Number MSFWs employed

Transcription

1 DRAFT Delaware Department of Labor Division of Employment and Training Agricultural Service Plan Program Year 2014 Purpose The Agricultural Outreach Plan (AOP) portion of the State of Delaware Plan must describe services provided to the agricultural community, both for agricultural employers and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFWs), as described in Wagner-Peyser (W-P) regulations at 20 CFR , the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I final regulations at 20 CFR (b) (1), the WIA/W-P Act Integrated Workforce Planning Guidance, and the Unified Planning Guidance. This attachment provides detail of states that must be included in the AOP section of the State Plan. A. Assessment of Need. The assessment of need must include: (i) A review of the previous year s agricultural activity in the state. Identify each major labor-intensive crop activity in the previous year, indicating the months of heavy activity and the geographic area of prime activity. Agricultural activity remains the same this year, with increased or decreased acreage as deemed appropriate by individual agricultural employers. Vegetable and fruit crops using seasonal labor to handle harvest and machine harvest are: apples, cabbage, sweet corn, peas, pumpkins, potatoes, strawberries and asparagus. Labor needs for Program Year 2014 are expected to be approximately 484 MSFWs during the peak employment period of mid-june through the end of October 30, The majority of the farms are located in Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware. (ii) A review of the previous year s MSFW activity in the state. Estimate the agricultural labor employed in each of the crops identified in item (i) above. Estimate the number of MSFWs involved in each, and indicate crop areas that experienced labor shortages. PY2013 Crop Area Estimated Labor Employed Peas 0 0 Lima Beans 0 0 Cabbage Potatoes Asparagus Pumpkin Apples Strawberries Mushrooms Number MSFWs employed 1

2 There were no labor shortages reported in any of the above mentioned crop areas. (iii) A projected level of agricultural activity in the state for the coming year. Identify any changes from last year's crop activities as described in item (ii) above. The crop activity is expected to be the same in PY2014 (iv) A projected number of MSFWs in the state for the coming year, which must take into account data supplied by WIA Section 167 National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) grantees, other MSFW organizations, employer organizations and federal and/or state agency data sources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Employment and Training Administration. Agricultural Employers Number of Acres Dedicated to Farm Number of Workers Utilized PY 2013 Charles H. West 500 acres 0 0 Lazy Boy Farms 500 acres Papen Farms 2000 acres Fifer Orchards 2500 acres Broad Acres 315 acres ACN Associates Inc. 200 acres Nursery Arthur Wicks & 500 acres Sons Forest View Nursery 250 acres 3 3 Inc John Stinson & 38,400 sq. feet Sons Raymond Stachecki 150 acres Shadybrook Farms 650 acres TS Smith & Sons 800 acres 3 3 Magee Farms 400 acres Projected Need for PY 2014 Camoirano Mushrooms Inc. Mushrooms are grown in buildings only 0 6 B. 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. The plan for the proposed outreach activities must include: (i) The goals for the number of MSFWs who will be contacted during the program year by W-P staff. The plan should also include the number of MSFWs who will be contacted during the year by other agencies under cooperative arrangements. These numerical goals must be based on the number of MSFWs estimated to be in the state in the coming year, taking into account the 2

3 varying concentration of MSFWs during the seasons in each geographic area, the range of services needed in each area and the number of W-P and/or cooperating agency staff who will conduct outreach. It is anticipated that approximately 484 MSFWs will receive Labor Exchange services statewide during PY Keyla Rivero-Rodriguez, State Farm Program Coordinator/State Monitor Advocate, serves as the MSFW program statewide. She is a full-time bilingual employee performing required MSFW duties during the peak season. She will provide one staff day (equals one 7.5 hour day) to be utilized for outreach to be provided in the Dover AJC as well as staff at the state office. Additional valued added outreach strategies include the following: Visit community groups and organizations, church groups, migrant school recruiters, and service agencies to exercise all possible efforts to contact MSFWs. Supply copies of the bilingual "Service to Farm Workers pamphlet. Attend monthly meetings with other partner services, as necessary. Discuss the DOL-DET Complaint System and assure that established complaint procedures are complied with. Assist MSFWs in the preparation and submission of complaint forms. Use the outreach log and the outreach referral sheet, as appropriate, to document outreach activities. This log will be maintained on a daily basis and serve as the source document for data entered on the monthly and quarterly outreach reports. Prepare the monthly summary report of outreach efforts, using data contained on the outreach logs and other documents maintained to verify outreach efforts. Immediately following the arrival of migrant crews, the outreach worker will contact the Farm Labor Contractor and examine his/her Farm Labor Contractor Certificate of Registration to insure compliance with federal requirements. On this visit, the outreach worker will prepare all appropriate forms. Report and document in writing all suspected violations and refer to the appropriate enforcement agency. (ii) An assessment of the resources available for outreach that includes: 1. The number of SWA staff positions the state will assign to outreach activities. The assessment must indicate the full-time equivalent positions for each local office to which staff must be assigned, and the number of staff assigned to the state office for this purpose. Delaware is not a significant state, however our Dover AJC, located at 1114 S. DuPont Highway, Suite 104, Dover, DE has the most MSFW activity. 3

