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.
- 4. Outreach Activities
The local offices outreach activities must be designed to meet the needs of MSFWs in the State and to locate and contact MSFWs who are not being reached through normal intake activities. Describe the State agency's proposed strategies for:
- 4. Outreach Activities
- 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. 4. A. Contacting farmworkers who are not being reached by the normal intake activities conducted by the employment service offices
Current Narrative:
Colorado MSFW Outreach staff continues to coordinate and develop partnerships with community partners to increase access to MSFWs within their communities.
Outreach staff will attend community agency events with an emphasis in reaching MSFWs to provide legal rights information, offer on-site workforce services, registration and information on available services such as Unemployment Insurance assistance, training programs, other programs, supportive services and available workshops.
Outreach staff continues to take an active role in both the local Regional Coalition and Colorado State Migrant Coalition. Outreach staff will focus on establishing direct connections with other service providers with an emphasis on implementing new ways to identify MSFW populations and the sharing of agency services without the publication of efforts.
Colorado collaborates with Rocky Mountain SER (NFJP 167 Provider), Community Health Programs, Migrant Education Program, Centro de la Family/Head Start, Project Protect Food Systems, Mexican, Peruvian and Guatemalan Consulates, Colorado Legal Services, Catholic Charities, Homeless Gear, a Precious Child, Servicios de la Raza, Human Service Departments and a host of other community programs. Collaboration plays a role in the coordination of outreach staff throughout the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker season. Activities include attending Migrant Head Start parent meetings, mobile health van visits and conducting joint field visits. Outreach staff will cross train outside agency staff to educate them on services available at the workforce centers, available programs, training opportunities and the complaint system in order to receive good quality referrals. In turn, outreach staff will also learn about that agency qualification requirements and services that can be offered to the MSFW population.
Colorado significant office locations host with participation and assistance from area private and public supportive service agencies, employers and employer organizations, a yearly event for farmworker appreciation. This event allows outreach staff to gather along with workers in a non-threatening environment to provide information, talk about any issues they may have, provide resources and services and assist in coordinating referrals in person. Winter events are also organized to assist workers during their down time to assist with Unemployment Insurance questions, access to public assistance such as SNAP, TANF and LEAP and connect the family with additional resources or job opportunities.