CMT Meeting Minutes
Full CMT Meeting
December 1, 2011
Full CMT Meeting
Jodie indicated that there is room at the Lifelong Learning Center on January 12 for a full CMT meeting from 3-5 pm. The group discussed possible topics and formats. Feedback from prior full CMT meetings was discussed, and it was decided that we will have the same format as before, with one specific question: What has changed in your agency in the past year? The agenda will include a brief introduction to the CMT and the purpose of the CMT, updates from agencies, and a discussion about the interest level in certain training topics for a CMT cross training in March.
CMT Cross Training
Discussed CMT Cross Training Academy in March, possible date set for March 2 at the Lifelong Learning Center. Topics and format were discussed. The agenda for the full CMT meeting in January will include asking at full CMT meeting about the interest in training topics: housing, social services, employment, and youth services. Saundra will work with Monique to solidify possibilities, nothing will be set until after obtaining feedback from all the CMT agencies at the full CMT meeting in January.
Jodie – Lifelong Learning Center
The winter schedule has been published and distributed, and the LLC is continuing to offer a free Transition to College class with a high retention rate.
Mark – Vocational Rehabilitation
One of the Missoula VR counselors recently became a Transitions Trainer, and now works for the VR Central Office. There is a full-time VR Counselor position open. The state and the feds are focused right now on the transitions between high school and education or employment. VR has counselors meeting with students in our high schools, and the VR counselors get referrals from school counselors. The Human Resource Council also makes many referrals to the Transitions program.
Maggie – Human Resource Council
There is quite a bit of uncertainty around LIEAP. The youth programs are very busy again, with lots of walk-in clients. Due to the limitations of Youth WIA eligibility, the HRC is working to serve youth in groups to accommodate more youth. The Youth WIA RFP will be out at the end of January.
Wolf – Missoula Job Service
The Job Service will be submitting a RFP for the Adult WIA program this year. Will has announced his retirement; Carol Evanger will be the new Programs Supervisor. The OJT grant ends in June; the Timber grant is also slated to end in June, but may be extended. The TAA programs will have many graduates in May, those graduates will move into job search mode. Adult program funding is expected to be flat.
Meeting adjourned.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Core Group Meeting Minutes - November 3, 2011
Missoula Community Management Team
Core Group Meeting
November 3, 2011
Child Care Resources – Michelle
Child Care Resources (CCR) is in the middle of a major strategic planning effort, which has included major marketing decisions. They have a new logo, reflecting their organizations commitment to assisting child care professionals. Right now caseloads at CCR are high, because TANF is high. They are working on a Transition Grant to assist families who have children in child care who obtain employment and are moved from eligible to ineligible status due to the increase in wages. Sometimes a small increase in wages results in the loss of substantial child care assistance. The Transition Grant would help step families down from the child care assistance once their income increases. The percentage of help that CCR provided would decrease each month. Depending on budgets, they could be starting use a waiting list of prospective participants. Unemployment is high, and child care providers are struggling. Right now any referral calls for child care in Missoula are routed through the Great Falls center. Responsibility is being moved to clients to navigate a system, rather than being offered locally.
Lifelong Learning Center – Monique
The Lifelong Learning Center (LLC) is serving a high level of students right now. They have a few new programs, including Family and Parent Literacy Services. This program takes family literacy on the road, into 4 Title I elementary schools in Missoula. The program provides Adult Basic Education (ABE) services and parent and family literacy activities in those schools. The LLC is restructuring, with a focus on customer service. They have centralized their clerical functions, and have trained all front desk staff in all areas of operations. They have an evening advisor for ABE, and this is a different person from the Instructor. The advisor is there to help ABE participants plan their steps through ABE. They are seeing a current influx of younger students into ABE, as well as some Roseburg employees. The LLC has partnered with Job Service to offer the Transition to College program. The LLC is converting their TABE to an online test, and in the near future (by 2014) all GED testing will be online. Individuals will be able to obtain the results of the tests immediately. The new TABE test will adjust levels of the testing to the performance of the individual, removing the need for level placement testing prior to the TABE tests. After the GED test moves to a fully online process (within a year), the LLC will still administer the GED tests. They hope to get students in to take the GED very quickly after they decide to stop their formal education.
Human Resource Council – Maggie
Right now all the programs at the Human Resource Council are busy. Low Income Energy Assistance (LIEAP) is starting up and they are preparing for the winter season. There have been large cuts to this program. This is a serious issue because landlords can evict renters who are not paying utilities. There is a new WORC program starting in Ravalli County, the goal is to help people obtain on the job training (OJT) before they are on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The program will be coming to Missoula also. The Youth program is being reviewed at the state level. Kids in school need real career exploration and help with job readiness skills, Maggie is hoping that Missoula County Public Schools and the Human Resource Council can partner on these topics and that the HRC can provide training to the students of MCPS. The group discussed youth employment programs and their issues and outcomes through time. Maggie suggested that youth counselors from HRC could provide classroom training. This fits well with the 21st Century model for education which MCPS has outlined. Right now families and systems are overwhelmed, so there is a real need to figure out how we can partner, reduce duplication, and enhance collaboration. There is also a strong effort to help any student who has chosen to drop out of school obtain their GED as quickly as possible after leaving MCPS.
Vocational Rehabilitation – Janet
Every state is audited, and because of emergencies in other states Montana is being audited early. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) has been working on their Transitions program to assist students after leaving school. They have two new counselors in Missoula and one position available in Kalispell. Right now there is a lot of attention on the transitions between school and work. VR is teaching a Motivation Enhancement class at the LLC. This class is focused on helping people get motivated to go on to employment after being on assistance programs. It helps prepare people to take the steps and make the changes that will result in moving ahead in employment.
