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. D. Providing State merit staff outreach workers professional development activities to ensure they are able to provide high quality services to both jobseekers and employers
Current Narrative:
Training and workforce development will be fostered through new and current outreach staff shadowing the program supervisor and H2A director in the field or by training meetings online. Further development will also be obtained through newly created online trainings within the NCWORKS Training center where they will obtain certifications upon completion. MSFW workshops are also highly encouraged through partner agencies such as East Coast Migrant Head Start and Migrant Food Ministry, etc.
Outreach workers report to agricultural field supervisor who has primary responsibility for ensuring accomplishments of outreach goals. Through improved reporting practices, better local office coordination of time, and more flexibility by management in assignment of outreach duties, outreach will be conducted virtually and in person. Outreach workers, as well as other staff, will visit living areas, work sites, and gathering areas to explain the full range of services provided by the DWS and other agencies. When state guidance limits travel workers will be contacted by phone, email, on state approved social media, and utilizing state messaging apps. Unemployed and underemployed farmworkers will be advised of agricultural and nonagricultural job opportunities. Outreach workers will provide information and referrals to MSFWs to supportive services, as well as assist them in securing aid such as food stamps, clothing, blankets, hygiene kits, and migrant shelter, when needed.