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. 1. Assessment of Need. Provide an assessment of 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.
Current Narrative:
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.
An assessment of 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. 20 cfr 653.107(d) state agricultural outreach plan (aop).
An assessment of 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. 20 cfr 653.107(d) state agricultural outreach plan (aop).
(2) ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY IN THE STATE.
Each SWA must develop an AOP every 4 years as part of the Unified or Combined State Plans required under sec. 102 or 103 of WIOA.
The AOP must: Provide an assessment of the unique needs of MSFWs in the area based on past and projected agricultural and MSFW activity in the State;
Colorado continues to see a need for affordable housing to include short term-seasonal rentals. Affordable housing is a need all across the state, employers who house farm workers have increased difficulty each year securing housing.
Current Farm worker needs in Colorado
Medical free or low cost:
- Access to behavioral health
- Counseling services
- Dental
Education free or low cost:
- English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
- Adult Basic Education/GED
Training:
- Upskilling in their native language
- Training providers in native language
- Workshops in native language
- Apprenticeship programs for non-English or limited-English speakers
Other:
- Translation services
- Accessible resources for undocumented individuals
- Immigration assistance
- Accessible easy to navigate Federal websites for complaint reporting
- Affordable daycare that speak the language of child
Projected Farm worker needs in Colorado
Colorado projects that farmworker needs in Colorado will continue to be the same, lack of housing, language resources, child care, immigration services etc.
Colorado outreach staff and ES staff continue to assist farmworkers to navigate through the different agencies and programs in order to obtain services that are needed. It is difficult to assist with high cost challenges such as housing and cost of daycare especially if resources limit assistance to documented individuals.
Colorado projects that hand labor crops will hold steady and employers use the H-2A foreign labor program to increase.
Colorado has seen a large increase in H-2A and MSFW related complaints and apparent violations. Wage related complaints continue to be the most common with an increase in health and safety, transportation, housing, sexual harassment, discrimination and even trafficking. Outreach staff, and the SMA provide information to supportive service agency outreach workers in regard to our complaint system and how they can file complaints. Some recent complaints have been received because of outside agency referral information.