What is What is

Bridge to Bridge to Benefits?Benefits?

Bridge to Benefits is a Bridge to Benefits is a multi-multi-state projectstate project focused on focused on improving the wellbeing of improving the wellbeing of families and individuals by families and individuals by linkinglinking them to public them to public work work support support programs, programs, tax tax creditscredits, and other , and other valuable valuable resourcesresources..

The project is the product of The project is the product of a a partnershippartnership between between Rural Dynamics, Rural Dynamics, IncorporatedIncorporated and the and the Children’s Defense FundChildren’s Defense Fund and was launched in late July and was launched in late July 2008.2008.

WhyWhy

Bridge to Bridge to Benefits?Benefits?

To link individuals and To link individuals and families to the families to the work work supportsupport benefits and benefits and other other resourcesresources that can help that can help MontanansMontanans bridge the gap bridge the gap—keeping more —keeping more money in money in their pocketstheir pockets and lifting and lifting them them out of povertyout of poverty..

Bridge to Benefits is completely Bridge to Benefits is completely anonymousanonymous and and freefree for both for both individuals and organizations individuals and organizations that choose to use it. In that choose to use it. In 13 13 simple questionssimple questions users will be users will be screened for potential eligibility screened for potential eligibility and referred to and referred to local officeslocal offices for for applicationsapplications and and assistanceassistance..

What does What does

Bridge to Bridge to Benefits screen Benefits screen

for?for?

MedicaidMedicaid Children’s Health Insurance Children’s Health Insurance

Program Program Childcare ScholarshipsChildcare Scholarships Low Income Energy Assistance Low Income Energy Assistance

ProgramProgram Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program Program Free and Reduced School Meal Free and Reduced School Meal

ProgramProgram Earned Income Tax CreditEarned Income Tax Credit

Access point for other non-cash Access point for other non-cash resources:resources: Asset Development ProgramsAsset Development Programs Early Childhood Development Early Childhood Development

ProgramsPrograms Disability ServicesDisability Services Food and Nutrition ProgramsFood and Nutrition Programs Health and Dental ProgramsHealth and Dental Programs Housing and Transportation ProgramsHousing and Transportation Programs Employment and Financial ProgramsEmployment and Financial Programs Legal AssistanceLegal Assistance Programs for Senior CitizensPrograms for Senior Citizens

I am a service I am a service provider, how provider, how does Bridge to does Bridge to Benefits help Benefits help

me?me?

As a service provider you As a service provider you can both can both referrefer clients to clients to the the Bridge to Benefits Bridge to Benefits website, or utilize the website, or utilize the website yourself for website yourself for quickquick reference and screening.reference and screening.

As a As a service provider service provider you have the option of you have the option of becoming a becoming a partnerpartner on on the the Bridge to BenefitsBridge to Benefits website.website.

As a As a partnerpartner you will have you will have the ability to log into the the ability to log into the quickquick version of the version of the Bridge Bridge to Benefitsto Benefits website in the website in the blueblue box in the upper right box in the upper right of the website. of the website.

Utilizing the Utilizing the partner loginpartner login allows allows us to track how many people you us to track how many people you screen for screen for benefit programs benefit programs and and how many of them are how many of them are eligibleeligible for for services.services.

This is extremely useful for This is extremely useful for grant grant reporting purposesreporting purposes. Data can be . Data can be extracted from the website and extracted from the website and reported to funders and partnersreported to funders and partners. .

We provide We provide partnerspartners complete data complete data reports reports bi-annuallybi-annually. .

Logging in as a Logging in as a partnerpartner also gives also gives you the ability to choose between the you the ability to choose between the quickquick andand regularregular versions of the versions of the web tool.web tool. The The quickquick version removes page version removes page

breaks and detailed question breaks and detailed question explanations from the explanations from the screening screening processprocess..

The The regularregular version is exactly the version is exactly the same as the version of the web tool same as the version of the web tool accessible to the accessible to the general publicgeneral public..

To sign up as a To sign up as a partnerpartner click the click the Become a Become a PartnerPartner link on the main link on the main page of the page of the Bridge to Bridge to Benefits Benefits website. website.

Download, complete, and Download, complete, and return the return the applicationapplication as as indicated.indicated.

Save Save http://http://bridgetobenefits.orgbridgetobenefits.org on on your desktop and your desktop and referrefer clients to screen clients to screen themselves.themselves.

List your List your organizationorganization and and programsprograms on on Bridge to Bridge to BenefitsBenefits by contacting us! by contacting us!