Missoula Job Service – Saundra
There are many people talking about relocating to North Dakota due to the strength of the economy and the job openings available there. The Business Expansion and Retention program (BEAR) has been reinvigorated with the new participation of the Missoula Economic Project, and BEAR visits and referrals for businesses interested in Incumbent Worker Training and OJT programs have increased. Project Homeless Connect will be held in January, on the 25th or 26th. More information will be available soon. Job Service is waiting to decide about the outlook for a job fair next year. There is a new change in Unemployment regulations that has caused hundreds of people in Missoula to have their Job Service profiles inactivated, those people have been notified to come in to the Job Service to reactivate their profiles and have been instructed to check in with Job Service at least every 90 days.
Full Group Meeting
The group discussed pulling together the full CMT for a large group meeting in January, on the 12th. This meeting would be from 3-5 at the Lifelong Learning Center. The group also discussed a cross training focused on youth services or economic development. A possible date for that would be on February 24th at the Lifelong Learning Center. Monique volunteered to plan out how that could be arranged and scheduled. In our brainstorming we discussed having short 20-30 minute sessions, with four sessions available for people to attend. We could have one introductory session with everyone together, and Monique suggested a speaker like Simon Sinek talking about the Golden Circle. Some breakout sessions could include:
MCPS discussing the 21st Century Model for Education
HRDC’s Youth WIA programs
Missoula Economic Partnership (featuring representatives from MEP and the City)
UM and UM COT discussing opportunities for youth
A workforce track with JSEC or various business people
Meeting adjourned.
Core Group Meeting
November 3, 2011
Child Care Resources – Michelle
Child Care Resources (CCR) is in the middle of a major strategic planning effort, which has included major marketing decisions. They have a new logo, reflecting their organizations commitment to assisting child care professionals. Right now caseloads at CCR are high, because TANF is high. They are working on a Transition Grant to assist families who have children in child care who obtain employment and are moved from eligible to ineligible status due to the increase in wages. Sometimes a small increase in wages results in the loss of substantial child care assistance. The Transition Grant would help step families down from the child care assistance once their income increases. The percentage of help that CCR provided would decrease each month. Depending on budgets, they could be starting use a waiting list of prospective participants. Unemployment is high, and child care providers are struggling. Right now any referral calls for child care in Missoula are routed through the Great Falls center. Responsibility is being moved to clients to navigate a system, rather than being offered locally.
Lifelong Learning Center – Monique
The Lifelong Learning Center (LLC) is serving a high level of students right now. They have a few new programs, including Family and Parent Literacy Services. This program takes family literacy on the road, into 4 Title I elementary schools in Missoula. The program provides Adult Basic Education (ABE) services and parent and family literacy activities in those schools. The LLC is restructuring, with a focus on customer service. They have centralized their clerical functions, and have trained all front desk staff in all areas of operations. They have an evening advisor for ABE, and this is a different person from the Instructor. The advisor is there to help ABE participants plan their steps through ABE. They are seeing a current influx of younger students into ABE, as well as some Roseburg employees. The LLC has partnered with Job Service to offer the Transition to College program. The LLC is converting their TABE to an online test, and in the near future (by 2014) all GED testing will be online. Individuals will be able to obtain the results of the tests immediately. The new TABE test will adjust levels of the testing to the performance of the individual, removing the need for level placement testing prior to the TABE tests. After the GED test moves to a fully online process (within a year), the LLC will still administer the GED tests. They hope to get students in to take the GED very quickly after they decide to stop their formal education.
Human Resource Council – Maggie
Right now all the programs at the Human Resource Council are busy. Low Income Energy Assistance (LIEAP) is starting up and they are preparing for the winter season. There have been large cuts to this program. This is a serious issue because landlords can evict renters who are not paying utilities. There is a new WORC program starting in Ravalli County, the goal is to help people obtain on the job training (OJT) before they are on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The program will be coming to Missoula also. The Youth program is being reviewed at the state level. Kids in school need real career exploration and help with job readiness skills, Maggie is hoping that Missoula County Public Schools and the Human Resource Council can partner on these topics and that the HRC can provide training to the students of MCPS. The group discussed youth employment programs and their issues and outcomes through time. Maggie suggested that youth counselors from HRC could provide classroom training. This fits well with the 21st Century model for education which MCPS has outlined. Right now families and systems are overwhelmed, so there is a real need to figure out how we can partner, reduce duplication, and enhance collaboration. There is also a strong effort to help any student who has chosen to drop out of school obtain their GED as quickly as possible after leaving MCPS.
Vocational Rehabilitation – Janet
Every state is audited, and because of emergencies in other states Montana is being audited early. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) has been working on their Transitions program to assist students after leaving school. They have two new counselors in Missoula and one position available in Kalispell. Right now there is a lot of attention on the transitions between school and work. VR is teaching a Motivation Enhancement class at the LLC. This class is focused on helping people get motivated to go on to employment after being on assistance programs. It helps prepare people to take the steps and make the changes that will result in moving ahead in employment.
Missoula Job Service – Saundra
There are many people talking about relocating to North Dakota due to the strength of the economy and the job openings available there. The Business Expansion and Retention program (BEAR) has been reinvigorated with the new participation of the Missoula Economic Project, and BEAR visits and referrals for businesses interested in Incumbent Worker Training and OJT programs have increased. Project Homeless Connect will be held in January, on the 25th or 26th. More information will be available soon. Job Service is waiting to decide about the outlook for a job fair next year. There is a new change in Unemployment regulations that has caused hundreds of people in Missoula to have their Job Service profiles inactivated, those people have been notified to come in to the Job Service to reactivate their profiles and have been instructed to check in with Job Service at least every 90 days.
