Why HIRE?

In an effort to support Missoula-area employers in retaining new employees and reducing employee turnover, YWCA Missoula and the Missoula WoRC Program collaborated to create the HIRE Program. The information in this booklet illustrates the common needs and challenges that entry-level employees face and provides employers with resource references so that they can help new employees address these challenges. Frequent barriers to employee retention include:

• childcare needs
• transportation difficulties

under-developed workplace soft skills

This web page contains listings of local service organizations that work to remedy problems such as these as well as tips for hiring and training entry-level employees.

New employees want to succeed at their jobs and employers want to retain employees. The goal of the HIRE Program is to help businesses succeed by encouraging open communication between employers and employees and providing employers with the tools they need to actively support their new hirees. The YWCA and the WoRC Program are also making this important information available to employers through group presentations, one-on-one visits with employers. Please contact the YWCA at 406.543.6691 to schedule a HIRE presentation, ask questions, or make suggestions. Thank you for taking the time to review the information and to make it available to your new employees.

Child Care

Child Care Resources
127 E. Main St.
Missoula, MT 59802
406.728.6446
www.childcareresources.org

Child Care Resources helps families find childcare using an up-to-date referral system. Families also receive information to help them assess the quality of child care settings. Child care scholarships are available to help low-income and moderate-income families pay for care.

Cuddles & Care Get Well Center
902 N. Orange Street
Missoula, MT
406.327.3050
Hours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Cuddles & Care Get Well Center provides care for children with mild temporary illness during the workday. St. Patrick’s Hospital has operated this program since 1986. Nurses care for children and infants through age 12 with mild temporary illnesses excluding chicken pox, measles, mumps and meningitis. Parents must have complete immunization records and must call one hour before arrival.

Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP)
www.chip.mt.gov/aboutchip.shtml

CHIP is a free or low-cost health insurance plan. The plan provides health insurance to eligible Montana children up to age 19. A child can qualify for CHIP based on family size and income. There is no proof of income required at the time of application.
Eligibility Requirements:

• Uninsured children up to the age of 19
• Montana residents
• US Citizens or qualified aliens
• Not currently insured and uninsured for one month (some exceptions apply)
• Parents are not employed by the State of Montana or the Montana University system
• Not eligible for Medicaid
• Household meets income guidelines for household size

Missoula’s Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
301 W. Alder
Missoula, MT 59802
406.258.4740
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Wednesday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

WIC services are for children up to age 5, pregnant, post-partum and breastfeeding moms, and women whose pregnancies ended early. Fathers and others caring for young children including grandparents, legal guardians and foster parents are encouraged to apply as well.

WIC Income Guidelines as of May 2009

Household Annual Income:

1 person - $19,240
2 people - $25,900
3 people - $32,560
4 people - $39,220
5 people - $45,880

*Pregnant women = two family members.
*Add $6,660 for each additional family member.

WIC Nutrition Services

• Each client receives vouchers each year, valued at $900 for purchase of healthy foods.
• During the summer, WIC coupons are offered for fresh fruits and veggies at the Farmers Market
• WIC offers nutrition and health education, and help with personal nutrition goal setting.
• Breastfeeding support, breast pumps, lactation counselor services.

Referrals to social and health services in the community.

Transportation

Missoula in Motion
Missoula In Motion
www.missoulainmotion.com
Contact 406.258.4963 for more information.

Gain MOMENTUM
Momentum is a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program that can help you and your employees save money and time while maintaining quality of life in Missoula. TDM programs typically include a combination of efforts that encourage the use of a wide variety of commute options, which are fast becoming a favorite employee benefit at businesses around Missoula. Employees like participating in Momentum because it reduces commute time and expenses. Employers like the program because it helps them curb parking costs, improve employee productivity, realize tax benefits, and free up spaces for customer parking. To gain Momentum at your work-place, contact Missoula In Motion. We’ll come to your office and help you create a program customized to your needs. It’s FREE, it works for businesses for all sizes, and it gets Missoula moving in the right direction.

EZ Pass Program
The EZ Pass is an annual bus pass purchased by employers for all employees. EZ Pass holders are entitled to unlimited rides on all Mountain Line buses, and are also eligible to use the Guaranteed Ride Home program. Several Missoula businesses participate in the EZ Pass Program.
The EZ Pass Program offers many benefits to the business community including substantial savings on transit, tax benefits, more customer parking, and convenience and flexibility for employers.

Freecycles
723 S. 1st St. W.
Missoula, MT
406.541.7284
www.strans.org/freecycles.html

Freecycles is a community bicycle shop providing bikes, parts, and help for those in need.

