In Attendance
- Will Bodle, Rural Employment Opportunities
- Kelly Deniger, Missoula Palmer Office
- Michelle Dorsey, Missoula Job Service
- Monique Fortmann, Lifelong Learning Center
- Kristi Harman, Missoula Job Service
- Jeannine Lovell, Homeword
- Chris Mitchell, Office of Public Assistance
- Jim Morton, Human Resource Council District XI
- Hal Pulling, Opportunity Resources
- Jodi Rasmussen, Lifelong Learning Center
- Thomas Smith, WORD
- Megan Westover, Mountain Home Montana
Agenda
College Success Program
The Lifelong Learning Center has partnered with Missoula College UM on grant-funded program that better prepares incoming students for success in college. The program is currently open to students admitted to or waitlisted for programs on the west campus, and will expand in July to cover all programs at Missoula College except healthcare offerings.
The College Success Program measures student’s skills in math and writing using the TABE test and provides assistance to bring them to the level where they do not need to take developmental courses in college. Students can also learn about financial aid options and gain important study and organizational skills. The program is free and scheduling is flexible for students.
To access the College Success Program, students must have been admitted to Missoula College UM and have a student ID number assigned.
WIOA Leadership Team vs. Community Management Team
WIOA requires certain organizations to become partners at the local and state levels. The group discussed whether to integrate required local meetings into the CMT or meet separately. For now, the CMT will be cognizant of our partners’ time and the lack of WIOA regulations: if no agenda items for a meeting are received in response to a request, the meeting will be canceled.
Updates
Human Resource Council District XIThe summer youth employment program is funded again for TANF-eligible youths age 16 - 24 this summer. The program starts at the end of May and runs for eight weeks. Jobs are mostly part time and minimum wage with government or non-profit organizations.
Opportunity Resources
The recycling center is now accepting recycled e-waste. Opportunity Resources is hiring staff to run the facility.
Opportunity Resources held workshops to prepare their clients for the Career Fair held a few weeks ago.
Office of Public Assistance
The local Office of Public Assistance (OPA) will become one of three processing centers in the state. Great Falls and Billings will also be processing centers. All calls will be routed through a statewide phone number once staff training is complete. OPA’s lobby setup will also change: walk-ins will be assisted as they come into the office similarly to the way Social Security offices are designed. OPA will also do more phone interviews and transition from individual to shared caseloads. Documents will be scanned into the computer system to eliminate hard-copy case files. Staff will be trained to handle all programs. The changes will lead to faster and better service for participants.
Homeword
Homeword is developing a program for renters that will start in the next fiscal year.
Missoula Job Service
Missoula Job Service just completed a test of electronic document management software in the WIA program. If the pilot was successful, the software will roll out statewide.
Mike Cooney has accepted the position of deputy commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry and is no longer administrator of the Workforce Services Division. The administrator position has been posted.
A component of the Medicaid expansion bill passed by the legislature allows 13 FTE’s to enhance employment outcomes for Medicaid recipients. The bill still needs to be reviewed by the federal government; no further details are available.
The state will hire a healthcare navigator located in Missoula. This person will be tasked with developing apprenticeships in the healthcare field.
The local Business Expansion and Retention program (BEAR) is adopting a consulting model that has been successful in Bozeman. BEAR interviews will continue to identify business needs. After the interview, businesses can be connected to local businesses or professionals willing to donate a few hours of their time to address business needs. Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) funds will still be available through BEAR. The new model will help keep the BEAR program rolling once IWT funds are exhausted each year.
