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.
- 5. Services provided to farmworkers and agricultural employers through the one-stop delivery system
Describe the State agency's proposed strategies for:
- 5. Services provided to farmworkers and agricultural employers through the one-stop delivery system
- 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. 5. A. Providing the Full Range of Employment and Training Services to the Agricultural Community, Both Farmworkers and Agricultural Employers, Through the One-stop Delivery System. This Includes:
i. How career and training services required under WIOA Title I will be provided to MSFWs through the one-stop centers
ii. How the State serves agricultural employers and how it intends to improve such services
Current Narrative:
In the field, Migrant Seasonal Farm Worker Outreach staff utilize the following strategies to provide services via personal contact and/or translators or translation devices to communicate with farmworkers. At the American Job Center and in the field, staff use written materials such as brochures, flowcharts and facts sheets printed in the language familiar to the workers in order to inform Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers about the core, intensive, training and career services available to them at no charge. Outreach workers have laptop computers and cellphones to complete orientation and registration as well as aid them in meeting the customer’s needs for supportive services, counseling and job development.
Additionally, there are computers including laptops which contain Spanish language registration instructions. Should any Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers require or request career and training services which are available under Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Title I to enhance their skill level or to transfer into another career. Services would have to be adapted to meet the needs of that specific customer by outsourcing a staff person to assist him in the field or provide transportation into the American Job Center for assistance.
Agricultural employers are given written information about the full array of services available to them through the local American Job Center and they are encouraged to visit the facility. Each year local American Job Center staff and Outreach workers are encouraged to add new agricultural employers to their visitation list. The State Monitor Advocate attends annual conferences sponsored by the college and universities agricultural departments, and agricultural associations to promote State Workforce Agency services. The State Monitor Advocate, Migrant Seasonal Farm Worker Outreach staff and local office staff attend local state fairs and special community events such as the Apple Harvest, Peach, Blackberry and Strawberry Festivals, etc. to inform the agricultural employers about the full range of employment and training services offered at the local American Job Center. Each year the agricultural associations, employers and public/private agencies involved with agriculture are invited to provide information for inclusion in the state Agricultural Outreach Plan. And if they submit comments their information is written into the plan and shared with Department of Labor.
a. HOW CAREER AND TRAINING SERVICES REQUIRED UNDER WIOA TITLE I WILL BE PROVIDED TO MSFWS THROUGH THE ONE-STOP CENTERS;
The career and training services required under WIOA Title I will be provided by using trained staff, translators/translation devices and brochures which outline all services employment programs, register customers, assess their needs, refer customers for supportive services, inform customers of the their rights, etc. utilizing available technology (i.e. computers, cellphones, videos, etc.)
b. HOW THE STATE SERVES AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS AND HOW IT INTENDS TO IMPROVE SUCH SERVICES.
The SWA is committed to continuous improvement an actively seeks feedback form employers and farm workers regarding their needs and suggestions for improvement. The SWA in conjunction with the NFJP staff re-designed the agricultural forums offered to employers, annually. And the SWA has utilized the new agricultural employer forum format starting in 2020 to communicate with the employers as well as conducting on-site visits. In February 2020, Wage and Hour staff agreed to conduct ongoing pre-harvest visits and work with employers on compliance, during their discussions at the employer forum.