Full Group Meeting
The group discussed pulling together the full CMT for a large group meeting in January, on the 12th. This meeting would be from 3-5 at the Lifelong Learning Center. The group also discussed a cross training focused on youth services or economic development. A possible date for that would be on February 24th at the Lifelong Learning Center. Monique volunteered to plan out how that could be arranged and scheduled. In our brainstorming we discussed having short 20-30 minute sessions, with four sessions available for people to attend. We could have one introductory session with everyone together, and Monique suggested a speaker like Simon Sinek talking about the Golden Circle. Some breakout sessions could include:
MCPS discussing the 21st Century Model for Education
HRDC’s Youth WIA programs
Missoula Economic Partnership (featuring representatives from MEP and the City)
UM and UM COT discussing opportunities for youth
A workforce track with JSEC or various business people
Meeting adjourned.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Core Group Meeting Minutes - September 1, 2011
CMT Meeting Minutes
September 1, 2011
Vocational Rehabilitation – Janet
Employees of Voc Rehab have been attending Cognitive Motivational Training, all counselors will attend this training. Kalispell will soon be fully staffed. The Missoula and Kalispell offices are some of the busiest offices in the state, with 100-142 clients per employee in Missoula and 120-160 clients per employee in Kalispell. Funding for VR may be facing some national cuts. The VR office is seeing an increase in patients with psychiatric disabilities and more students. The Transitions program has been getting attention nationally.
Human Resource Council – Maggie
The Youth Program is starting another year. This year they carried over approximately 60% of their youth, up from the usual 30%. There is an increase in participation in the youth program in Mineral County. There is still no word on the Sapphire clinic, should definitely hear by the end of September if the clinic will be funded. The Ravalli County Health Department is cutting back on services also. There is not a current strong connection with the school district’s 21st Century program, and HRC wants to ensure they are aligning with that program to collaborate and work together. Monique mentioned that Maggie’s program has the focus that the district is looking for. Ten years ago the district was offering school credit for work experience. There is a criminal background check required for any employers or on site supervisors who work with the youth in the HRC or school programs.
College of Technology - Lynn
The COT will be advertising for a Chair for the West Campus, Alan recently took a job in Kodiak, Alaska. The recruitment is in progress for an Outreach Coordinator. The faculty was fully staffed as of the start of school. There are large numbers of applications for school coming in at the last minute. The COT is working on a broad based college assessment to look at academic readiness and retention. Enrollment is up from the record high enrollment last year. Previously the COT has had a system with a core block registration system, and could use that in the future. The LLC and COT may be able to partner on Transition to College classes.
Lifelong Learning Center – Monique
Adult Basic Education no longer has a separate phone number, everyone now calls the front desk at the LLC, and the front desk staff has been trained to serve ABE clients. Renee continues in her role with ABE as the Department Chair and an advisor. The performance for ABE was top in the state, so funding is good for this year. The Even Start program has been fully phased out. They are taking ABE and parent education on the road to four Title I Family Resource Centers, at Lowell, Hawthorne, Russell, and Franklin schools. This way the program can tap families into adult literacy at the schools, and offer TABE tests on site at the centers. The Even Start classrooms will be transitioned, one will become a yoga classroom, and the other will be a cooking classroom. The LLC is looking for ABE tutors. There is a new enrollment process for ABE. The first step will be to call and schedule a TABE test. After that, there is a new orientation session, in which they offer a short introduction to ABE, set the school schedule, and start with the classes. LLC is hoping retention will increase with this new format. Adult Education is fully staffed, with 28 new part time instructors. Enrollment is slow at this time. There are new parking arrangements at the LLC, including a new entrance and exit for the parking lot and directional parking in front of the building. They are hoping for more students in the Medical Office Essentials course, starting September 12.
Missoula Job Service – Saundra
Job Service recently launched a Facebook page, and also has Skype capabilities for distance interviews. Cheryl Minnick from the UM recently came to Job Service and offered training on resumes for the whole staff. There are two new employees, one new permanent employee, and one temporary employee who will start at the end of September. Many employers in the oil field are recruiting, and there are employees in Missoula who have been travelling or relocating to eastern Montana or North Dakota to work in the oil fields, where wages are much higher. Job Service has partnered with the Lifelong Learning Center to offer job search classes; those are listed in the LLC catalog. All staff has been attending Crucial Conversation training. Job Service is still seeking qualified participants and employers for the National Emergency Grant on the Job Training Program. Job Service recently met with representatives of the Last Best Place Project to strengthen collaboration between the BEAR program and the Last Best Place Project. The Job Service Employers Council will be offering an upcoming seminar on social media uses and implications for business, including employee background checks using internet tools.
September 1, 2011
Vocational Rehabilitation – Janet
Employees of Voc Rehab have been attending Cognitive Motivational Training, all counselors will attend this training. Kalispell will soon be fully staffed. The Missoula and Kalispell offices are some of the busiest offices in the state, with 100-142 clients per employee in Missoula and 120-160 clients per employee in Kalispell. Funding for VR may be facing some national cuts. The VR office is seeing an increase in patients with psychiatric disabilities and more students. The Transitions program has been getting attention nationally.
Human Resource Council – Maggie
The Youth Program is starting another year. This year they carried over approximately 60% of their youth, up from the usual 30%. There is an increase in participation in the youth program in Mineral County. There is still no word on the Sapphire clinic, should definitely hear by the end of September if the clinic will be funded. The Ravalli County Health Department is cutting back on services also. There is not a current strong connection with the school district’s 21st Century program, and HRC wants to ensure they are aligning with that program to collaborate and work together. Monique mentioned that Maggie’s program has the focus that the district is looking for. Ten years ago the district was offering school credit for work experience. There is a criminal background check required for any employers or on site supervisors who work with the youth in the HRC or school programs.
