CMT September 22, 2008 Meeting
Missoula Job Service
Members Present: Jodie Rasmussen~The Lifelong Learning Center, Megan Westover~WORD-Futures, Maggie Driscoll~District XI HRC, Saundra Long~Job Service, Mark Cumming~Voc Reab, Chris Mitchell~OPA, Kelly Deniger~Missoula Job Service Palmer Street, Diana Reetz-Stacey~UM COT, Brenda Warner~ExperienceWorks, Sundee Carr~Missoula Prerelease, Tamara Missoula Housing Authority
What’s new this year at the CMT?
We tried guest speakers last year, it is time to try something new-
1. Perhaps have two groups, a leadership group that consists of the decision makers that could collaborate on grants, focus on issues and legislation. A second group that would allow the staff to share, do the roundtable and allow staff to network and interact. A forum for sharing, learning, building professional networking.
2. Time-not Monday’s, Thursday mornings 10-noon, Frequency-every six months for staff meetings, quarterly for leadership group, Format for Delivery-need more discussion for staff meetings.
3. Postpone first meeting of the Leadership Team to November 6, 10 am to noon. Not ready for line staff meeting yet. Would like the leadership to take on big issues like the next step for welfare reform to discuss and take to the next level. A planning meeting October 2nd from 10 am to noon was already set and will continue the dialog to plan for the staff and leadership meetings.
4. Need something to pitch at the first leadership meeting, need the governor, county commissioners or representatives. E-mail Saundra or Jodie the list of people that we should invite.
Lets catch up on the summer’s activities
Missoula Job Service
Members Present: Jodie Rasmussen~The Lifelong Learning Center, Megan Westover~WORD-Futures, Maggie Driscoll~District XI HRC, Saundra Long~Job Service, Mark Cumming~Voc Reab, Chris Mitchell~OPA, Kelly Deniger~Missoula Job Service Palmer Street, Diana Reetz-Stacey~UM COT, Brenda Warner~ExperienceWorks, Sundee Carr~Missoula Prerelease, Tamara Missoula Housing Authority
What’s new this year at the CMT?
We tried guest speakers last year, it is time to try something new-
1. Perhaps have two groups, a leadership group that consists of the decision makers that could collaborate on grants, focus on issues and legislation. A second group that would allow the staff to share, do the roundtable and allow staff to network and interact. A forum for sharing, learning, building professional networking.
2. Time-not Monday’s, Thursday mornings 10-noon, Frequency-every six months for staff meetings, quarterly for leadership group, Format for Delivery-need more discussion for staff meetings.
3. Postpone first meeting of the Leadership Team to November 6, 10 am to noon. Not ready for line staff meeting yet. Would like the leadership to take on big issues like the next step for welfare reform to discuss and take to the next level. A planning meeting October 2nd from 10 am to noon was already set and will continue the dialog to plan for the staff and leadership meetings.
4. Need something to pitch at the first leadership meeting, need the governor, county commissioners or representatives. E-mail Saundra or Jodie the list of people that we should invite.
Lets catch up on the summer’s activities
- Maggie-Human Resource Council, Summer Lunch Program, new people in Food and Nutrition Office at MCPS School district took it over, but still doing it in Mineral County.
- Bonnie Buckingham new Director at WORD, New Development Director Also
- ExperienceWorks, moving office by Dec 1. Don’t quite know where yet. Very busy, economic slowdown is increasing enrollment.
- Diana-COT more switch to Online courses from face to face courses. Worked with The Lifelong Learning Center with Stimson layoffs. Number of enrollments are up, exploring new areas, new grant staff member to look at additional ways to bring programs and funding to the community. Also working on proposal for new building on golf course. Working on Engineering Tech two year program and Pharmacy Tech Program two year programs. Veterans upward bound program is available, it is a free programs to help prepare veterans to help transition to college.
- Sundee at Prerelease, Department of Corrections wants a new Prerelease Center in Kalispell. Several agencies put in bids to run the new facility, decision will be made toward the end of October. After decision they will have a public meeting in Kalispell. Sundee attended a CMT meeting in Kalispell, they have probation and parole attend and have do soft skills training.
- Job Service at Palmer, very busy, short staffed but hired recently so trying to get caught up. Successful with RFP, but lost some programs, still trying to do them under regular funding. With downturn in economy they are seeing increased numbers.
- OPA-co-located with the Worc program. Oct 1 Food Stamps will have a new name SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. No change in benefits or application process. Trying to inform people of name change.
- Housing Authority, Waiting list is growing exponentially last year. In April the waiting list was 2 years now at 3 to 3.5 years. IDC off of Russell, has tax credits available but it is not enough to build the 37 unit complex due to fluctuations in the market, was planning on breaking ground in October but that may not happen. Realtors are saying that vacancy rate is less than 1%, allowance is not going up but rental prices are. Can not provide emergency housing, Salvation Army used to have FEMA vouchers for emergencies but they are also maxed out. Selling off 20 of the public housing units in South Hills, they are not handicap accessible, they are older and harder to maintain 4-5 bedroom single family homes, the income will go into the IDC site. Don’t know if it is in the best interest of Missoula to put an additional 20 houses in an already overstocked market. Applying for other grants to try to expand resources, can not make working mandatory for getting housing assistance.
- Voc Rehab is focusing on kids in high school transitioning to school or work. Counselor will be in the three high schools during the week to better connect and assist with the transition. Montana Association for Rehabilitation is having a conference soon. Social Security Disability has recently changed its rules, if a person who is on disability finds employment for 90 or more days, Voc Rehab can now get reimbursed more easily and other people/agencies that provided services may also be able to get reimbursed.
- Job Service-very busy, resource area is packed, every computer is being used, real increase with employer testing wanting testing certificate with a score turned in with an application. Giving up the annex building, REO lost its staff and may be pulling out of Missoula because focus is really on the rural areas. The Job Service had been subsidizing the building and can no longer afford to do so. Running workshops with Police Department, but open to the public, interviewing workshops 90 minutes on how to present yourself and interview. First workshop is tomorrow then Oct 13, 3 or 6 pm. Working with the School of Business on Resume and Job Interview skills, Job Fair April 23, 2009.
