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 an assessment of need. An assessment need describes 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.
- 4. Outreach Activities
The local offices outreach activities must be designed to meet the needs of MSFWs in the State and to locate and contact MSFWs who are not being reached through normal intake activities. Describe the State agency's proposed strategies for:
- 4. Outreach Activities
- 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 an assessment of need. An assessment need describes 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.
e. 4. E. Coordinating outreach efforts with NFJP grantees as well as with public and private community service agencies and MSFW groups
Current Narrative:
Collaboration and coordination of services: The State Monitor Advocate (SMA) and outreach staff will partner with organizations and agencies serving the agricultural employment community to ensure that the needs and concerns of these workers receive consideration in the development and implementation of integrated service plans.
The Farmworker Resource Network (Network), a collaborative including the SMA, members of a nearby one-stop centers, National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), Maine Migrant Health Program, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) food supplement program, Downeast Health Services’ Women Infants and Children (WIC) program, and Maine Department of Education’s Migrant Education Program continues to coordinate a full array of critical services in support of Maine’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The Network providers gather in the heart of the blueberry barrens to provide immediate services to arriving migrant workers, serve as an effective collaborative outreach mechanism, and host a series of small resource fairs during peak harvest to ensure workers receive the services and supports needed, such as educational, occupational, health, and social service supports. MSFWs may receive food assistance, gas vouchers, emergency auto repair, emergency lodging, tents, clothing and personal care items, job search services, and referrals to social services.