College of Technology - Lynn
The COT will be advertising for a Chair for the West Campus, Alan recently took a job in Kodiak, Alaska. The recruitment is in progress for an Outreach Coordinator. The faculty was fully staffed as of the start of school. There are large numbers of applications for school coming in at the last minute. The COT is working on a broad based college assessment to look at academic readiness and retention. Enrollment is up from the record high enrollment last year. Previously the COT has had a system with a core block registration system, and could use that in the future. The LLC and COT may be able to partner on Transition to College classes.
Lifelong Learning Center – Monique
Adult Basic Education no longer has a separate phone number, everyone now calls the front desk at the LLC, and the front desk staff has been trained to serve ABE clients. Renee continues in her role with ABE as the Department Chair and an advisor. The performance for ABE was top in the state, so funding is good for this year. The Even Start program has been fully phased out. They are taking ABE and parent education on the road to four Title I Family Resource Centers, at Lowell, Hawthorne, Russell, and Franklin schools. This way the program can tap families into adult literacy at the schools, and offer TABE tests on site at the centers. The Even Start classrooms will be transitioned, one will become a yoga classroom, and the other will be a cooking classroom. The LLC is looking for ABE tutors. There is a new enrollment process for ABE. The first step will be to call and schedule a TABE test. After that, there is a new orientation session, in which they offer a short introduction to ABE, set the school schedule, and start with the classes. LLC is hoping retention will increase with this new format. Adult Education is fully staffed, with 28 new part time instructors. Enrollment is slow at this time. There are new parking arrangements at the LLC, including a new entrance and exit for the parking lot and directional parking in front of the building. They are hoping for more students in the Medical Office Essentials course, starting September 12.
Missoula Job Service – Saundra
Job Service recently launched a Facebook page, and also has Skype capabilities for distance interviews. Cheryl Minnick from the UM recently came to Job Service and offered training on resumes for the whole staff. There are two new employees, one new permanent employee, and one temporary employee who will start at the end of September. Many employers in the oil field are recruiting, and there are employees in Missoula who have been travelling or relocating to eastern Montana or North Dakota to work in the oil fields, where wages are much higher. Job Service has partnered with the Lifelong Learning Center to offer job search classes; those are listed in the LLC catalog. All staff has been attending Crucial Conversation training. Job Service is still seeking qualified participants and employers for the National Emergency Grant on the Job Training Program. Job Service recently met with representatives of the Last Best Place Project to strengthen collaboration between the BEAR program and the Last Best Place Project. The Job Service Employers Council will be offering an upcoming seminar on social media uses and implications for business, including employee background checks using internet tools.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
CMT Core Group Meeting - August 4, 2011
CMT Core Group Meeting - CMT Meeting Minutes
Thursday, August 4
Human Resource Council
The Sapphire Clinic in Hamilton stopped receiving patients on June 30th. The grants funding the clinic expired, and Congress will only fund about 30 of the 800 applications that were submitted. Sometime in August the Human Resource Council will find out if they are one of the 30 applications that were funded. The Sapphire Clinic was serving 800-900 clients, and more than 50% of the clients had no income.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Janet has been travelling to Kalispell often. They have one new counselor there, and will add another one. They are still doing their orientations.
Job Service
Jobs are up, many employers are hiring in North Dakota and Eastern Montana. UI will begin moving to internet only services, and phasing out their phone lines. There is Disaster UI for people affected by flooding, more information on DLI website. Missoula has been approved for Facebook pilot project, and now has a FB page. We recently hired one staff member, and may be adding another one soon.
Thursday, August 4
Human Resource Council
The Sapphire Clinic in Hamilton stopped receiving patients on June 30th. The grants funding the clinic expired, and Congress will only fund about 30 of the 800 applications that were submitted. Sometime in August the Human Resource Council will find out if they are one of the 30 applications that were funded. The Sapphire Clinic was serving 800-900 clients, and more than 50% of the clients had no income.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Janet has been travelling to Kalispell often. They have one new counselor there, and will add another one. They are still doing their orientations.
Job Service
Jobs are up, many employers are hiring in North Dakota and Eastern Montana. UI will begin moving to internet only services, and phasing out their phone lines. There is Disaster UI for people affected by flooding, more information on DLI website. Missoula has been approved for Facebook pilot project, and now has a FB page. We recently hired one staff member, and may be adding another one soon.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
CMT Core Group Meeting - June 2, 2011
CMT Core Group Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 2
Updates
Monique – Lifelong Learning Center
The Even Start Program will end on August 21. The LLC is a site for summer meals for ABE youth, 18 and under. The LLC has partnered with Job Service for a free class to help students prepare for college. The Transition to College class will be 8:00-11:30 Monday through Thursday. The class is funded by the College Access Grant. Contact the Job Service or LLC for more information. Monique does not have the information on what the funding will be for the upcoming fiscal year for Adult Basic Education.
Saundra – Job Service
Wolf has been meeting with employees to discuss the future of the Job Service. There are efforts underway to get a Facebook page up and running for the Job Service. Job orders are up, with over 300 current job postings, but many employers are not getting enough applicants for jobs. The business community is starting to question where the workers are when there are so many folks unemployed, but they are not getting applications for jobs.
Maggie – Human Resource District Council
There is no youth summer program this year. They are waiting for more information on what the WIA continuing resolution will mean for state allocations. They are anticipating cuts across the board. The Sapphire Clinic in Hamilton is facing possible federal spending cuts, as the Federal government will choose only 70 new clinics to fund, nationwide. The programs have been busy, with Energy Share and LEIAP just wrapping up for the year. The summer lunch programs are gearing up. Missoula County administers these programs.
