In Attendance
- Wolf Ametsbichler, Missoula Job Service
- Michelle Dorsey, Missoula Job Service
- Maggie Driscoll, Human Resource Council District XI
- Kristi Harman, Missoula Job Service
- Mickey Lyngholm, Missoula College UM
- Michelle Parks, Child Care Resources
- Denise Rabe-Kimerly, Missoula Job Service
- Adam Ragsdale, Missoula Housing Authority
- Shelly Scotti, Mountain Home Montana
- Thomas Smith, WORD
- Will Vogel, Rural Employment Opportunities
- Megan Westover, Mountain Home Montana
- Vida Wilkinson, Missoula College UM
- Mike Williams, Missoula Job Service
Agenda
Crosstraining Academy
Another Crosstraining Academy will be held in October or early November. Suggestions for this year included: a map of table locations for attendees to plan their visit, introduction at the start and halfway points to orient attendees and a registration table at the entrance.Full CMT Meeting
The group discussed holding another full CMT meeting in early to mid-spring. Suggestions included bringing in a guest speaker to talk about economic development.Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
Many programs that were part of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) were reauthorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) President Obama signed on July 22.The Youth program will see a number of changes as more emphasis is placed on out-of-school youth. Some workforce programs will be consolidated under WIOA. State workforce boards will see an increase in private-sector representation, and may become smaller.
Each state has had a percentage of funds set aside for use at the governor’s discretion. That amount will increase to 15 percent under WIOA. WIOA did not substantially increase or decrease funding for programs. WIOA now includes funding for incumbent worker training. Implementation begins July 1, 2015, with pieces of the legislation phasing in.
REO Program Update
Will Vogel joined REO after retiring from successful careers as a secondary school teacher and school administrator. Since joining REO, he developed a new intake process for REO that cut the time to enroll someone to as little as 24 hours. The biggest hurdle clients faced was ensuring they had the proper documents with their application. One application covers all programs that REO administers. The new process should help keep clients on track.REO serves similar clientele as the old FESS program. Clients must qualify for TANF, though they don’t have to participate in TANF. They can be employed as long as they are TANF eligible. Accelerated on-the-job training is available with the guarantee of employment at the end. Subsidized employment training is also available, but there is no guarantee the employer will hire the person at the end. Short-term certifications, such as CNA or CDL licensure are also possible.
REO is also undergoing a reorganization.
Jobs.mt.gov/MontanaWorks System Update
Utah and Montana received a grant to upgrade the MontanaWorks system over several years. MontanaWorks is used by a number of agencies to facilitate job postings and referrals and manage training programs. The first set of updates went live in February.The biggest change was in how the system makes referrals between jobs and job seekers. The system is now keyword-based, similar to applicant tracking systems used by many employers. Major tweaks have been made since implementation, but the system can still be thrown off by sentences such as, “I am interested in stable employment.” The system might believe that person is interested in farmwork because of the word “stable.” If anyone is having difficulty with the system, please have them contact the Missoula Job Service for assistance.
The next set of major system updates will arrive this November.
Job Service can also assist with using computers to file unemployment claims or searching and applying for jobs.
Changing Need for Services
During the recession, Missoula Job Service regularly saw over 400 people a day in their office. With the shift in availability of unemployment and job search services online and improved economy, door traffic has dropped to 90 – 150 people per day. Those who are coming need more intensive services and tend to have barriers to employment, so staff are spending more time with customers due to the intensity of service needed.Both federal- and state-level government is focusing on outreach and employer contacts in Job Service offices. Some employers may be unaware of all the business services offered through Job Service. Wolf passed out flyers with information on the resources that Job Service has to offer.
Work$mart and Equal Pay Summit Update
Last year, Governor Bullock started a task force to address pay inequality in Montana. Women earn $0.67 for every dollar a man earns in Montana. One of the task force recommendations was training on salary negotiation called Work$mart. Amanda Taylor from the Missoula Palmer Job Service and Kristi Harman from the 3rd Street Office have put on two Work$mart classes and plan to offer them quarterly. The classes cover the how and why of salary negotiation, how to benchmark salaries and benefits and practice at negotiation. Classes are not just for women: men are welcome too. Kristi and Amanda are also able to visit agencies and present the information. Please contact Kristi at the Missoula Job Service for more information.The State of Montana recently looked at pay inequality within state government. They found that for the same position, women earn 98 – 99 percent of what men earn, but men tend to be overrepresented in management positions.
