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e. 4. B. Providing technical assistance to outreach staff. Technical assistance must include trainings, conferences, additional resources, and increased collaboration with other organizations on topics such as one-stop center services (i.e. availability of referrals to training, supportive services, and career services, as well as specific employment opportunities), the Employment Service and Employment-Related Law Complaint System (“Complaint System” described at 20 CFR 658 Subpart E), information on the other organizations serving MSFWs in the area, and a basic summary of farmworker rights, including their rights with respect to the terms and conditions of employment.

Current Narrative:

Technical Assistance to Outreach Workers

Outreach workers are trained in all aspects of employment-related services to MSFWs. New outreach staff receives training on Wagner-Peyser services, benefits and protections afforded to MSFWs through the career centers and procedures by the LWDB. The state monitor advocate (SMA) provides onsite technical assistance to new staff on MSFW regulations including outreach requirements, full applications in Employ Florida, reporting requirements and agricultural job orders.

The SMA also provides training on the Employment Service and Employment-Related Law Complaint System and basic farmworker rights including training on protecting farmworkers against sexual harassment. Outreach workers are encouraged to observe the working and living conditions of MSFWs and, upon observation or upon receipt of information regarding a suspected violation of state or federal laws, to document and report the suspected violation to the appropriate enforcement agency for investigation.

The significant multilingual MSFW career centers were formally monitored onsite this program year by the SMA. The SMA provided technical assistance to significant multilingual MSFW career center staff during the onsite monitoring reviews to address any immediate training needs.

Outreach workers are encouraged to refresh their knowledge of policies and procedures through online training, as well as through in-person training and webinars offered by DEO. Florida also has an established complaint system supported by written procedures.

Refresher training and farm labor compliance training is provided to outreach workers during an annual MSFW professional development conference. The annual conferences are held in partnership with the Florida Department of Education’s Farmworker Career Development Program (FCDP), Florida’s National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) grantee. When the conference is held jointly, training sessions are designed to foster increased collaboration and increased awareness between partners.

The annual conference customarily includes guest speakers from state and federal enforcement agencies such as the USDOL Wage and Hour Division, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Department of Health. DEO staff customarily present workshops on Wagner-Peyser and WIOA requirements, the Employment Service and Employment-Related Law Complaint System and Foreign Labor Certification Job Orders, among others. The workshops provide career center staff with knowledge necessary to discuss farmworker rights with MSFWs onsite and during outreach.