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Serving Special Populations Towards Self-Sufficiency

Serving Special Populations Towards Self-Sufficiency. Special focus on populations, barriers and needs Gilbert Alaniz, State Program Director, OIC of WA : Special Projects Department Jody Bortz, Regional Manager, OIC of WA. History of OIC of America. History

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Serving Special Populations Towards Self-Sufficiency

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  1. Serving Special Populations Towards Self-Sufficiency Special focus on populations, barriers and needs Gilbert Alaniz, State Program Director, OIC of WA: Special Projects Department Jody Bortz, Regional Manager, OIC of WA

  2. History of OIC of America History Founded in 1964 by the late Reverend Doctor Leon Howard Sullivan, Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Inc. (OICA) is a national non-profit network of employment and training programs bound together by a common commitment, to help the disadvantaged realize their true potential. With sixty (60) affiliated programs in thirty (30) states and the District of Columbia, OIC has grown into a movement, which has served over two (2) million disadvantaged and under-skilled people. The first OIC training center was in an abandoned jailhouse in North Philadelphia. The dilapidated building was renovated using donations from people in the community and an anonymous grant. The private sector lent its support by contributing equipment, machinery and providing the organization with technical assistance.

  3. OIC of America Philosophy A philosophy of “Self Help” and the system of developing the “whole person” enables individuals to become self-sufficient, productive workers. OIC prepares people for today’s workforce with quality life skills development, fundamental education, job skills training, and employment readiness. National Office The National office of OIC serves as a catalyst to aid affiliates to establish and maintain workforce development technologies, reinforce capacity and system-building endeavors, expand partnerships and collaborations, and promote organizational growth through professional development. Our staff of professionals performs this work in three specialized divisions: Office of Field Operations, Office of National Literacy Programs, and Public/Private Coordination. www.oicofamerica.org

  4. OIC of WA OIC of WA has provided services to WA State residents for 40 years. During past 10 years OIC has been the state provider for migrant/seasonal farmworker services, now authorized as WIA Title 1B sec 167 (WIA167 NFJP) In 1999 Yakima Valley Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) was awarded the DOL grant for farmworker services and changed its name to OIC of WA

  5. OIC of WA Locations • OIC of WA provides farmworker services throughout WA State with satellite sites located in Granger-White Salmon, Moses Lake, Mt. Vernon, Omak, Pasco, Sunnyside, Wenatchee, and Yakima

  6. WA State Ag Commodities • As many as 187,000 farmworkers are employed in WA State annually • 80% of farm employment is located east of the Cascades • 60% within Yakima, Chelan-Douglas, Benton-Franklin, and Grant Counties • Agricultural production contributes $6.4 billion per year to WA State economy, $2.39 billion in Yakima and Grant Counties combined • WA grows over 230 agricultural commodities more than any other state, except CA • 1/3 of all WA crop production is intended for the direct export market

  7. Did You Know?? • One acre is roughly the size of a football field • WA potato growers have the highest yields per acre in the United States • Whitman County produces more wheat than any other county and ranks #2 in barley production • WA apples are sold in all 50 states and more than 50 countries • In 2007, more than 20% of WA farms were operated by women

  8. WA County Estimates for MSFW Workers

  9. WA County Estimates for MSFW and NON-MSFW Workers

  10. Who are WA State farmworkers?

  11. WA State Worker Statistics Hired farmworker Wage and Salary Worker 90.8% US citizens 52.1% Male 40 yrs Median age 13.7% Hispanic ethnicity 3.5% Less than 9th grade ed 5.1% Birth country: Mexico 4.0% Spanish only household 55.7% Married 35.2% Children under 18 yrs • 62.4% US citizens • 80.9% Male • 34 yrs Median age • 43% Hispanic ethnicity • 30% Less than 9th grade ed • 37.7% Birth country: Mexico • 26.7% Spanish only household • 52.7% Married • 35.8% Children under 18 yrs Demographic characteristics of hired farmworkers and all wage and salary workers as a group, by citizenship status, 2006

