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
