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. 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:
Vermont is currently not classified as a significant MSFW state. Formerly, the SMA conducted all outreach activities and efforts. VDOL is shifting the delivery of outreach and employment services to the field staff, focusing in Franklin, Addison, Bennington, Rutland, Orange, Lamoille, Windsor, and Orleans counties. The SMA will attend various training conferences to become more familiar with best practices and assist in disseminating information on services available through the WIOA One-Stop Network, the complaint system, and information on the entities serving MSFWs in Vermont. Outreach staff will provide information on farmworker rights. Training has been and will continue to be provided to all VDOL One-Stop Career staff through the state by the SMA. The most recent statewide training sessions were carried out in September, 2018. The training targets both new and existing staff and provides programmatic updates and best practices. Staff training is recorded and is available to staff statewide. The VDOL will also work with partner organizations to inform them of MSFWs in the area and programs and services provided.
Outreach workers will be familiar with working and living conditions of the migrant and seasonal farm workers. If they observe, have reason to believe, or are in receipt of information regarding an apparent violation of employment related laws or employment service regulations by an employer, the outreach worker shall document the apparent violation and provide the information to the corresponding VDOL Regional Manager. They will provide assistance in the preparation of job service and non-job service complaints. Complaints will be recorded using the Employment Services (ES) Complaint Log and resolved using the ES Complaint System.