  12. Barriers to self-sufficiencyreal and perceived

  13. Farmworker Misconceptions • Undocumented, uneducated, dishonest, and law breaking • Lower class, threat to our “upscale communities” • Reliant on welfare and public services • Uninsured, a public burden • Have large families—many children to get more money, services and produce “anchor babies” • Children are in gangs because parents don’t participate in their upbringing • Supports efforts to bring other undocumented workers to US • Choose to be poor and uneducated • Lazy & unwilling to work • Steal US jobs • Send most of their earnings out of the county • Only from Mexico • Ill mannered and unwilling to blend into mainstream American culture

  14. Real Barriers • Substandard housing and homelessness • Disability or poor health • Job related injury, disability or death • Senior issues: health, medical, & employment • Generational poverty • Low income & limited credit history • Transportation issues • Lack of education options and limited English skills • Limited employment opportunities outside of agriculture • Limited work history and transferable skills • Lack of computer & technology skills • Criminal background and youth gang affiliation

  15. Crop Worker Earnings, 2000-2001 National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2000-2001

  16. Table 6.2 Households Receiving Payments from Contribution-Based Programs NAWS respondents are asked if they or anyone in their household received benefits from either contribution- or needs-based programs in the two-year period preceding the interview. Twenty-four percent of the crop workers reported that their household had received a benefit from a contribution-based program. The most common contribution-based benefit was unemployment insurance (21%), followed by social security (2%), and disability insurance (1%) (table 6.2). Percent of FarmWorker Households Receiving Payments Program Receiving Payments • Unemployment Insurance 21% • Social Security 2% • Disability Insurance 1%

  17. Table 6.3 Households Receiving Benefits from Needs-Based Programs Needs-based benefits include financial assistance through programs such as temporary assistance to needy families (TANF), general assistance or welfare, and publicly provided housing or medical and nutritional assistance, such as Medicaid, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and Food Stamps. In 2001-2002, 22 percent of the respondents said that they or someone in their household had used at least one type of public assistance program in the previous two years. The most common was Medicaid (15%), followed by WIC (11%) and Food Stamps (8%) (table 6.3). Less than one percent reported that they or someone in their family had received general assistance or TANF. Percent of FarmWorker Households Receiving Benefits Program Receiving Payments • Medicaid  15% • WIC  11% • Food Stamps  8% • Public Housing  1%

  18. Strengths • Family & “farmworker community” support • Desire to improve living situation and conditions • Willingness to work in variety of conditions • Work long hours with little pay • Able to secure spot jobs • Willing to take jobs others won’t • Adaptability to various situations • Dependability and reliability • Working with tools and equipment • Inter and intrapersonal skills • Willingness to learn • Budgeting skills; living on limited income

  19. FarmWorker Assets Inside the USA Outside the USA National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2000-2001

  20. Personal and Family Needs

  21. Job Search Skills Needs • Interviewing • Resume • Applications: online and paper • Interest surveys • Job identification • Industry outlook • Addressing a criminal background to employer • WorkSource Center: Core WIA services and Job Hunter classes • Chamber of Commerce • Small business services • Self improvement courses • Online research • Demand/Decline Lists • Training needs/skill gaps

  22. Job Search Tips • Generic application to complete company applications • Generic resume with all skills and qualifications • Specialized, job specific resumes • Attach & email resumes • Electronic applications • Assistance with setting up email for job application • Practice using email until comfortable • Public internet & computer access • Thumb & flash drives • Job search portfolio

  23. Job Search Techniques • Informational interviewing • Networking • Job shadowing • Volunteering • Job search contact log for follow up and thank you notes • Job search time = time available for work • Phonebook assignment • Targeted job search “hidden market”

  24. Job Search Technology • O*Net Online http://online.onetcenter.org • Resume development • Skills assessment • Transferable skills • Skill gap identification • Industry information • Wage potential • Occupational outlook • Interest survey

  25. Job Search Tools • Microsoft Online Computer Courses • Mavis Beacon & keyboarding classes • Workkeys • Magellan • WOIS: Washington Occupational Information System • Workforce Explorer • Career Scope • CT Choices

  26. Money Management • Budgeting and financial management as wages and income increase • Open checking/savings account • Understanding compound interest • Real cost of personal loans & credit cards • Credit counseling • Reducing reliance on Pay-Day Loan programs

