Narrative: e. 3.

Unique needs of farmworkers:

The unique needs of MSFWs in Maine is based on review of the annual and historical delivery of services by multiple agencies working in long term partnership to assist this population during the harvest season. The projected needs are anticipated to remain consistent for the next four years for farmworkers working in each of the primary crop and geographic areas with agricultural activity. Consistently, workers need support navigating a host of local, state and federally sponsored services. This is often due to language challenges, a lack of awareness of certain services or physical access to services. Services such as: general health, dental and eye care; basic education service including child care for young family members while the parent or guardian works long hours; transportation services to and from the job site or the next out of area job often depending on contractor provided transportation or undependable personal vehicles; auto repairs and maintenance; wage or working condition issues, safe and suitable housing; referral to the next job, or need for education and training to assist the worker secure full time agricultural work or regular-stable non-agricultural employment. These are long standing and evidence-based needs recognized by the Farmworker Resource Network members, American Job Centers and other service provider partners including the National Farmworkers Jobs Program operator. Peak agricultural work season in Maine is July-September and the approximate number of MSFWs in the State is between 2,000 and 2,500.  Low season, which is January through April, the approximate number is 150 to 200 and most of these are workers are employed by farmer owned packing houses and apple cider pressing operations.

Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC), the National Farmworkers Jobs Program (NFJP) grant operator in Maine (WIOA Section 167), was awarded PY 2019 funding to help address the myriad of critical issues faced by farmworkers and their families. NFJP served 91 MSFWs in calendar year 2018 and 68 MSFWs during calendar year PY 2019. The NFJP is a required partner of the one-stop delivery system and is responsible for making the full range of services available to farmworkers.

To ensure that all services are focused on the customer’s needs, services are provided through a case-management approach. Services received may include: basic and individualized career services, training services, and support services including emergency assistance. Key issues negatively impacting this population are lack of education; poverty; unstable employment; access to housing, transportation and/or healthcare; and limited English proficiency. Individuals who have earned more than 50 percent of their income from agricultural labor are encouraged, along with their dependents, to apply for services.

Characteristics of migrant workers: Migrant workers travel to Maine from Mexico, Haiti, Canada(New Brunswick and Nova Scotia), Texas, Florida, and California to work. The majority of workers arrive from Mexico, however, Maine continues to see small influxes of workers from Central American countries such as Guatemala. Many workers travel with their families, including young children, as the agriculture seasons in Maine gets underway. Historically, the primary language is Spanish, however, with more workers from Haiti, Maine is beginning to see an increase in Haitian Creole.

The challenges faced by migrant workers remains consistent year to year: language, education and job skills training, housing, reliable transportation, food and nutrition, child care, and school alternatives for the children during the harvest, not to mention the need for assurances and safety nets for safe and fair labor practices.