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:
During the planning time for the AOP modification, the SMA spoke with several MSFW supporting agencies during the monthly Colorado Migrant and Rural Coalition (State Coalition) meeting to gather information. Agencies who were included were Rocky Mountain SER (NFJP provider) , Colorado Migrant Education, Migrant Head Start, Migrant Health and Colorado Legal Services. Following the meeting, the group was informed that the plan was posted for public comment and provided with the link to the plan with instructions about commenting by the deadline. That comment took place in January and February of 2022, and no comments were submitted.
During the public comment period for this four year plan that was completed on February 21, 2020, only one comment was received that was related to the MSFW program. Here is the comment and the state’s response:
- Comment: 167 is a section of MSFW, unsure why it is referenced as WIOA 167 provider.
(“These informational packets include resources for English as a Second Language (ESL),
Migrant Education Program (MEP) and training opportunities available through the WIOA 167 provider.”)
- Response: Thank you for your comment. In Colorado section 167 of WIOA specific funding for Migrant Seasonal Farmworker Program is contracted out to Rocky Mountain SER; they are Colorado’s National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) contractor. The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) is a nationally-directed, locally-administered program of services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) and includes 52 Career Services and Training grants, also known as Employment and Training grants, as well as 11 Housing grants across the United States and Puerto Rico. The program partners with community organizations and state agencies to counter the chronic unemployment and underemployment experienced by farmworkers who depend primarily on jobs in agricultural labor performed across the country.
The NFJP is an integral part of the public workforce system and a partner in the nationwide network of American Job Centers, also called One-Stop Career Centers. In addition, NFJP partners with state monitor advocates to provide services to farmworkers and their families working in agriculture employment. The NFJP program was created under the 1964 Civil Rights Act and is currently authorized under Section 167 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).