Ohio’s Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Program: A Training for One-Stop Staff

Farm Worker Program Staff Pablo NúñezFLC Supervisor Benito Lucio Monitor Advocate/Ombudsman Outreach StaffStationed in various counties

Course Description This course provides an overview of the responsibility state workforce agencies have to provide One-Stop services to migrant and seasonal farm workers. These services must be equal in quality and quantity to the services provided to the non- farm worker population.

Learning Objectives Participants will learn the following: One-Stop locations are responsible to directly deliver services to Migrant & Seasonal Farm Workers (MSFWs). The Internet has resources to help MSFWs. Outreach staff and Monitor Advocate help provide services to MSFWs. A U.S. Department of Labor goal is for One-Stops to help MSFWs transition from seasonal agricultural work to permanent full-time non-agricultural work. One-Stops have a system for MSFWs to file and address complaints.

Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Monitor Advocate System

Who are Seasonal Farm Workers? Agricultural workers who, during the preceding 12 months:  Worked at least 25 or more days or parts of days in which some of the work performed was farm work;  Earned at least half their earned income from farm work; and  Were not employed in farm work year-round by the same employer.

Who are Migrant Farm Workers? Seasonal farmworkers who travel so far from their homes to perform agricultural work that they are unable to return to their permanent residence on the same day.

Migrant Food Processing Workers Workers who, during the preceding 12 months:  Worked at least 25 or more days or parts of days in which some work was performed in food processing;  Earned at least half their earned income from processing work;  Were not employed in food processing year-round by the same employer; and  Had to travel so far from home to do food processing work that they were unable to return to their permanent residence on the same day.

Goals for Serving MSFWs Increase the number of MSFWs in all labor exchange activities. Increase the number of agricultural employers using labor exchange services. Encourage use of the Agricultural Recruitment System (ARS) to recruit agricultural workers from other states.

Goals for Serving MSFWs Encourage MSFWs’ transition to higher-wage jobs and permanent year-round employment in non-agricultural occupations. Enhance collaboration with MSFW service providers. Encourage full integration of MSFWs and agencies that serve them into the One-Stop Centers.

Many farm workers who travel from Texas to perform agricultural work in northern states stop at the Migrant Rest Center in Hope, Arkansas.

National Monitor Advocate Services

State Monitor Advocates Support the Needs of MSFWs by… Providing information about farm worker needs, characteristics and concerns. Developing linkages with a broad range of stakeholders, including community- and employer-based organizations. Participating in the planning, integration and system-building functions of One-Stop Centers.

State Monitor Advocates Support the Needs of MSFWs by… Producing annual service assessments and analyses to promote a better understanding of services to farm workers and to highlight the state’s accomplishments in serving them. Ensuring that all legal protections are afforded to farm workers and that their complaints are resolved promptly.

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this workshop. Feel free to contact the program staff below if you have any questions. Pablo Núñez, FLC Supervisor Phone (614) Fax (614) Benito Lucio, Monitor Advocate/Ombudsman Phone (614) Fax (614)