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:
All job seekers who come into the One-Stop system are offered the same services at the same level, tailored to meet the customer’s career goals. During intake and assessment, staff will ascertain whether the client is an MSFW. MSFWs will then be identified on their registration. The MWFW is informed of the full range of one-stop services MSFWs is also informed of partners who provide MSFW services for which they may qualify. MSFW may be put into an individualized career services track incorporating partner organization services.
Regional Business Teams, as part of their regional service strategies, and the SMA will reach out to agricultural employers to inform them of One-Stop employer services, including the ARS, partner employer services, and services to employees. The Teams will encourage agricultural employer engagement in employment and training opportunities and Rapid Response services. The SMA continually disseminates to agricultural employers and their agents information on One-Stop employment and training services to MSFWs, MSFW employment rights, worker safety and health, housing, and MSFW partner services.
Locally, One-Stop Centers will coordinate the services of one-stop partners, community based organizations, the state MSFW contacts, MSFW groups, state cooperative extension service, and parish (county) agents, and other agencies and organizations listed above to do the following:
- Give local presentations on One-Stop services, including the My Life, My Way online self-assessment tool and the LWC Star Jobs portal, both accessible online and through smartphones,
- Set up and utilize an integrated referral system to provide maximum services to MSFWs,
- Inform agricultural employers of MSFW services and rights,
- Encourage agricultural employers to utilize the Agricultural Recruiting System (ARS),
- Promote the hiring of MSFWs to employers in all sectors, including agricultural,
- Provide required employer posters and other handouts in the English language and in Spanish,
- Meet on a regular basis to exchange information, discuss problems, and coordinate efforts,
- Offer to distribute their information pamphlets during outreach contacts and provide materials for them to distribute to MSFWs,
- Offer services that are relative to their needs, and
- Advise them of all employment changes affecting their community.
The SMA will continue an ongoing relationship with the LA Farm Bureau Federation and participate in its annual Mid South Labor Seminar, providing materials or conducting presentations on agricultural labor issues.