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:
(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.
Technical Assistance for Maryland’s Outreach Workers Technical assistance is provided continuously to outreach workers, mainly by the State Monitor Advocate. Because the staff is small in size, the State Monitor Advocate is able to accompany local staff on outreach visits and review outreach topics, such as AJC services, career services, current available employment opportunities, the employment service complaint system, other organizations who serve MSFWs and other specific populations in the Local Area, and farmworker rights. Pre-season meetings are held annually with complaint system training to review program requirements. While MD Labor has not increased its number of staff who conduct outreach, the program is reviewed annually by appropriate staff and supervisors in the AJCs. Personal interaction between the State Monitor Advocate and local workforce staff helps to ensure that technical assistance is consistent and updated as appropriate.
Staff and the State Monitor Advocate review labor law posters annually and assure that they are posted in the places where MSFWs live and work. This seems to be the most effective method for communicating rights regarding terms and conditions for employment. Staff also visit places where H2A workers are employed, especially where field visits are conducted, to ensure that workers have been given and understand the provisions found in their terms and conditions for employment.
During visits to agricultural worksites, Outreach Workers talk to MSFWs about farmworker rights, and explain the process for registering complaints with the Employment Service and Employment-Related Law system, assisting MSFWs in submitting complaints, as requested. Outreach Workers are trained to identify apparent violations of housing and safety regulations, and can provide MSFWs with information on a range of support services. FLC staff offer training to outreach staff so they will be prepared to conduct inspections of MSFW housing, should it be required.