March 8, 2007
ETA REGIONAL INFORMATION ALERT 060-07
ORIGINATING OFFICE: Region 5
PROGRAMS: Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker
SUBJECT: Agricultural Services Technical Assistance Training, April 4-5, San Antonio
1. Purpose. To advise State Workforce Agencies of the Agricultural Services Technical Assistance Training Workshop to be held in
San Antonio, Texas, April 4 and 5, 2007.
2. Reference. 20 CFR 653.108 (e) and (k); Workforce Investment Act of 1998.
3. Background. In conjunction with the MAFO Year 2007 National Farmworker Conference, ETA Regions 4, 5 and 6 will hold an annual training and professional development workshop for all Monitor Advocates, Assistant Monitor Advocates, National Farmworker Program (NFJP) coordinators, and Federal Project Officers FPO and other staff who are involved with agricultural services and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW) issues.
To ensure continued collaboration
with our farmworker organization partners and to provide timely training on changes which impact MSFW services, participation in the Agricultural Services training is encouraged.
For information regarding the MAFO conference, please visit www.mafofarmworker.com.
3. Substance. This Agricultural Services training will bring together farmworker organizations, State and Federal Monitor Advocates, Federal Project Officers, NFJP grantees and outreach workers to discuss the various issues and legislative changes that impact the provision of services to MSFW’s, including changes under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The main objectives of this year’s training are to:
a. better integrate the services to MSFW’s and agricultural employers in the Workforce System;
b. facilitate the exchange of information among farmworker service providers; and
c. enhance communication and cooperation between farmworker groups and State and Federal officials.
The Agricultural Services Training Agenda (attached) will include discussion of the Agricultural Forums findings, Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED), Integrating Services to MSFW’s and Agricultural employers in the Workforce System, and discussions on Effective Recruitment and Referral in an Integrated System.
4. Arrangements. The Agricultural Services training will be held at:
Omni San Antonio Hotel
9821 Colonnade Boulevard
San Antonio, Texas 78230.
The special rate for the Omni San Antonio Hotel during the training will be $103.00 per night. For reservations, participants should contact the hotel directly by phone on 210.691.8888 (mention MAFO). Hotel reservations should be made and confirmed by March 16, 2007 to receive the special conference rate.
5. Action. State Administrators are requested to share this Information Alert with their State Monitor Advocates and encourage their attendance at the Agricultural Services training.
6. Contact. Questions concerning the Agricultural Services training should be directed to:
Region 4 – Jesus Morales, 972.850.4616
Region 5 - Eric Hernandez, 312.596.5419
Region 6 – Martin Rios, 415.975.4679
Questions or comments about the format of this Alert may be directed to Robert Rainault on 312.596.5416
7. Attachment. Employment and Training Administration Agricultural Services Training Agenda
Attachment
EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING ADMININSTRATION
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES TRAINING AGENDA
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
10:00-10:15 Welcome by the Texas Workforce Commission & ETA Region 4
10:15-11:15 Presentation on Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) presentation and Agricultural Services.
Discussion Leader: Gay
Gilbert, Administrator, Office of Adult Services,
U.S.
Department of Labor, Employment
and Training Administration (invited)
WIRED is the driving force to integrate economic and workforce
development activities and demonstrate that talent development can drive economic
transformation and how it can be incorporated into rural areas to benefit rural
communities and it residents.
11:15-12:00 Agricultural Business and Workforce
System Integration Forums Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Discussion Leader: Jonathan Simonetta,
Manpower Analyst,
U.S.
Department of Labor, Employment
and Training Administration (invited)
This session will examine the findings from the three ETA-sponsored
Agricultural Business and Workforce System Integration Forums.
§ Employer
Challenges and Solutions
§ Workforce
System Challenges and Solutions
§ Strategic
Planning for System Integration
§ Interesting
Case Studies
12:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:30 Continuation of Agricultural
Business and Workforce System Integration Forums Best Practices and Lessons Learned
2:30-3:30 Plenary Session
with Effective Partnership Panel.
Panel will provide an overview of the services (employment,
training) that each group provides to agricultural employers and all members
of the farm worker community (farm workers, migrants, seasonal farm workers)
in an effort to better integrate these services in the One-Stop Workforce System. We
want to look at where integration is working well, and where we can improve. Panel
would include 2 One-Stops and two NFJP grantees that work effectively together.
3:30-3:45 Break
3:45-4:45 Effective Recruitment
and Referral in an Integrated System.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
8:00-8:30 Coffee and Drinks
8:30-10:30 Annual Plan/Summary
Report Preparation
· Labor
Exchange Agricultural Reporting System - State Agency’s electronic submission
requirement of the Services to Migrant and Seasonal Farm workers ETA Form 5148
quarterly report
· Reporting
Outreach Contacts
· Complaints
Taken
· Equity
Indicators
· Minimum
Service Level Indicators
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-12:00 Integrating Services to MSFWs in
the One-Stop System - A review of how required services can be provided to MSFWs.
· Integration
of the full range of Employment and Training Services (Self-Services, Staff Assisted
Services, and Intensive Services)
· Job
Information
· Outreach
Services
· Complaint
Processing
12:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-3:00 Group working session around
next steps, what’s needed and action plans.
3:00 Adjournment
