Community Management Team Full Group Meeting
September 23, 2010
Welcome and Introductions
Nina Cramer – Missoula Forum for Children and Youth
Nina spoke about the Family Connections event coming up on October 19, 2010 from 4:00 to 7:30 pm in the Home Arts Building at the fairgrounds. Forty-five agencies from around the state have been invited to participate. Donations are needed for door prizes. Please visit their website www.MissoulaForum.org for more information. Saundra will email the announcement out to all CMT members who may wish to participate. If you have staff that may be interested in learning more about other community organizations, this would be a great event to have them attend. Tables will be set up, providing the opportunity for staff to interact with, and learn about, many different organizations. Donations are needed for door prizes.
Fall Training
Fall CMT cross-training options were discussed. We try to have a cross-training about every six months, targeted at helping staff at our respective agencies learn more about other agencies in Missoula, and provide an opportunity to network at these events. A bus tour of agencies was discussed. The general feeling was that it would be difficult to plan, and difficult for staff to attend a full day or even half day event. An easier approach was suggested: each participating agency would set aside one day to host a “tour day.” Thursdays were put forth as a good day for these tours, with 15 or so people from each agency visiting the host organization. Jodie from the Lifelong Learning Center said she could handle the registration for this. Another popular option for a cross training event was centered on the subjects of self-care and compassion fatigue. Possible presenters were discussed. The discussion involved the stress being felt in the service arena by workers of whom much is expected in the way of services, but who are being given less and less in terms of resources. Everyone is doing more with less, and expectations are higher to do more, which results in staff feeling “squeezed from both ends.” A compassion fatigue and self-care training could be timely moving in to the winter months.
Agency Updates
Saundra – Missoula Job Service
Saundra talked about the JSEC/SHRM Disability workshop scheduled for October 13th. Anyone interested in attending can contact Deb Gass at the Job Service. The workshop is in partnership with the 2010 Montana Association for Rehabilitation Conference. Saundra brought up the question of the feasibility of a fall Job Fair. The new On-the-Job Training (OJT) program at Job Service was discussed, with the need of referrals mentioned. The Job Service is partnering with the Missoula Public Library for the Job Search Skills Workshops and Job Search Etiquette classes.
Jodie – Lifelong Learning Center
Jodie announced that fall classes at the LLC were full and there is a need for teachers for the winter quarter. Adult Basic Education classes got funding again this year at the same level as last year. Even Start was funded again this year. This is a program which provides child care while the parents are in class. The program will accept infants this year.
Melissa – YWCA
Melissa stated that their emergency and transitional housing are all full at this time.
Bonnie – WORD
Bonnie shared information about the Futures Program being cited by the National Organization for Women (NOW) for age discrimination. They had different age levels for participants in the program, based on their gender. The program needed to lower the age cap of participants to 21 years for both men and women. They have served 64 families and there has been a drop in funding.
Shannon – Vocational Rehabilitation
Shannon talked about the new intake procedures. Please call for information about the group intake sessions. New participants who are interested in Vocational Rehabilitation are required to attend an initial meeting of 20 to 30 people. It can take up to 4 weeks to get your initial appointment with a VR counselor. They are soon to be fully staffed. Shannon provided additional information about the 2010 Montana Association for Rehabilitation Conference which will be emailed out to the full CMT.
Jim, Maggie – Human Resource Council
Jim provided information about the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. Applications will be mailed out after October 1 to people who have previously been enrolled in LIAP. They also talked about the fall/winter Youth Employment and Work Readiness workshops. Their Sapphire Clinic in the Bitterroot is recruiting for a nurse.
Nina – Missoula Forum for Children and Youth
Nina provided additional information about upcoming trainings presented by the Forum. More information can be found online at http://www.missoulaforum.org/. Community events can be added to the calendar on the Forum website.
Meeting adjourned
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Next Meetings
The next full CMT meeting will be on Thursday, September 23rd from 3-5 pm at Mountain West Bank next to Costco.
The next Core Group CMT meeting will be on Thursday, October 7th at 9:00 am at the Job Service.
The next Core Group CMT meeting will be on Thursday, October 7th at 9:00 am at the Job Service.