4 Keyla Rivero-Rodriguez, State Farm Program Coordinator/State Monitor Advocate, serves as the MSFW program statewide. She is a full-time bilingual employee performing required MSFW duties during the peak season. Outreach will begin each year in April and end in October. The Monitor Advocate is normally scheduled two half days beginning in April and ending in May, then will begin two full days during the peak season beginning in June through the end of October to provide outreach services to MSFWs. The State Farm Program Coordinator anticipates conducting statewide outreach services for 53 days during PY Monthly regional conference calls are conducted on the 4 th Wednesday of each month at 2:00pm and the National conference call is conducted on the 4 th Thursday of each month at 2:00pm.However, these times are subject to change. This year the State Monitor Advocate and a DOL Administrator will attend the Annual National Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker State Monitoring Advocate Training to be held in Washington D.C. from May 20-22, State central office staff is working with the MSFW program. 2. Where the number of SWA staff positions assigned to outreach activities is less than in the prior year, please provide an explanation for the reduction and the expected effect of the reduction on direct outreach activities, as indicated in 20 CFR (h) (3)(i). N/A 3. The resources to be made available through existing cooperative agreements with public and private community service agencies and MSFW groups. (States are encouraged to initiate cooperative agreements with WIA Section 167 NFJP grantees for outreach position.) DOL-DET has a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health and Social Services; Division of Public HeaIth.The objective of this memorandum is to eliminate the duplication of inspections of Migratory Labor Camps by state agencies. Public Health conducts preoccupancy housing inspections prior to occupancy according to Delaware Code. Public Health notifies the State Monitor Advocate of the scheduled inspection. When possible, both agencies will conduct the inspection together. In addition, clients needing supportive services are referred to local agencies in the Dover AJC and the local community to receive services. Those services include but are not limited to: food, shelter, clothing, medical care, etc. Additional outreach efforts are conducted through the below partner services to MSFW s: La Esperanza provides outreach and supportive services to include referral to local health services, legal services, childcare, etc. La Red provides direct medical services, as needed. Telamon provides onsite supportive services and health information and direct medical services to MSFW s. Westside Family Healthcare also provides health information and direct medical 4

5 services to MSFW s. Bay Health Medical Center Kent/Sussex County Counseling Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition DDOE Migrant Education Program Regular meetings will be scheduled with all partners to ensure continued outreach and delivery of supportive services, as needed. (iii) The tools which will be used to conduct outreach contacts, including personal contact, printed matter, videotapes, slides, and/or cassette recordings. The following are tools and strategies are used to conduct outreach: Brochures outlining the services DOL-DET provides to job seekers Outreach logs and referral sheets Supportive service brochures and contact information Complaint forms and logs Delaware Job Link (DJL) is the (DOL-DET) main tool that is used both in the local AJC s and can be accessed through the internet. DJL has a multiple language choice preference to include Spanish. The Job Search system enables a job seeker to search for jobs locally, regionally and nationally. In addition, it links to websites that provide assessment tools to assist a job seeker in additional career exploration as well as job search. C. Services Provided to MSFWs through the American Job Center (AJC) Network. The plan must provide specific information on how core, intensive, and training services required under WIA Title I will be provided to MSFWs through the AJC network (previously referred to as the One-Stop Career Center system). States should provide information on how MSFWs will be provided staff-assisted services and how MSFWs will be served in an electronic environment in the AJCs and/or affiliate sites. States should consider how they will enable these AJC customers to advance their skills and be competitive in a local, regional and global economy. Delaware Job Link (DJL) is the (DOL-DET) main tool that is used both in the local AJC s and can be accessed through the internet. The Job Search system enables a job seeker to search for jobs locally, regionally and nationally. In addition, it links to websites that provide assessment tools to assist a job seeker in additional career exploration as well as job search. 5 The State Farm Program Coordinator will orientate the MSFWs to employment services that can be accessed through the AJC Service Delivery System in order to increase the opportunities for migrant and seasonal farmworkers to transition into occupations with high employment and wage growth potential both within and outside agricultural industry.