• Open Shop—Repair your bicycle! This is a free service. We have stands, tools, parts and help available.
• Bike Well Classes—This class covers basic bike repair, good riding skills, and traffic laws.
• Free Bike—To get a free bike, two hours of volunteer time and the Bike Well Class are required.
• Volunteer Night—Every Wednesday from 7-9pm. Come help with sorting, cleaning, bike-building and general shop upkeep.

Nutrition and Food

Food Bank of Missoula
219 S. 3rd Street West
406.549.0543
www.missoulafoodbank.org
Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Wednesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The Food Bank of Missoula offers emergency supply of food, monthly visits allowed. Brief screening interview required for information and referral.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
2825 Santa Fe Court
County Extension Office
406.258.4208
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., evenings by appointment

EFNEP offers nutrition, meal planning, and cooking instruction. The main focus is on spending the food dollar wisely while providing good nutrition. There are a series of six lessons, which are free for limited income families.

City Food Ministries
2811 Latimer St.
406.721.7804
www.cfccmt.org
Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
City Food Ministries is a program of the Clark Fork City Church and a member of the Montana Food Bank Network. City Food Ministries provides food for those in need.

General Empolyment

Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program
Department of Labor & Industry
WOTC Unit
P.O. Box 1728
Helena, MT 59624-1728
http://wsd.dli.mt.gov/wotc/wotc.asp

If you hire an individual from a WOTC Target Group, your company could be eligible for up to $9,000 in tax credits. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit program is designed to assist individuals facing barriers move into gainful employment. The credit is available to private, for profit employers and the number of new hires who can qualify the employer is unlimited. This program encourages employers in the private sector to hire job seekers from one of the following targeted groups:

• Qualified recipients of Aid to Families with Dependant Children (AFDC) or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• Qualified Veterans
• Qualified Ex-Felons
• Qualified Designated Community Resident
• Qualified Vocational Rehabilitation Recipients.
• Qualified Summer Youths residing in an Empowerment Zone or Renewal Community (EZ/EC – Wolf Point Area)
• Qualified Food Stamp Recipients
• Qualified Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients.
• Hurricane Katrina Employees

To apply for certification, an IRS form 8850 (Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request) must be completed on or before the job is offered, then must be postmarked within 28 days of the employee’s start date. In addition to the IRS 8850, an ETA form 9061 (Individual Characteristics) must be completed and submitted on or after the employee’s start date. Submit the required forms to Christy Robbins, WOTC Coordinator, at the address above. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Bonding Program provides individual fidelity bonds to employers for job applicants who are denied coverage by commercial carriers because of their criminal history. While the bond does not cover liability due to poor workmanship, job inquiries, or work accident, it does insure the employer against theft, forgery, larceny or embezzlement.

Bonding Program Benefits for the Employer:

• Bond coverage is provided at no cost to the employer as an incentive to hire hard-to-place job applicants.
• The bond coverage is effective the day the new employee begins work and lasts for six months.
• The employer gains the worker’s skills and abilities without assuming the risks associated with theft or dishonesty.
• There are no documents to sign nor is there paperwork to complete.
• The bond has no deductible and reimburses the employer for any loss due to employee theft within the specified six month period.

Job Requirements:

• The employer must have a specific date set for the applicant to begin work.
• The applicant must be of legal working age.
• The position will be one in which the applicant will work at least 30 hours per week for a period of six months. Federal taxes will be automatically deducted from the employee’s check.
• Ensure that the job is suitable for the applicant.

This program is intended to help people gain employment with employers that otherwise would be hesitant to hire people with criminal records. Contact the Department of Labor at 406.444.9046 for more information.

Apprenticeship and Training

Apprenticeship & Training Program
Workforce Services Division
P.O. Box 1728
Helena, MT 59624-1728
406.444.3998
www.apprenticeship.dli.mt.gov

The Montana Apprenticeship & Training Program is a program that combines paid, on-the-job training with related college or other post-secondary coursework. Apprenticeship enables employers to develop and apply industry standards to training programs that can increase productivity and improve quality of the workforce. An Apprenticeship Sponsor is an employer that is able and willing to train workers in all aspects of an occupation in an employment-training environment. Any business, small or large, union or non-union, that employs workers in an apprentice-able occupation is qualified to be a sponsor. Apprenticeship is a smart investment in your business!

Missoula Job Service
539 S. 3rd West
Missoula, MT 59801
406.728.7060
Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Free services include:

• Advertisement of job openings
• Human Resource consulting
• Free employment posters
• Layoff assistance
• WIA training program
• Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR)

Other Resources

Employee Turnover Cost Calculator
www.cliperonline.com/solutions/turnover.shtml

Advance Earned Income Credit Information
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw5.pdf

First Call for Help
406.549.5555; or dial 211; Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
First Call for Help provides detailed information on all Missoula community services, nonprofit agencies, and support groups.