Michelle – Child Care Resources
CCR is only funded through September 30th, and they will not know the RFP and budget info until the end of July. The recently hired Development Director has been working to obtain funds and get short, project-based grants. In the Bitterroot CCR is going to be able to put on some intensive workshops for child care providers, including workshops on inclusion and disabilities. Each year CCR has funding for summer camps, but by the end of June the funding is usually completely obligated. CCR is also working with the LLC to collaborate on some classes this fall, including classes for child care providers on business and professionalism, human resources, CPR and First Aid, and changes to OPI regulations.
Thursday, June 2
Updates
Monique – Lifelong Learning Center
The Even Start Program will end on August 21. The LLC is a site for summer meals for ABE youth, 18 and under. The LLC has partnered with Job Service for a free class to help students prepare for college. The Transition to College class will be 8:00-11:30 Monday through Thursday. The class is funded by the College Access Grant. Contact the Job Service or LLC for more information. Monique does not have the information on what the funding will be for the upcoming fiscal year for Adult Basic Education.
Saundra – Job Service
Wolf has been meeting with employees to discuss the future of the Job Service. There are efforts underway to get a Facebook page up and running for the Job Service. Job orders are up, with over 300 current job postings, but many employers are not getting enough applicants for jobs. The business community is starting to question where the workers are when there are so many folks unemployed, but they are not getting applications for jobs.
Maggie – Human Resource District Council
There is no youth summer program this year. They are waiting for more information on what the WIA continuing resolution will mean for state allocations. They are anticipating cuts across the board. The Sapphire Clinic in Hamilton is facing possible federal spending cuts, as the Federal government will choose only 70 new clinics to fund, nationwide. The programs have been busy, with Energy Share and LEIAP just wrapping up for the year. The summer lunch programs are gearing up. Missoula County administers these programs.
Michelle – Child Care Resources
CCR is only funded through September 30th, and they will not know the RFP and budget info until the end of July. The recently hired Development Director has been working to obtain funds and get short, project-based grants. In the Bitterroot CCR is going to be able to put on some intensive workshops for child care providers, including workshops on inclusion and disabilities. Each year CCR has funding for summer camps, but by the end of June the funding is usually completely obligated. CCR is also working with the LLC to collaborate on some classes this fall, including classes for child care providers on business and professionalism, human resources, CPR and First Aid, and changes to OPI regulations.
Monday, April 18, 2011
CMT Core Group Meeting - April 7, 2011
Core Group CMT Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 7 Updates Janet – Vocational Rehabilitation Janet is still spending quite a bit of time travelling to and from Kalispell. Dalayna Hillis is the new Blind/Low Vision counselor at the office in Missoula. The Kalispell office is fully staffed, and Voc Rehab has added some support staff in Missoula. Jim – Human Resource Council The HRC is waiting for congressional action on several discretionary programs. The changes have potential to have a big impact on working families. Renters could be eligible for energy assistance through LIEAP, they need to apply before April 30th to have their energy bills for the past winter considered. Contact the HRC in Missoula for more information. Monique – Lifelong Learning Center The Even Start is no longer funded. The Even Start program had not had any increases in funding in 15 years of operation. Monique has put in a request to run the program through the end of September. The program leaves behind an incredible early education classroom, and Monique is in the process of getting information to make the best decision on what will be done with the classroom. Adult Basic Education funding is still sitting in legislative limbo. The Lifelong Learning Center is in the process of evaluating their orientation and entry process for ABE, to increase effectiveness and get students into the classroom as quickly and effectively as possible. They are looking at possible restructuring of the program. Some of the most popular classes at LLC recently have been: Beekeeping, Zumba, and Raising Chickens. LLC is working on new collaborations with Frenchtown, Target Range, and Hellgate Elementary to offer fee based classes at those locations. Michelle – Child Care Resources Child care funding is also in limbo right now. All market rates and provider rates are frozen. There is a waiting list for CCR, and 2002 was the last time there was a waiting list for child care services. They recently hired a Development Director, she has been working to obtain grants and diversify funds. United Way has allowed CCR to reapply for funds, for the first time in 3 years. United Way has about $600K to give out, and has more than $800K in applications. CCR is running on a shorter staff. They are still working on the transition of two major problems to Great Falls, including the Provider Referral service. Lynn – College of Technology The legislature will determine the outcome of the efforts to build a new COT. The request is the culmination of more than 6 years of planning. Enrollments are high; people are making decisions to come to school. The retention piece is very important. Some industrial programs already have waiting lists for the fall. The Hamilton/Bitterroot program and faculty is growing. The COT is being cautious about new programming. A course and program review will be conducted during the fall semester to determine what gets funded and what programs end. The COT is expecting a national accreditation for their RN program. They are also waiting to hear back on their respiratory care program to see if it will be nationally accredited. They will be posting an opening for an Outreach Director, this job will combine some grant writing and outreach in the community. Wolf – Job Service WIA funding is zeroed out in the national budget; the TAA ends next June as does the Timber OJT. Job Service is being careful with staffing. They are also looking at hosting a few exchange students from Germany. Wolf will be going back to Washington DC at the end of the month with the Career Pathways team. Job orders are up, with 328 jobs posted as of Wednesday the 6th. The Job Service is working to build expertise in industry clusters. Lynn from the Job Service has started to learn more information about healthcare careers. Next Meeting Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 5th at Job Service.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
CMT Core Group Meeting - March 3, 2011
Core Group CMT Meeting
Thursday, March 3
Updates
Human Resource Council
The Human Resource Council is waiting to see what 2012 will bring. Many programs are possibly going to be affected on a state and federal level.
