 – Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service’s Melvin J. & Claire Levine LifePlanning® program invites people with disabilities, their parents, siblings and caregivers to attend a free virtual workshop to learn about APD: Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and the services and supports that they offer, on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
Mary Edwards from APD Cares will be the featured guest speaker, covering topics such as eligibility for APD services and iBudget Waiver, the referral and application process, and crisis Medicaid Waiver enrollment. The subject is extremely timely, as Florida’s lawmakers have agreed to spend an additional $95 million annually to provide more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the access they need to live in communities rather than facilities. This increased funding for the iBudget waiver – the largest funding increase in recent history – will help reduce the iBudget waiting list.
“Sometimes applying for benefits can seem complicated or overwhelming,” said Alpert JFS Director of LifePlanning® Tami Lustig, MSW. “Our goal is to simplify things for community members and provide them with knowledge and easy access to tools needed to assist in best planning for the future.”
To register for the workshop, visit alpertjfs.org/lifeplanning/ by Monday July 12, 2021. To request reasonable accommodations for a disability, phone Lustig at 561-713-1917 or email Tami.Lustig@AlpertJFS.org at least five [5] business days prior to the Zoom session. She is also available to answer questions and provide additional information.
A number of relevant workshops with diverse subjects are held annually. Earlier this year, participants enjoyed learning about government benefits, assistive technology tools, the importance of legal planning, ABLE accounts and special needs trusts, and relationships, boundaries and online safety. Upcoming workshops include “Being the Best Advocate for you and Your Family,” and “Mental Health First Aid” training, with the topics of “Home and Community-based Services,” “Education; Secondary Transition Services and Post-High School Options,” “Caring for the Caregiver,” and “Recreation, Socialization and Independence Skills” under consideration.
The Melvin J. & Claire Levine LifePlanning® program offers education, advocacy, confidential consultation, and emotional support to people of all faiths and ethnicities who have, or care for someone with a disability. Free workshops encourage and assist with planning for the future, providing information on education, recreation, building independence skills and vocational opportunities.
Established in 1974, Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service is a nationally accredited service provider for children, adults, seniors, and Holocaust survivors. The non-profit, non-sectarian organization is a trusted leader, with a team of nearly 200 highly skilled professionals delivering high-quality care to community members. Alpert JFS works to ensure the well-being of children and families, independence of older adults and quality-of-life for individuals with disabilities. For more information, visit AlpertJFS.org or phone 561-684-1991.