Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Wagner-Peyser Program (Employment Services)
All Program-Specific Requirements provided for the WIOA core programs in this section must be addressed for either a Unified or Combined State Plan.
- e. Agricultural Outreach Plan (aop). Each State Agency Must Develop an Aop Every Four Years as Part of the Unified or Combined State Plan Required Under Sections 102 or 103 of WIOA. the Aop Must Include--
- 1. Assessment of NeedProvide an assessment of the unique needs of farmworkers in the area based on past and projected agricultural and farmworker activity in the State. Such needs may include but are not limited to: employment, training, and housing.
- 1. Assessment of Need
- e. Agricultural Outreach Plan (aop). Each State Agency Must Develop an Aop Every Four Years as Part of the Unified or Combined State Plan Required Under Sections 102 or 103 of WIOA. the Aop Must Include--
e. 1. B. An Assessment of the Unique Needs of Farmworkers Means Summarizing Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker (msfw) Characteristics (including if They Are Predominantly from Certain Countries, What Language(s) They Speak, the Approximate Number of Msfws in the State During Peak Season and During Low Season, and Whether They Tend to Be Migrant, Seasonal, or Year-round Farmworkers). This Information Must Take into Account Data Supplied by WIOA Section 167 National Farmworker Jobs Program (nfjp) Grantees, Other Msfw Organizations, Employer Organizations, and State And/or Federal Agency Data Sources Such as the U.s. Department of Agriculture and the U.s. Department of Labor (dol) Employment and Training Administration.
Current Narrative:
Unique Needs of MSFWs
MSFWs are a unique and very important segment of Arkansas’ agricultural economy as they are willing to complete the necessary harvesting and manual labor job duties. However, MSFWs also face a number of challenges seldom faced by other workers. These include the following:
• Education: the education level among MSFWs tends to be low
• Language: general lack of ability to speak and read English and, at times, Spanish
• Economic Status: the income level of MSFWs frequently falls well below the poverty level
• Limited access to public transportation in most rural areas of the state
• Limited access to medical services