Core Group Meeting Minutes-September 2
CMT Core Group Meeting Minutes
September 2, 2010
Deverie-Job Corps Update
Marie Garrison has taken over admissions for Job Corps in Missoula. Deverie will focus more on placement, and will continue to manage placement and admissions for Job Corps in Ravalli County. Job Corps is starting to focus more on the soft skills of their participants, and now begin the admissions process with an interview session focusing on soft skills. The participants will fill out a job application and be evaluated on their interview skills. This will happen before they begin the program. Job Corps has an 80% placement rate after graduation. Job Corps will also begin piloting Industry Sector Centers, where centers focus more on specific industries and there is less duplication between centers. For example, Kicking Horse may focus more on Mechanics and Health Professions. They are going to cut their culinary and carpentry programs.
Wolf-Job Service
This was the first week of school for many past Smurfit employees. Thanks to the LLC and the COT for all the work they did to prepare participants for their schooling. Wolf will talk with Diana to better streamline the process for participants getting the books and tools they need for their programs and courses. There is a new OJT (On the Job Training) grant that will be distributed throughout the state by population. This grant starts in early October and ends on June 30th. If you know employers who are interested in training new employees, have them contact the Job Service. The OJT Grant targets dislocated workers, workers who have been laid off from their previous jobs. The Job Service is seeing a downturn in mass layoffs, but many job seekers are long-term unemployed. Job Service has started up some new workshops, one on Basic Job Search Skills and one on Online Applications and Email accounts. Call Job Service for more information. The UI (Unemployment) Phone call workshop on Wednesdays is still busy. It is still taking many people weeks to get their UI benefits. The Disability Navigator grant has been moved to DPHHS and extended through June 2011. The Department of Labor is applying for a grant that would continue to fund the Navigators and make the Job Service part of the Ticket to Work Program.
Monique and Jodie-Lifelong Learning Center
The LLC only got four applicants for their recent job opening. There seem to be some issues with the new online application for MCPS. Testing certificates are required for many MCPS openings, and when those are not attached the application can be flagged as incomplete. Monique is on several committees right now, examining education in Montana. ABE (Adult Basic Education) funding actually increased this year, which was surprising. They were expecting a decrease in funds. The LLC is changing their ABE schedule; they will not offer classes on Thursday afternoons. They are also moving to a managed enrollment system for ABE, regulating the number of people who will attend classes at certain times. The managed enrollment will likely increase demand on ABE. The Even Start program has also had some changes. The program starts in October, and the LLC has opened up evenings three nights each week from October to March. The new partnership between LLC and Home Resource is working out great. There is a tool library at Home Resource and people can rent time in the Home Resource wood shop. Scholarships are available for classes at Home Resource through LLC. In September the LLC starts putting together their winter schedule, and they are always on the lookout for good instructors. If you meet people with interesting work history and skills please tell them about the opportunity to teach at LLC. The LLC will double their parking lot in October, and install lights in the new parking lot.
Michelle-Child Care Resources
Child Care Resources is going through many transitions. Right now statewide they are streamlining and centralizing services. They are currently waiting on grants and budgets. They will be moving to 105 East Pine off Pine and Higgins, to a first floor space. They are interviewing candidates for a new Development Director position.
Jim and Maggie-Human Resource Council
Many of the youth that work with the HRC through their youth programs have difficulties with employment and enrolling in programs, because after two requests for a social security card, drivers license, or birth certificate the requests are held up for a long time. This is due to Homeland Security. A small summer youth program at HRC just finished up. The program did not allow for any supportive services, so many youth could not be served by the program. The summer lunch program in Mineral County was very successful. In October the LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program) will be starting up. The Rapid ReHousing program will wrap up in October, and will not be renewed. HRC found that many landlords were carrying renters for up to three months when they fell behind on rent due to job loss.
Diana-College of Technology
The COT just wrapped up their largest orientation ever, over 500 students attended. Enrollment is up 40% at the COT this fall. They are adding classes, but having trouble recruiting and retaining instructors, as the main campus offers better pay and many instructors leave the COT for the main campus. Veterans Upward Bound has started, and there is a new Personal Finance program for Veterans. The COT will be starting a Veterans Upward Bound program in Hamilton this fall.
Future Planning
The group discussed the possibility of a resource fair in the late fall or early winter. We also discussed cross training, and the possibility of some stress reduction and compassion fatigue cross training. We will hold a full CMT meeting on the 22nd or 23rd of this month at Mountain West Bank. Saundra will check availability and send out an announcement.
Next Meeting
The next full CMT meeting will be on September 23rd from 3-5 pm at Mountain West Bank next to Costco. The next Core Group CMT meeting will be on October 7th at 9:00 am at the Job Service.
