CMT Meeting Minutes, June 3

Missoula CMT Core Group Meeting
Thursday, June 3, 2010

CMT Recertification Review
Reviewed goals and continuous improvement plan for the CMT recertification, which is due at the end of June. Goals were agreed upon, and recertification materials will be submitted as soon as possible. We are due for a cross training event this fall. Monique suggested that for our next cross training we look at doing a bus tour of service providers in Missoula, with opportunities for networking while on the bus.

Updates
Maggie Driscoll, Human Resource Council
DPHHS is releasing some ARRA money for a small summer youth employment program. Through this program HRC will be able to serve about 40 youth in 3 counties, ages 16-18. For this program, school status does not matter. The Sapphire Clinic is up and running. The Rapid ReHousing program will continue through September 30th.

Michelle Parks, Child Care Resources
There are lots of vacancies right now for child care providers, in addition to provider numbers decreasing. There is a new rating system coming up that will cause only certain providers to be selected for review. This has caused some concern for many child care providers, as the providers who are reviewed have the opportunity for some coaching and mentoring that will not be available to the others. There is some damage control right now due to a local news story related to child care providers. The state is continuing to look at reduced staff and centralized services.

Diana Reetz-Stacy, College of Technology
Diana provided information about Elevate America. The COT is investigating becoming a Certiport for testing for the Elevate America vouchers. There is some extra space in computer labs over the summer.

Monique Fortman, Lifelong Learning Center
The LLC is planning for next fall and next fiscal year. During the summer classes will be four days per week with morning hours. The LLC will see another 10% decrease in Adult Basic Education funds for next year. If funds continue to decrease, they will have to look at a decrease in instructional hours. Many of the Smurfit employees who were laid off are moving on to the College of Technology. The LLC is currently advertising for a Secretary position, and have just hired a bookkeeper. They are still looking for good instructors with new topics for Fall and Spring classes.

Saundra Long, Missoula Job Service
A National Emergency Grant (NEG) was approved for Western Montana. In the near future we will have information about how this will impact our region. It is targeted for people who have been affected by the decline in the timber industry. A UI extension was not approved before Congress went on a break, so some people may see their benefits end before Congress can address another extension. Job orders have increased. Many Elevate America vouchers have been requested through jobs.mt.gov. We are slated to lose 3 temporary staff at the end of June.

Next Meeting
The next CMT Core Group meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 1 at 9:00 am at the Job Service.