Partnering with the Florida Farmworker Jobs and Education Program

to Enhance Service Delivery to Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFWs)

2011 Workforce SummitDecember 2011

Orlando, FL

Marisela Ruiz, State Monitor AdvocateFL DEO Workforce Services

Gloria Spradley-Brown, Bureau ChiefFL DOE Adult Migrant Program and Services

Wagner-Peyser Act Regulations

Background on Employment Services to MSFWs

1972 - Lawsuit filed by NAACP against Department of Labor (DOL) alleging discriminatory actions, including inequitable treatment and services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) in state employment offices

1974 - Judge Charles Richey Court Order required DOL to undertake specified actions on providing MSFWs all employment services on a non-discriminating basis Establishment of Federal regulations governing Wagner-Peyser Act

Employment Services for MSFWs (20 CFR 653)Full-time MSFW Outreach Workers in One-Stop Centers where a large number of MSFWs are known to beFederal and State Monitor Advocate System

Establishment of Job Service Complaint System (20 CFR 658)

MSFW Definition per Wagner-Peyser Regulations

Seasonal Farmworker Worked at least 25 days (or parts of days) performing farmwork during the last 12

months AND Earned at least one half of total income performing farmwork AND Was not employed in farmwork by the same employer all year (for this purpose only, a

farm labor contractor is not considered an employer)

Migrant Farmworker A seasonal farmworker AND Has to travel to do farmwork AND Is unable to return to permanent residence within the same day

Migrant Food Processing Worker Worked at least 25 days (or parts of days) doing food processing during the last 12

months AND Earned at least one half of total income from food processing AND Was not employed year round by the same employer Has to travel to do food processing AND Is unable to return to permanent residence within the same day

MSFW Desk Aid

Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Services for MSFWs

Federal regulations require that every One-Stop Career Center offer to MSFWs the full range of quality employment services, benefits and protections, on an equal level as non-MSFWs Counseling Testing Job referrals Training referral services Referrals to supportive services

In providing such services, staff shall consider and be sensitive to the preferences, needs, and skills of individual MSFWs and the availability of job and training opportunities.

Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Services for MSFWs

Every One-Stop Career Center shall determine whether or not applicants are MSFWs as defined at 20 CFR 651.10 (summarized in previous slide). Appropriate coding must be used in Employ Florida Marketplace.

Staff must explain verbally to MSFW customers the services available through the One-Stop system and provide them a copy of the 511N Form (available in English, Spanish and Creole).

Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Services for MSFWs

Staff shall provide assistance in completing a full application for MSFW applicants. Significant work history Training and educational background Statement of desired employment Training needs Crop codes

Further guidance for completing a full application and other MSFW requirements can be found in Final Guidance 03-040.

Workforce Investment Act Regulations

Workforce Investment Act and the Required MSFW Partner

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I indicates that programs authorized under Title I are required partners of the one-stop delivery system.

The workforce investment MSFW program established under WIA Title I, Section 167 is the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP). This program is nationally administered by the US Department of Labor.

Workforce Investment Act and the Required MSFW Partner

The NFJP grantee for the State of Florida is the Department of Education, Adult Migrant Program and Services.

Florida Farmworker Jobs and Education Program (FJEP) Manages 17 projects in Florida FJEP is implemented through sub-recipient agencies located in

highly populated farmworker communities. Local providers are non-profit agencies, county governments, state and community colleges, technical centers, and school districts.