Lifelong Learning Center
Even Start is gone; the program was eliminated in a resolution at the Legislature. The program had served about 29 individuals and 19 families in the past year. The elimination of the program will result in 3 people being laid off in July. The LLC is debating adding a Child Care component on location. The intent would be to have child care spots available to families participating in training, or spots open to the public. Renee is in Helena hoping to testify in defense of ABE, all Adult Basic Education funding was eliminated in the budget, instead of being zeroed out. Without the $500,000 of state money, Montana cannot receive the $1.2 million in federal funding match for ABE. If the situation remains the same, more than 15 people could lose their jobs, and funding for the GED programs would be gone.
Vocational Rehabilitation
The general Voc Rehab program remains busy. There are some program cuts on the table. One program that could be cut is the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. The Extended Employment Services program has a 7-10 year waiting list, and this program could also be affected by cuts. One counselor position could be coming open in the near future. On March 16th Michelle Pickell is hosting a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Training. The stimulus money that VR has been using will be gone in September, at that time they could face the loss of some staff. They will be increasingly looking for ways to share costs and programs with other agencies.
Job Service
We are working to partner with the LLC on Adult Basic Education orientations. We have had staff attend the orientations to provide information about how obtaining a GED or progressing in your education will increase job opportunities. Wolf continues to work with the Career Pathways initiative. The team will return to DC in April for another career pathways training meeting. We have continued with our Job Seeker workshops, please let participants know they can call and sign up for our free workshop. Job Service is continuing to explore the possibility of a Career Expo in the fall.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 7th at Job Service.
Thursday, March 3
Updates
Human Resource Council
The Human Resource Council is waiting to see what 2012 will bring. Many programs are possibly going to be affected on a state and federal level.
Lifelong Learning Center
Even Start is gone; the program was eliminated in a resolution at the Legislature. The program had served about 29 individuals and 19 families in the past year. The elimination of the program will result in 3 people being laid off in July. The LLC is debating adding a Child Care component on location. The intent would be to have child care spots available to families participating in training, or spots open to the public. Renee is in Helena hoping to testify in defense of ABE, all Adult Basic Education funding was eliminated in the budget, instead of being zeroed out. Without the $500,000 of state money, Montana cannot receive the $1.2 million in federal funding match for ABE. If the situation remains the same, more than 15 people could lose their jobs, and funding for the GED programs would be gone.
Vocational Rehabilitation
The general Voc Rehab program remains busy. There are some program cuts on the table. One program that could be cut is the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. The Extended Employment Services program has a 7-10 year waiting list, and this program could also be affected by cuts. One counselor position could be coming open in the near future. On March 16th Michelle Pickell is hosting a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Training. The stimulus money that VR has been using will be gone in September, at that time they could face the loss of some staff. They will be increasingly looking for ways to share costs and programs with other agencies.
Job Service
We are working to partner with the LLC on Adult Basic Education orientations. We have had staff attend the orientations to provide information about how obtaining a GED or progressing in your education will increase job opportunities. Wolf continues to work with the Career Pathways initiative. The team will return to DC in April for another career pathways training meeting. We have continued with our Job Seeker workshops, please let participants know they can call and sign up for our free workshop. Job Service is continuing to explore the possibility of a Career Expo in the fall.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 7th at Job Service.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
CMT Core Group Meeting - February 10, 2011
Core Group CMT Meeting
Thursday, February 10
Updates
Lynn – College of Technology
The final numbers are not in yet for spring semester enrollment, but the financial aid office was very busy. Wolf and Lynn discussed career advising services and possible opportunities for partnership. Lynn followed up with Jodie on the Medical Coding programs as discussed at the last Core Group meeting. The hope is that a medical coding certificate could translate into credits at some point, and efforts are being made at various schools around the state to figure out if and how certificates and experience can translate to credits. Lynn and Jodie also discussed the CNA programs, their demand, and their status as non-credit offerings. Clinical placements for medical programs are very limited in Missoula, due to many people coming in from other areas to do clinicals in our medical community. The schools are competing for clinical placements. Larry is working on comprehensive management of statewide clinical placements. The COT just went through their National Nursing Accreditation. They expect to receive national accreditation for their RN program. The LPN program is state accredited.
Jodie – Lifelong Learning Center
The spring catalog will be out on Tuesday. Adult Basic Education is very busy. There are waiting lists for some of the time slots in the ABE managed enrollment system. They are in the process of looking at the full ABE orientation and enrollment process to determine if changes need to be made. Jodie and Saundra discussed partnership possibilities and details for having Job Service attend ABE Orientations. The partnership between LLC and Home Resource is really taking off. Many plumbing and electrical classes have been moved to Home Resource. The LLC is still having trouble getting low income students to enroll in classes at Home Resource. Jodie is thinking about the possibility of using FB to post special offers on certain occasions.
Wolf – Job Service
Wolf is working as the Chair of the newly branded Chamber Workforce Development & Education Committee. They are discussing some “Eggs & Issues” breakfast topics including the MCPS Building Reserve and Health Care. The committee is working to keep the subject matter open and convert their discussions into action. They also hope to help guide the direction of the discussions towards information that will be useful for the COT and the LLC. Wolf and Lynn discussed the work Lynn has done with Leadership High School. Wolf asked what Jodie and Lynn think the LLC and COT could gain from the Chamber committee. Jodie pointed out that the Workforce Development & Education committee could assist businesses with understanding that the LLC can provide low cost and repetitive training to specific industries, if the needs are defined by the business and conveyed to the LLC. The LLC can partner with businesses to make sure they have trained and qualified applicants for jobs. Lynn pointed out that they needed to point out something to tackle, and then take action. She hoped that the organizations and the businesses could be accountable to the committee for making things happen. The agreement is that we all need to collaborate together to get the job done, and come together to make sure that actions are taken to move the community forward.
Next Meeting
The next Core Group meeting is Thursday, March 3rd at 9:00 at Job Service.
