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. 6. B. Review and Public Comment
In developing the AOP, the SWA must solicit information and suggestions from NFJP grantees, other appropriate MSFW groups, public agencies, agricultural employer organizations, and other interested organizations. In addition, at least 45 calendar days before submitting its final AOP, the SWA must provide a proposed plan to NFJP grantees, public agencies, agricultural employer organizations, and other organizations expressing an interest and allow at least 30 days for review and comment. The SWA must: 1) Consider any comments received in formulating its final proposed AOP; 2) Inform all commenting parties in writing whether their comments have been incorporated and, if not, the reasons therefore; and 3) Transmit the comments and recommendations received and its responses with the submission of the AOP.
The AOP must include a statement confirming NFJP grantees, other appropriate MSFW groups, public agencies, agricultural employer organizations and other interested employer organizations have been given an opportunity to comment on the AOP. Include the list of organizations from which information and suggestions were solicited, any comments received, and responses to those comments.
Current Narrative:
The state solicited information and suggestions from the WIOA 167 National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) grantee, other appropriate MSFW groups, public agencies, agricultural employer organizations, and other interested organizations in developing the Agricultural Outreach Plan. The State provided a proposed plan to the following entities: Maine Department of Education-Migrant Education Program, Maine Mobile Health Program, Maine Migrant Health Program, the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic Program, Maine Human Rights Commission, the University of Maine School of Law-Immigrant and Legal Advocacy Project, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Farm Bureau, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Mano en Mano (migrant worker family center), Maine Family Planning, the National Farmworker Jobs Program 167 grantee – Eastern Maine Development Corporation, and Pine Tree Legal (Farm Worker’s Division). MDOL operates under an executed MOU with Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC), the 167 Grantee for the NFJP. The Memorandum of Understanding between MDOL and EMDC will facilitate the exchange of data pertaining to services provided to MSFWs. The SWA considered all comments received in formulating its final proposed AOP and informed all commenting parties in writing whether their comments were incorporated. For comments and MDOL response, see Appendix E Response to Comments Regarding2020-2023 Agricultural Outreach Plan.
Response to Comments Regarding the 2020-2023 Agricultural Outreach Plan
On February 10, 2020, the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) solicitated comments from interested parties on the four-year Agricultural Outreach Plan (AOP). The Department received comments from one interested party during the thirty-day comment period ending March 11, 2020. Yvette Meunier, Promotional Coordinator from the Agricultural Resource Development Division of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry responded. The following includes the comments received and the Department’s response to each.
Comment: “I will say that from a layperson’s perspective, there is a lot of terminologies undefined or appear to be interchangeable (One-stops, H-2A local offices, American Job Center, CareerCenters). SWA and ETA acronyms were used but never defined. The ES acronym was used several times before being defined.”
Department Response: The Department agrees the use of acronyms requires additional clarification. Acronym edits were made to the final draft of the plan including an updated appendix of acronyms and definitions.
Comment: “DACF was never mentioned in the plan, is there any interest in identifying areas we can collaborate with as part of their work? One potential area of assistance might be with promoting the Agricultural Recruitment System through social media and direct outreach to employers, as identified in the last sentence of the first paragraph under Assessment of Progress on page 5 of the plan. They could also mention ongoing outreach opportunities with the Farm Labor Link Network at the Ag Trades Show to reach out to farmers to promote the H-2A program.”
Department Response: Although the plan does not specifically name or operationalize specific partners and services, we are fully committed to making sure that these relationships are a strong as possible. This will include working with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and others in promoting the Agricultural Recruitment System through social media, and direct outreach to employers as well as outreach to farmers to promote the H-2A program at the Agricultural Trades Show.