Narrative: e. 2. A.

When the Migrant Labor Representative is conducting outreach, the MSFW Program (bilingual) Resource Guide provides local staff and agency contact information to the MSFWs. The information is important and sometimes crucial to MSFWs, whether they are seeking agricultural or non-agricultural employment and services. The MLRs post contact information with local businesses and agencies that are frequented by the MSFWs. In addition to the types of employment services available, this includes tear-off tabs with their names and phone numbers. These postings are written in English and Spanish. This is consistent with our commitment to universal access to labor exchange services and the requirement to ensure that all job seekers with LEP and/or little or no computer knowledge or access to computer-based labor exchange services will be still be provided services and assistance. Much of the outreach activity is concentrated in the summer and fall months, when MSFW activity is at its peak. The majority of the workers that the outreach staff make contact with are migrant food processors that are recruited and contracted in Texas by employers. They arrive to work in three 8 to 14 hour shifts during (June- end of Sept.) the peak season.Each WorkForce Center offers a variety of workshops to help with your job search and career planning. Examples of workshops include: • Interviewing skills • Networking • Internet job searches • Completing job applications • Resumes and cover letters There are four one-stop WorkForce Centers with significant MSFW activity in Minnesota. These WorkForce Centers include a bilingual Spanish/English MLR, all of whom are bilingual / bicultural, have farmworker backgrounds and a strong commitment to their work. The MLR outreach staff perform outreach activities during the peak time of the season including scheduling and coordinating outreach efforts with the other service providers. The outreach staff provide the farmworkers and employers with information, presentations, and handouts related to employment rights and protections, job referrals and job search services. The majority of MSFWs encountered by the MLRs and other service providers (Migrant Health, Legal Services, NFJP) indicated that they are limited-English (LEP) or non-English speakers. The outreach staff assist MSFWs with translation, program registrations, the Unemployment compensation application process if needed, and provide and inform workers of all employment services to those who qualify. The staff provides informational resource guides that include eligibility information for all agency partners, and local community resources. Services will be actively promoted to farm workers as described above under the local outreach plan.

The outreach staff in the four significant local offices develop a yearly outreach plan which, in part, describes the coordination and referral system with other local community MSFW service providers and partners. This includes setting goals and objectives on employer and worker contacts, registration number of workers, job referrals and following- up on referrals to record results, increasing the number of employer visits and making contacts for job development and making assessments of the needs of farmworkers and employers. These plans are monitored by the State Monitor Advocate (SMA) as part of the office review process to ensure that MSFWs and employers have full access to all WorkForce Center services.

A minimum of 5 contacts per outreach day is required to meet USDOL compliance. In PY15: 2,097 contacts were conducted in 172 staff outreach days which indicates 13 contacts per staff outreach day. The rate of 203 contacts was achieved by other cooperating agencies. The proposed number of contacts in the new PY16-20 will be 2,500 annually. The number of field checks conducted in PY16-20 will increase as we refer and place domestic job seekers in H-2A jobs.

The total number of registered Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in the last full program year, PY14 was 2,435. This number represents a significant increase due to outreach best practices used by the Migrant Labor outreach workers, and the addition of a Migrant Labor Representative (MLR) located at the Rochester one-stop Workforce Center. Our commitment to improve these numbers have included intensive training for the program staff as to the eligibility definitions and criteria of all the programs. The reestablishment of local area employer cooperation and collaboration, has improved significantly with the involvement of the statewide Business Services Representatives There are 48 one-stop Workforce Centers throughout Minnesota. The Workforce Center programs are targeted to dislocated workers, low-income adults, disadvantaged youth, welfare-to-work participants, Veterans and low-income seniors. However, any person who lives in Minnesota can use their services. The centers offer many different classes and workshops. "New Leaf" is a workshop designed for job seekers who must address a criminal record in their job search. "Career Exploration" is a workshop that allows participants to take several assessments to find matching career options. In "Networking Groups," job seekers discuss networking, job search techniques, job interviewing and other related topics. The centers also have services geared specifically for veterans, including veterans networking groups, job clubs and reintegration training.