Because LIFT volunteers are not case managers, they are uniquely positioned within the community to link clients to crucial services and benefits they need to stabilize themselves and their families. With appropriate training, LIFT volunteers can handle all "one-off" needs like benefits screening/enrollment and résumé writing within the office. They then refer clients to trained professionals and experts (e.g. social workers, legal professionals, etc.) at the necessary point of intervention. In this way, clients have a sustained advocate and "home base" as they meet their various needs, and community professionals are doing less intake and needs assessment which otherwise overwhelms their case loads. Furthermore, by leveraging a committed volunteer base, LIFT is able to provide all of its services at a fraction of the cost of other providers—a savings for the community at large.
View LIFT’s 2011 Impact Report to see how LIFT centers impacted families, volunteers, and communities this year.
