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. D. Assessment of Progress
The plan must include an explanation of what was achieved based on the previous AOP, what was not achieved and an explanation as to why the State believes the goals were not achieved, and how the State intends to remedy the gaps of achievement in the coming year.
Current Narrative:
D. Although there are MSFWs seeking services through the local job service centers, there are significantly more being served through outreach efforts which can hinder immediate access to a full range of services. Training continues to be provided in an on-going basis to all job center staff; however, Missouri also provides additional one-on-one training with each point of contact person in all job centers to develop strategies relevant to the local areas for addressing the issue.
In relation to the previous AOP, Missouri achievements include increasing partnerships with agricultural employers; improving outreach for meeting basic needs of food clothing, shelter and education; and providing faith-based support services. In addition, Missouri has straightened our partnership with UMOS, the 167 NFJP grantee. Together we are meeting and collaborating on MSFW efforts quarterly. However, Missouri still has a gap in meeting our goals. Missouri is increasing training across the state to remedy this.
Partnerships at the local level are critical to the MSFW program. Local office staff as well as the SMA strive to establish and maintain working partnerships with agricultural employers, agricultural associations, and the migrant and seasonal farmworker population.
Missouri cooperates with migrant service providers to conduct outreach and to ensure a wide variety of needs are met (food, clothing, shelter, education). OWD’s biggest partner is UMOS, the 167 NFJP grantee. The organization’s sole focus is the migrant farmworker and their family. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is established between OWD, the local workforce development boards and UMOS.
In addition, small and large churches are utilized to help provide supportive services such as transportation to worksites, clothes and lodging. Community organizations such as food pantries, clothing stores and temporary shelter providers provided basic needs to the farm worker and their families who sometimes travel long distances for a job. The Migrant Farmworkers Project provides a range of free legal assistance to both migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
OWD understands the criticality of having adequate staffing levels for AOP outreach. OWD recruits staff members who speak Spanish to better serve the farmworker community, and periodically evaluates staffing levels for outreach to ensure adequate coverage statewide.