September 2, 2010
Deverie-Job Corps Update
Marie Garrison has taken over admissions for Job Corps in Missoula. Deverie will focus more on placement, and will continue to manage placement and admissions for Job Corps in Ravalli County. Job Corps is starting to focus more on the soft skills of their participants, and now begin the admissions process with an interview session focusing on soft skills. The participants will fill out a job application and be evaluated on their interview skills. This will happen before they begin the program. Job Corps has an 80% placement rate after graduation. Job Corps will also begin piloting Industry Sector Centers, where centers focus more on specific industries and there is less duplication between centers. For example, Kicking Horse may focus more on Mechanics and Health Professions. They are going to cut their culinary and carpentry programs.
Wolf-Job Service
This was the first week of school for many past Smurfit employees. Thanks to the LLC and the COT for all the work they did to prepare participants for their schooling. Wolf will talk with Diana to better streamline the process for participants getting the books and tools they need for their programs and courses. There is a new OJT (On the Job Training) grant that will be distributed throughout the state by population. This grant starts in early October and ends on June 30th. If you know employers who are interested in training new employees, have them contact the Job Service. The OJT Grant targets dislocated workers, workers who have been laid off from their previous jobs. The Job Service is seeing a downturn in mass layoffs, but many job seekers are long-term unemployed. Job Service has started up some new workshops, one on Basic Job Search Skills and one on Online Applications and Email accounts. Call Job Service for more information. The UI (Unemployment) Phone call workshop on Wednesdays is still busy. It is still taking many people weeks to get their UI benefits. The Disability Navigator grant has been moved to DPHHS and extended through June 2011. The Department of Labor is applying for a grant that would continue to fund the Navigators and make the Job Service part of the Ticket to Work Program.
Monique and Jodie-Lifelong Learning Center
The LLC only got four applicants for their recent job opening. There seem to be some issues with the new online application for MCPS. Testing certificates are required for many MCPS openings, and when those are not attached the application can be flagged as incomplete. Monique is on several committees right now, examining education in Montana. ABE (Adult Basic Education) funding actually increased this year, which was surprising. They were expecting a decrease in funds. The LLC is changing their ABE schedule; they will not offer classes on Thursday afternoons. They are also moving to a managed enrollment system for ABE, regulating the number of people who will attend classes at certain times. The managed enrollment will likely increase demand on ABE. The Even Start program has also had some changes. The program starts in October, and the LLC has opened up evenings three nights each week from October to March. The new partnership between LLC and Home Resource is working out great. There is a tool library at Home Resource and people can rent time in the Home Resource wood shop. Scholarships are available for classes at Home Resource through LLC. In September the LLC starts putting together their winter schedule, and they are always on the lookout for good instructors. If you meet people with interesting work history and skills please tell them about the opportunity to teach at LLC. The LLC will double their parking lot in October, and install lights in the new parking lot.
Michelle-Child Care Resources
Child Care Resources is going through many transitions. Right now statewide they are streamlining and centralizing services. They are currently waiting on grants and budgets. They will be moving to 105 East Pine off Pine and Higgins, to a first floor space. They are interviewing candidates for a new Development Director position.
Jim and Maggie-Human Resource Council
Many of the youth that work with the HRC through their youth programs have difficulties with employment and enrolling in programs, because after two requests for a social security card, drivers license, or birth certificate the requests are held up for a long time. This is due to Homeland Security. A small summer youth program at HRC just finished up. The program did not allow for any supportive services, so many youth could not be served by the program. The summer lunch program in Mineral County was very successful. In October the LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program) will be starting up. The Rapid ReHousing program will wrap up in October, and will not be renewed. HRC found that many landlords were carrying renters for up to three months when they fell behind on rent due to job loss.
Diana-College of Technology
The COT just wrapped up their largest orientation ever, over 500 students attended. Enrollment is up 40% at the COT this fall. They are adding classes, but having trouble recruiting and retaining instructors, as the main campus offers better pay and many instructors leave the COT for the main campus. Veterans Upward Bound has started, and there is a new Personal Finance program for Veterans. The COT will be starting a Veterans Upward Bound program in Hamilton this fall.
Future Planning
The group discussed the possibility of a resource fair in the late fall or early winter. We also discussed cross training, and the possibility of some stress reduction and compassion fatigue cross training. We will hold a full CMT meeting on the 22nd or 23rd of this month at Mountain West Bank. Saundra will check availability and send out an announcement.
Next Meeting
The next full CMT meeting will be on September 23rd from 3-5 pm at Mountain West Bank next to Costco. The next Core Group CMT meeting will be on October 7th at 9:00 am at the Job Service.
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