This Week at Protected Tomorrows®

Note from the Founder of Protected Tomorrows, Mary Anne Ehlert:
As we begin a wonderful new year, it is a perfect time to reflect upon the year that we have just said goodbye to.  It has been a difficult year for many as we are all challenged with these difficult economic times.  It is so important to reflect on our many blessings and be thankful for what we do have.

Personally, this year I lost my mother, who was my best friend.  But in turn, our family had a new life join our family, with the birth of my grandchild, Melody Jadyn Ehlert.  It was joyous occasion for us.  I feel blessed once again.

Here at Protected Tomorrows, we have met so many wonderful families.  I want to thank them all for being our friends as well as our clients.  Most importantly, families continue to teach us.  It is through our experiences with families over the years that we understand what families need and then develop new solutions as well as research new opportunities. 

I thought I would take this time to reflect on our mission and how we progressed in 2008.  We have many new initiatives for 2009 in the works as well, and I will give you a glimpse of where we plan to go.

I wish everyone a New Year full of hope, opportunity and peace of mind.

Mary Anne Ehlert
President, Protected Tomorrows, Inc. 

Protected Tomorrows - A Review of 2008

Our Advocates   This year we added several new Advocates. We now have representation in Illinois, California, North Carolina, Utah, Nevada, Wisconsin, Washington, Virginia, and Tennessee.   We are continuing to search out just the right affiliates to join our network of Advocates around the country, so that families across the country have access to local resources as well as to our corporate Illinois staff.

Our Family Workshops   We now offer 1 hour, 2 hour and full day workshops for families, covering the full scope of life care planning.    Many organizations took advantage of these new workshops throughout the year, including many school district transition programs.

Our Newsletters   We offer newsletters to families, professionals, and organizations.  We can also provide newsletter content to support groups, providing important life planning resources.

Nationwide Benefits Processing Center   We assist families with processing of their government benefits applications nationwide.  We assist with SSI, Medicaid, SSDI, VA and many other program applications and maintenance of those same programs.

Participation in National Conferences   We participated in over 200 conferences and workshops throughout the year, helping families understand many of the nuances of life care planning important to their family member’s future care.

PTLIVE – Our New Online Resource Directory   Families now have access to all types of resources available to them.  We hear that families obtain much of their information through other families, word of mouth and other professionals.  We are putting every bit of information we can find on our new resource directory, so that families can have easy access to information by category as well as zip code.   We encourage all resource organizations to load their data and keep it current for families to have access to their services.

LifeCare Design Studio    We initiated our newest company, an architecture company that assists families convert homes to be accessible and to build new accessible homes.   We are working jointly with groups to identify new housing needs and to research ways to accomplish meeting these needs in new and creative ways.    This company’s principal was instrumental in proposing the resolution to the American Institute of Architects to require all new housing designs be truly universally designed so that everyone has the right to have total access within their homes.
 
Protected Tomorrows – A Glimpse into 2009
We have many exciting things in store for 2009

NEW Online Access to Planning for Families   In early 2009, we will be releasing our Process for Protected Tomorrows™ in online format, so that all families will have access to cost effective planning.   This new tool can be used by all families individually or jointly when working with their local Protected Tomorrows Advocate.

NEW Online My Special Life Book   In early 2009, the online version of My Special Life® will be available to families nationwide.   Families will be able to store the history of their family member online, so that it is accessible to care providers, teachers, camp counselors, medical professionals, and future guardians.

Services for Everyone   We at Protected Tomorrows have always had the goal to provide services to every family who has a family member with a disability.  Our new online services, our expanded workshops as well as expanded one on one consulting provide access to every family, no matter income level, geographic region, or level of disability.

Tomorrows Careers   Protected Tomorrows announces our newest company.  This new initiative brings to families access to outstanding professionals who will provide career assessments, job placement and job coaching capabilities. This new company will also provide consultations to corporations, assisting them with their disability awareness campaigns.

Home Accessibility Audits   Our LifeCare Design Studio is adding the capability of full audit services for accessibility of properties.  This new service will be available to families, realtors, and service organizations.   This enables a family to have the most cost effective living environment that is accessible to the entire family unit.

The Gift I Was Given   Our story along with a How To manual will be published in mid 2009.  It will be available on our website as well as in bookstores.  It will not only provide caregivers a step by step plan to follow but will also provide some amusing reading for that much needed respite time.

The Special Needs Network   Our not for profit entity will be expanded to raise funds to further education among families, as well as to provide scholarship opportunities for families who need planning but cannot afford to hire assistance.

Training Programs for Corporations   We now have the capability to train financial professionals across the country to work hand-in-hand with our corporate offices in providing quality life care planning to families.  

Corporate Benefit Program Partnerships   Corporations are looking for ways to help their employees as well to become more profitable.   A large percentage of employees have more on their mind than their job.  They are worrying about the care of their child with a disability, their adult family member who needs support, or their parents who can no longer care for themselves.   Corporations can now partner with Protected Tomorrows to ensure their employees have access to quality information for their family members, so that the employee can once again become an effective employee, knowing that their family member is cared for in the best manner possible.

These are just a few of the new initiatives you will hear about in 2009.   We will continue to listen and develop solutions so that families feel more secure, less alone, and have the peace of mind that they are doing the absolute best they can for their families.

Let Us Know What YOU Think

If you have any questions or comments on how Protected Tomorrows might help families, feel free to send us an email at the Contact Us section of www.protectedtomorrows.com.  We are looking to be the premier resource for families so that everyone gets the help they need.  Your feedback is valuable to our ability to share the information and make the site the best it can be.

Our goal at Protected Tomorrows is for families with special needs to live safe and fulfilling lives.   Let us hear from you.