  27. Housing Needs • Home Ownership • First-time home buyers classes • Financing and credit counseling services • Understanding the real cost of home ownership • Down payment and closing cost information • Predatory lending

  28. Housing Options • Housing Authority • Farmworker Housing • WA Farmworker Housing Trust • Rural Development Funds & Loans • Community Action Councils • Income Based Housing • Habitat for Humanity • TBRA, Tenant Based Rental Assistance • Homeless Prevention Programs & Grants • WAFA: WA Agricultural Families Assistance

  29. Transportation Needs • Car repair and maintenance classes • Assistance with auto insurance • Drivers education courses • Fuel assistance • Auto insurance • Bus pass assistance

  30. Child Care Needs • Enrollment in WA State Working Connections Child Care Program (WCCC) • After hours and weekend care options • Back-up child care • Early Childhood Ed and preschool programs • Screened and certified child care facilities

  31. Education Needs • ESL: English as a Second Language • GED: General Equivalency Degree • ABE: Adult Basic Education • Vocational Training • Citizenship Classes

  32. School Options • Early Childhood Education • Early Head Start and EPIC • WA State Migrant Council • HEP: High School Equivalency Programs • Skills Centers • GED/ESL classes • Post secondary education • IBEST, Integrated Basic Skills Training • Customized vocational programs or schools • Job Corps

  33. Funding Options • Opportunity Grant for IBEST programs • WRT (Worker Retraining) Funds • Working Parents for TANF Recipients • FAFSA application • Pell Grant • Local, regional and state scholarships • College scholarships and tuition waivers • WA State Need Grant • Student loans • WIA scholarships

  34. Healthcare Needs • Washington Basic Health • Medicare/Medicaid • Veterans services • Labor and Industries • Employer provided • Private health insurance • Community health clinics • Sliding scale payments • AIDS/HIV training • CPR/First Aid training • Pesticide exposure training

  35. Best Practices • Integrated program services, co-enrollment • Referral to identified partner programs for wrap around services • Shared training costs • Shared job placements • Choice of business & industry “business services” • Knowledge of tax credits for new hires • Bonding services • Partnership with temporary or staffing agencies • Partnership with contract providers • Find funding streams instead of “agencies”

  36. WA State Services • WIA 167, Farmworker Services (NFJP) • VR 304, New Beginnings & DVR, Dept of Voc Rehab • CAVI, Community Agricultural Vocational Institute • WIA Title 1B, adult, youth and dislocated services • AARP & senior employment programs • Veteran services • DSHS: TANF, GAU/GAX • Food stamps • Medical • Child support collection • Child Protective Services • Employment Security Department • Unemployment Insurance • Social Security Insurance • Labor & Industries

  37. Local Services and Resources • WIC, Women, Infants and Children • Food and non-food banks • Clothing banks • Public transportation • Domestic violence counseling • Mental health services • Drug and alcohol treatment • YWCA/YMCA • Missions and meal provision centers • Energy/weatherization services • Faith-Based Organizations • Salvation Army • St. Vincent de Paul • Community Voicemail • 211, Community Resource Guide • Immigration and legal aid • PCAP-Parent and Child Assistance Program

  38. Resources • Rural Migration News; Washington State Farmworkers October 2007, Volume 13, Number 4, pg. 1 Http:migration.ucdavis.edu/rmn • Profile of Hired Farmworkers, A 2008 Update/ERR-60; Economic Research Services/USDA, pg. 9 • Journal of Agbusiness; Spring 2001, pg. 6 • A Sustainable Bounty: Investing in Our Agricultural Future; The Washington State Farmworker Survey, Executive Summary; Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust, pgs. 1-9 • NCSL; Http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=13342, Understanding Barriers to Employment • The Pride of Washington State, Agricultural County, USDA February 2009 • The National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2001-2002, A Demographic and Employment Profile of United States Farm Workers, Chapter 6: Income, Assets and Use of Public Programs

  39. JODY BORTZ REGIONAL MANAGER, OIC OF WA-GRANT & ADAMS COUNTIES 509-764-8120 JO.BO@YVOIC.ORG Gilbert Alanizstate PROGRAM director, Oic of Wa: Special proJECTsdEPARTMENT509-457-2930ga.al@yvoic.org

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