Thursday, February 10
Updates
Lynn – College of Technology
The final numbers are not in yet for spring semester enrollment, but the financial aid office was very busy. Wolf and Lynn discussed career advising services and possible opportunities for partnership. Lynn followed up with Jodie on the Medical Coding programs as discussed at the last Core Group meeting. The hope is that a medical coding certificate could translate into credits at some point, and efforts are being made at various schools around the state to figure out if and how certificates and experience can translate to credits. Lynn and Jodie also discussed the CNA programs, their demand, and their status as non-credit offerings. Clinical placements for medical programs are very limited in Missoula, due to many people coming in from other areas to do clinicals in our medical community. The schools are competing for clinical placements. Larry is working on comprehensive management of statewide clinical placements. The COT just went through their National Nursing Accreditation. They expect to receive national accreditation for their RN program. The LPN program is state accredited.
Jodie – Lifelong Learning Center
The spring catalog will be out on Tuesday. Adult Basic Education is very busy. There are waiting lists for some of the time slots in the ABE managed enrollment system. They are in the process of looking at the full ABE orientation and enrollment process to determine if changes need to be made. Jodie and Saundra discussed partnership possibilities and details for having Job Service attend ABE Orientations. The partnership between LLC and Home Resource is really taking off. Many plumbing and electrical classes have been moved to Home Resource. The LLC is still having trouble getting low income students to enroll in classes at Home Resource. Jodie is thinking about the possibility of using FB to post special offers on certain occasions.
Wolf – Job Service
Wolf is working as the Chair of the newly branded Chamber Workforce Development & Education Committee. They are discussing some “Eggs & Issues” breakfast topics including the MCPS Building Reserve and Health Care. The committee is working to keep the subject matter open and convert their discussions into action. They also hope to help guide the direction of the discussions towards information that will be useful for the COT and the LLC. Wolf and Lynn discussed the work Lynn has done with Leadership High School. Wolf asked what Jodie and Lynn think the LLC and COT could gain from the Chamber committee. Jodie pointed out that the Workforce Development & Education committee could assist businesses with understanding that the LLC can provide low cost and repetitive training to specific industries, if the needs are defined by the business and conveyed to the LLC. The LLC can partner with businesses to make sure they have trained and qualified applicants for jobs. Lynn pointed out that they needed to point out something to tackle, and then take action. She hoped that the organizations and the businesses could be accountable to the committee for making things happen. The agreement is that we all need to collaborate together to get the job done, and come together to make sure that actions are taken to move the community forward.
Next Meeting
The next Core Group meeting is Thursday, March 3rd at 9:00 at Job Service.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
CMT Core Group Meeting - January 13, 2011
CMT Meeting Minutes - Core Group CMT Meeting
Thursday, January 13
Child Care Resources Tour
Lifelong Learning Center – Monique
The spring schedule/catalog is now in development. The LLC is partnering with the LERN program to begin offering some online classes. This way they can provide their classes online to local or national customers. Lisa Rae Roper is working with the medical courses including CNA and Medical Coding to offer a component of those courses online. The LLC is exploring the ability to offer a certified medical coding program via the College of Technology, with remote sites connected to Montana hospitals. The UM COT currently offers an inpatient medical coding certificate via a two year program. This provides the credentials to work as a coder in a hospital setting. Most coding is outpatient, and the next step would be to offer the outpatient medical coding component. Right now the UM COT will award an AA in Health Information upon completion of their program, but their program is not certified by the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) organization. After achieving the AA, students must study separately to take the CPC Certification Exam.
Home Resource has started their orientations, and have partnered with LLC to enroll people in their classes. They have a nice shop area and showcase area. They currently need more low income participants in their programs to meet grant guidelines.
SB 44 would increase the compulsory attendance age for high school from 16 to 18. If a student chose to transition to another program such as Job Corps, they could still be considered “enrolled.”
There is another GED options initiative on the radar, this initiative would make the GED an equivalent to High School graduation, and allow students who are credit deficient to take the GED to get their HS diploma. Monique reported that statistics show that 60% of high school students would not pass the GED test.
Adult Basic Education classes are very full. The managed enrollment system is working well to keep class size steady with 250-300 people actively enrolled in ABE. Last year over 2,000 people were served through ABE, which was a 25% increase in the number of people service. They attribute this to the layoffs in the community, and the availability of the classes.
The LLC is now fully staffed and they have more than 30 new instructors. On the 25th of January the instructors will begin using Moodle.
Job Service – Wolf
The Job Service has had some staffing changes with a few retirements and 4 new employees coming on board this month. Commissioner of Labor Keith Kelley will be in the office tomorrow to meet with previous Smurfit-Stone employees. Auditors recently completed an audit of over 300 WIA files. Wolf will be meeting with Alan Fugelberg from the COT to discuss training for the faculty at the COT who are working with adult learners. They are hoping to find a professional development resource to teach the faculty more about the services available to displaced workers. There will be no career fair this spring, and the Job Service is looking at the possibility of an Occupational Expo in the fall, highlighting specific occupational clusters that are prominent in our area and the education and training pathways within those clusters. Wolf continues to work with the Chamber of Commerce Business Affairs Committee, which is focusing right now on the health care occupational cluster in our community. In Great Falls the medical community helps fund some of the classes at the college of technology, this way they are able to get the workers they need for their businesses, with the right training. Jodie pointed out that this is exactly how they got their Dental Assisting Program started at the LLC.
