Narrative: e. 3.

DWD will provide Wagner–Peyser Act funded services to migrant workers and to prospective and actual employers of these individuals. DWD will make every effort to strengthen its working relationships with MSFWs and employers to encourage utilization of Missouri Job Centers. Efforts will continue to include the full range of the Missouri Job Center services delivered through an outreach effort designed to locate, contact, and inform migrant and seasonal farmworkers about the employment and training services available statewide and particularly in the Southeast, Southwest and West Central regions. Additional efforts include ensuring that MSFW customers are referred to the WIA 167 grantees for assistance.

DWD will ensure that MSFWs are offered the same range of employment services, benefits and protections, including counseling, testing and job training referral services, as is provided to non–MSFWs.

Wagner–Peyser services provided through the Missouri Job Centers include:

• registration for Wagner–Peyser and other services

• explanation and use of jobs.mo.gov

• job counseling

• referral to job openings

• improving job–seeking skills

• testing

• assessment

• referrals to supportive services and other providers including the WIA 167 grantee

• information on employment and training opportunities

• labor market information

• information n the Job Service complaint system, including filing and processing of complaints

In-take Process

Upon first arriving at a Missouri Job Center, the following methods are used to provide Career services:

• Adequately identifying the MSFW at the point of registration;

• Explaining services available;

• Assessing the immediate needs of the farm worker;

• Referral to appropriate service providers as needed; and

• Systematic follow-up with each individual to ensure their needs are met.

Upon completion of intake, the MSFWs training needs are assessed. Many times completion of training or an upgrade of skills is difficult to accomplish because workers have a family they must support. If training is possible and necessary, then the participant is referred to Job Center Skills Team for evaluation. If training options do not meet the individual’s needs, then referral to other service providers such as the 167 Grantee will be made. In addition, ESL and high school equivalency classes are provided by Migrant Education all over the state.

To better serve the agriculture employer DWD continues to reach out to them to make them aware of the services we provide to assist them in their agriculture businesses. The jobs.mo.gov website has a dedicated AES page promoting services to agricultural employers. In addition, the jobs.mo.gov website includes valuable information for all employers, including information on job postings and recruitment services, work based learning programs, available tools to help assess employees, available workshops for employers, links to business resources and contact information for business services staff throughout the state.

DWD will strive to improve our services to agriculture employers by reaching out to them to better learn how we can be of assistance and tailor our services specific to the agriculture community. We plan to attend agriculture related conferences, farm fests, and other venues that will allow our outreach staff to interact with the agriculture employer. As information in learned DWD will continue to update our website and outreach materials to stay current with the agriculture employers needs.