Regions Where Farmworker Jobs and Education Programs are

Present

Regional Workforce Board County Map

Santa RosaOkaloosa Walton Holmes Jackson

Washington

BayCalhoun

Gadsden Leon JeffersonMadison

Hamilton

TaylorWakulla

Liberty

Franklin

Gulf

Lafayette

Suwannee Columbia

AlachuaDixie

Bradford

Gilchrist

Baker

Nassau

Duval

ClaySt. Johns

Putnam

Flagler

Marion

Levy

Citrus

Pasco

Volusia

Hernando

Sumter Lake

Hillsborough

Manatee

Polk

Seminole

Orange

Brevard

Osceola

Highlands

Sarasota

Hardee

DeSoto

Okeechobee

Charlotte

Lee

Glades

Hendry

Collier

Indian River

St. Lucie

Martin

Palm Beach

Broward

Monroe

Miami- Dade

1

Escambia

2 3

4

56 7

89

10

12

11

13

14 15

16

17

18 19 20

21

22

23

24

1 Escambia and Santa Rosa 2 Okaloosa and Walton3 Calhoun, Holmes, Liberty, Jackson and Washington4 Bay, Gulf and Franklin5 Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla6 Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Hamilton, Jefferson and Lafayette7 Gilchrist, Union, Columbia and Dixie8 St. Johns, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Baker and Putnam9 Alachua and Bradford10 Citrus, Levy and Marion11 Volusia and Flagler12 Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Sumter 13 Brevard14 Pinellas15 Hillsborough16 Pasco and Hernando17 Polk18 Sarasota and Manatee19 DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands20 Okeechobee, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River21 Palm Beach22 Broward23 Miami-Dade and Monroe24 Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee

MSFW Eligibility per WIA Regulations

A migrant or seasonal farmworker who:Performed farm work during the 12 month eligibility determination period (the eligibility determination period is any consecutive 12 month period within the 24 month period immediately preceding the date of application for enrollment)Received at least 50% of their total earned income or been employed at least 50% of their total work time in farm workWorked at least 25 days or earned at least $800 in farm workIncome does not exceed the higher of either the Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty line or 70% of the Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL)May be a dependent of the qualifying farmworker

FJEP Services for MSFWsSkills assessmentCareer assessmentESOL, if neededAdult Basic Education, if neededShort-term job skills training (vocational, technical, OJT, work experience)Tuition assistance after Pell Grant determinationBooks, uniforms, toolsTransportationCareer counseling and advisementRemediation, if neededNeeds-based allowances for classroom attendancePaid testing and licensing feesJob search, placement and follow-up

Why Collaboration?It is required by the Workforce Investment Act

Strong focus from federal level – US DOL

Common goals / common measures Can benefit performance measures Entered Employment Employment Retention Average Earnings

To improve services offered

More cost efficient Maximize limited resources Minimize duplication of services

Everyone benefits

Benefits to Participants

Better assessment of the participant’s needs

Access to a wider range of services and resources

Reduction in the barriers to accessing services

Increased expertise of staff providing services

Integration through Collaboration

FJEP representation on Workforce Board, as required by WIA, Section 117Advisory Board meetings / Interagency meetingsCommunity outreachJoint effort to eliminate barriers for MSFW customersWorkshop / orientation on One-Stop programs

Integration through Collaboration

Concurrent enrollment WIA Adult and Dislocated Worker Wagner-Peyser

Cost-sharingWIA Youth participation through FJEP outreachShared participant informationShared outcomes

WIA Co-Enrollment for MSFWs

FJEP participants can be co-enrolled in WIA Adult, Dislocated Worker, or YouthDatabase sharing Facilitates case management Prevents duplication of services Increase performance by driving outcomes

FJEP staff have smaller case load More intensive case management Follow-up services

Workshops and pre-vocational classes through One-Stop

ReferencesFederal Regulations 20 CFR 651 - General Provisions Governing the Federal-State Employment Service System Federal Regulations 20 CFR 653 – Services of the Employment Service System Workforce Investment Act of 1998Federal Regulations 20 CFR 669 - National Farmworker Jobs Program Under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act

Questions?

Contact InformationMarisela Ruiz

Senior Monitor AdvocateWorkforce Program Support

Division of Workforce ServicesFlorida Department of Economic Opportunity

Marisela.Ruiz@deo.myflorida.com(850) 921-3207

Gloria Spradley-BrownBureau Chief

Grants Administration and ComplianceFlorida Department of Education

gloria.spradley@fldoe.org(850) 245-9053