Child Care Resources – Michelle
Child Care Resources is now operating out of their new space on Front Street. At their recent fundraiser, the Connoisseur Classic, they doubled their fundraising record from last year, the event was very successful. They are currently in the process of having their programs audited. On January 31st they will lose their referral software, that software is transitioning to Great Falls. They only ended up having to lay off one clerical support worker and are hoping to prevent any other layoffs. The Food Program reauthorization has been approved, but there are many changes that will affect child care providers. Some food items will change, and providers will not be able to serve some of the staples they have been serving for a long time. The food reimbursement rates have also been frozen. The new Food Program focuses on raw foods and food prepared from scratch. Jodie brainstormed the possibility of providing a hands-on low cost class to offer to child care providers, focusing on low cost easy recipes for kids.
Human Resource Council – Maggie
The same changes in the food program that are affecting Child Care Resources are affecting the Mineral County Lunch Program. In Mineral County 98% of high school students eat hot lunch at the school, which attests to the quality of the lunch program there. Human Resource Council is also in the process of having their programs reviewed by state auditors. Some of their files have been checked by three different auditors this week. The Youth Program at HRC is very busy; there are a lot of eligible youth in the community. One issue is that the money they make through the youth program is increasingly considered part of the family income. Maggie also shared feedback regarding changes in high school that have affected many of their participants. The LIEAP program has expenses that are 35% higher than last year.
Planning
We will pull the full group together in March for Compassion Fatigue training. We will set quarterly meetings for the full group, and send out the schedule by early February. A possible location for the summer meetings is Home Resource.
The next Core Group meeting is Thursday, February 10th at 9:00 at Job Service.
Thursday, January 13
Child Care Resources Tour
Lifelong Learning Center – Monique
The spring schedule/catalog is now in development. The LLC is partnering with the LERN program to begin offering some online classes. This way they can provide their classes online to local or national customers. Lisa Rae Roper is working with the medical courses including CNA and Medical Coding to offer a component of those courses online. The LLC is exploring the ability to offer a certified medical coding program via the College of Technology, with remote sites connected to Montana hospitals. The UM COT currently offers an inpatient medical coding certificate via a two year program. This provides the credentials to work as a coder in a hospital setting. Most coding is outpatient, and the next step would be to offer the outpatient medical coding component. Right now the UM COT will award an AA in Health Information upon completion of their program, but their program is not certified by the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) organization. After achieving the AA, students must study separately to take the CPC Certification Exam.
Home Resource has started their orientations, and have partnered with LLC to enroll people in their classes. They have a nice shop area and showcase area. They currently need more low income participants in their programs to meet grant guidelines.
SB 44 would increase the compulsory attendance age for high school from 16 to 18. If a student chose to transition to another program such as Job Corps, they could still be considered “enrolled.”
There is another GED options initiative on the radar, this initiative would make the GED an equivalent to High School graduation, and allow students who are credit deficient to take the GED to get their HS diploma. Monique reported that statistics show that 60% of high school students would not pass the GED test.
Adult Basic Education classes are very full. The managed enrollment system is working well to keep class size steady with 250-300 people actively enrolled in ABE. Last year over 2,000 people were served through ABE, which was a 25% increase in the number of people service. They attribute this to the layoffs in the community, and the availability of the classes.
The LLC is now fully staffed and they have more than 30 new instructors. On the 25th of January the instructors will begin using Moodle.
Job Service – Wolf
The Job Service has had some staffing changes with a few retirements and 4 new employees coming on board this month. Commissioner of Labor Keith Kelley will be in the office tomorrow to meet with previous Smurfit-Stone employees. Auditors recently completed an audit of over 300 WIA files. Wolf will be meeting with Alan Fugelberg from the COT to discuss training for the faculty at the COT who are working with adult learners. They are hoping to find a professional development resource to teach the faculty more about the services available to displaced workers. There will be no career fair this spring, and the Job Service is looking at the possibility of an Occupational Expo in the fall, highlighting specific occupational clusters that are prominent in our area and the education and training pathways within those clusters. Wolf continues to work with the Chamber of Commerce Business Affairs Committee, which is focusing right now on the health care occupational cluster in our community. In Great Falls the medical community helps fund some of the classes at the college of technology, this way they are able to get the workers they need for their businesses, with the right training. Jodie pointed out that this is exactly how they got their Dental Assisting Program started at the LLC.
Child Care Resources – Michelle
Child Care Resources is now operating out of their new space on Front Street. At their recent fundraiser, the Connoisseur Classic, they doubled their fundraising record from last year, the event was very successful. They are currently in the process of having their programs audited. On January 31st they will lose their referral software, that software is transitioning to Great Falls. They only ended up having to lay off one clerical support worker and are hoping to prevent any other layoffs. The Food Program reauthorization has been approved, but there are many changes that will affect child care providers. Some food items will change, and providers will not be able to serve some of the staples they have been serving for a long time. The food reimbursement rates have also been frozen. The new Food Program focuses on raw foods and food prepared from scratch. Jodie brainstormed the possibility of providing a hands-on low cost class to offer to child care providers, focusing on low cost easy recipes for kids.
Human Resource Council – Maggie
The same changes in the food program that are affecting Child Care Resources are affecting the Mineral County Lunch Program. In Mineral County 98% of high school students eat hot lunch at the school, which attests to the quality of the lunch program there. Human Resource Council is also in the process of having their programs reviewed by state auditors. Some of their files have been checked by three different auditors this week. The Youth Program at HRC is very busy; there are a lot of eligible youth in the community. One issue is that the money they make through the youth program is increasingly considered part of the family income. Maggie also shared feedback regarding changes in high school that have affected many of their participants. The LIEAP program has expenses that are 35% higher than last year.
Planning
We will pull the full group together in March for Compassion Fatigue training. We will set quarterly meetings for the full group, and send out the schedule by early February. A possible location for the summer meetings is Home Resource.
The next Core Group meeting is Thursday, February 10th at 9:00 at Job Service.
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