6 The State Farm Program Coordinator visits community groups and organizations, church groups, migrant school recruiters, and service agencies as identified to exercise all possible efforts to contact MSFWs. Supply copies of the bilingual "Service to Farm Workers pamphlet. Attend monthly meetings with other partner services, as necessary. D. Services Provided to Agricultural Employers through the AJC Network. The plan must describe efforts that will be taken to provide services to agricultural employers in states with an adequate supply of U.S. workers and in those states where a shortage of workers is anticipation and in those states where a shortage of workers is anticipated. The services provided to agricultural employers can be incorporated into the section of the WIA/W-P plan on serving employers in general. The State Farm Program Coordinator (SFPC) routinely consults statewide agricultural employers to advise them of the AJC services. The SFPC gathers information data on employer labor needs necessary to develop plans for meeting specific needs on specified dates, including follow up with employers to rotate crews when necessary. During the pre and post agricultural employer visits the SFPC provides labor exchange information and materials to employers. The Division serves the agricultural community by locating; screening and referring qualified workers from other areas through the Agricultural Recruitment System when qualified local workers are unavailable. The state continually strives to provide all customers with AJC access to the complete array of state and federal employment and training programs. Universal access and integrated services, including access by migrant and seasonal farm workers (MSFWs), is a central principle of the service delivery system. DOL-DET will provide direct services to the Agricultural Farmers as described below: Visit agricultural employers prior to the beginning of their planting season to discuss their employment needs and advise them of support services that are available to workers and their families. During these visits, discuss anticipated MSFW arrival dates, offer services to orient the workers on specific job requirements and check to insure that their contractors are in possession of required registration certificates. Visit the agricultural employer to schedule an outreach session with the MSFWs and establish a visiting schedule for the season. Discuss the full range of services available at the AJC Offices, which includes referral to long-term, year-round employment opportunities as alternatives to seasonal or migratory agricultural work; training opportunities; social services, including Federal and State assistance programs; and information regarding farm worker rights and the DOL-DET Complaint System. Below is a list 6

7 of additional tools the MSFW worker uses to conduct outreach: Brochures outlining the services DOL-DET provides to job seekers Outreach logs and referral sheets Supportive service brochures and contact information Complaint forms and logs Discuss the DOL-DET Complaint System and assure that established complaint procedures are complied with. Assist MSFWs in the preparation and submission of complaint forms. Use the outreach log and the outreach referral sheet, as appropriate, to document outreach activities. This log will be maintained on a daily basis and serve as the source document for data entered on the monthly and quarterly outreach reports. Prepare the monthly summary report of outreach efforts, using data contained on the outreach logs and other documents maintained to verify outreach efforts. Immediately following the arrival of migrant crews, the outreach worker will contact the Farm Labor Contractor and examine his/her Farm Labor Contractor Certificate of Registration to insure compliance with federal requirements. On this visit, the outreach worker will prepare all appropriate forms. Report and document in writing all suspected violations and refer to the appropriate enforcement agency. E. Data Analysis. (i) Previous year s history (based on Program Year (PY) 2013 data): Number of agricultural job orders and openings received, Number of agricultural job orders filled, Percent to be filled Number of interstate clearance orders received, and Number of interstate clearance orders initiated. 7 Table E (i) and (ii) PY 2013 PY 2014 Agricultural job orders and openings received 12/235 12/235 Agricultural job orders filled Percent to be filled 100% 100% Interstate clearance orders received 0 0 Interstate clearance orders initiated 0 0 (ii) Plan for upcoming year (based on estimated data): Number of agricultural job orders expected to be received,

8 Number of agricultural job orders projected to be filled, Percent to be filled, Estimated number of interstate clearance orders the state will receive, and Estimated number of interstate clearance orders the state will initiate. F. Other Requirements. (i) State Monitor Advocate. The plan must contain a statement that indicates that the State Monitor Advocate has been afforded the opportunity to review and comment on the PY 2014 AOP. The State Monitor has been afforded the opportunity to review and comment on the PY 2014 AOP (ii) Review and Public Comment. The plan must provide information indicating that WIA Section 167 NFJP grantees, other appropriate MSFW groups, public agencies, agricultural employer organizations and other interested employer organizations, have been given an opportunity to comment on the state AOP. Include the list of organizations from which information and suggestions were solicited, any comments received, and state responses to those comments. The AOP was submitted for public comment from April 15-May 15, 2014 on the Delaware DOL internet website. 8