Legislative Session
Child Care Resources plans to address Pre-K during the legislative session. Many childcare providers are concerned about four-year-olds moving into the school system and the lack of early childhood education credentials for kindergarten teachers. Child Care Resources hopes that Pre-K could be offered in a childcare center instead of having children spend half a day in school and then change to a childcare setting. Having Pre-K in qualified child care centers would give children continuity in their day.Families in scholarship programs are now eligible for 12 months, instead of the current 3- or 6-month eligibility. The state would like to have a check in at 6 months, but the federal government does not.
Updates
WORD
Parents as Teachers is starting up again. The program focuses on interacting in developmentally appropriate ways. Parenting classes are open to everyone.Missoula Job Service
Missoula Job Service is focusing on more outreach with businesses. Classes are available for job seekers. If you know of someone who’d like to attend a workshop but cannot make the next class, Missoula Job Service staff can also go over the information individually.One of the biggest challenges Missoula Job Service faces over the next couple of years is the loss of Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) and National Emergency Grant funding. Job Service will lose $350,000 from one year to the next.
Six Job Service offices, not including the Missoula office, are conducting a 90-day test of a new grant addressing long-term unemployment. This new grant requires everyone who files an unemployment claim come to a Job Service office to receive intensive one-on-one services or potentially lose benefits. The goal is to prevent long-term unemployment.
Dislocated Worker funding took a hit and other WIA and Wagner-Peyser (labor exchange) funding for the office is flat.
Missoula Job Service does not have any legislative plans. Hopefully Incumbent Worker Training will be reauthorized with a funding increase and expansion of eligibility criteria. The program is currently limited to businesses with 20 or fewer employees.
Mountain Home Montana
Mountain Home Montana was just licensed as a mental health center and now has an onsite therapist and case manager. Shelly and Megan have launched a supportive employment program to provide job support and development. Eight of the 12 women in the program have started jobs.Julissa and Lynn from the Missoula Job Service will teach a course on soft skills at Mountain Home Montana. Work$mart will also be presented.
A drop-in center is available for past and present residents.
REO
Will has cards and pamphlets about REO’s programs available for anyone interested.Missoula Housing Authority
Construction is starting to rebuild the apartments damaged in last summer’s fire.Missoula Housing Authority (MHA) is applying to operate the Mutual Self Help program on their own as the two-year partnership with NeighborWorks in Great Falls comes to an end. The program brings together 10 families, who work together to build 10 homes and move in, all on the same day. MHA is looking for families with low to moderate income and OK credit for the next round. Contact MHA for more information.
MHA continues to search for a new office. They continue to chip away at the waitlist for housing.
Human Resource Council District XI
Human Resource Council is watching for changes due to the WIOA reauthorization. The Department of Health and Human Services is also examining TANF dollars.Child Care Resources
As of August 1, the Best Beginnings Scholarship application is now online. CCR has been working to promote the online application as an alternative to the lengthy paper form. College will start soon and CCR will be busy with childcare applications as older siblings leave home and students with children start class.Missoula College UM
Missoula College Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held on Friday, August 22 from 12:00 – 1:30 at the new location on East Broadway. Guest speakers include Governor Bullock, Mayor Engen and President Engstrom. The culinary school will provide appetizers.Missoula College UM Dean Barry Good will retire at the end of the school year. A search committee will form soon to locate his replacement.
A dedicated CDL instructor and truck were purchased for the CDL program Missoula College has been developing. The program will be non-credit.
Kyle Pucko has moved to the mountain campus. Ryan is the new admissions contact at Missoula College.
The Strengthening Workforce Alignment in Montana’s Manufacturing and Energy Industries (SWAMMEI) grant aims to connect schools with Montana’s labor market. The programs are designed as short-term flexible training that allows students to move easily from the classroom to apprenticeships or the workplace, or continue their education and receive higher credentials. Thirteen two-year colleges across Montana are involved in the grant.
Training programs include welding, CDL, energy technology, electronics technology, oil and gas and fabrication. Mickey Lyngholm is the local contact.
