Learning Today, Earning Tomorrow

FLORIDA Farmworker Jobs and Education

Program (FJEP)

Workforce Professional Development AcademyOrlando, FL

December 13, 2012

WIA, Section 167 • The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA)

replaced the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982• Section 167 of the WIA outlines a program called

the National Farmworker Jobs and Education Program (NFJP)– The purpose of the NFJP program is stabilize migrant

and seasonal farmworkers who choose to stay in farmwork and to provide, through US Dept of Labor grant funds, education, job training, and support services for unemployed, or under-employed, farmworkers (and their families) who desire to leave farmwork for more lucrative full-time year-round employment.

NFJP Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the NFJP program, an individual (or their dependent) must:

• Have done farm work (such as picking, grading, packing) during the two years prior to application for the program;

• Be a citizen or legal resident of the United States;• Be authorized to work in the United States by competent

authority;• Have completed Selective Service Registration, if applicable;• Qualify for disadvantaged status based on documented

income during the qualification period.

Program Services

• Counseling and Evaluation:– Helps with setting career goals and finding meaningful and rewarding employment.

• Overcoming Employment Barriers:– Basic Skills Training – Assists with closing reading, writing, or math skill gaps.– English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – Assists with learning English– General Education Development (GED) – Assists with earning secondary credential

• Vocational Training– Job Seeking and Readiness Training – Assists with finding, applying for, and

developing soft skills needed to obtain and keep a good job.– Job Skills Training – Assists with acquiring and developing specific skills needed to

qualify for and obtain needed licensure/certification for good paying jobs.

• Support Services– Financial assistance to support training effort and/or provide short-term emergency

assistance when needed.

NFJP Funds Managed by USDOL

• US Dept of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (US DOL/ETA) Division manages NFJP funds through a grant process.– The NFJP grant funds are competitively awarded

bi-annually, and in PY 2012-2013, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) received $4.7 million dollars.

– Through a state level competitive process, these NFJP funds were redistributed to 14 local agencies (districts, colleges, county government, and community based organizations) throughout the state, and are administered by the FJEP State office in Tampa (FDOE/Division of Career and Adult Education).

Vision of Florida’s FJEP Program

• FJEP VISION – “We help migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Florida live happier and healthier lives by providing them and their families the tools, opportunities, and services to move beyond sporadic, itinerant, physically demanding, often unhealthy, and low wage farm work to high skilled/high-wage jobs: From the fields to meaningful choices and rewarding careers.”

Florida Department of EducationFarmworker Jobs and Education Program

National versus Florida Performance Measures

Entered Employment Rate

Average Earnings

Employment Retention Rate

EER PY09 PY10 PY11National 72 73 83

State 62 66 66

RET PY09 PY10 PY11National 73 73 82

State 62 66 77

EARN PY09 PY10 PY11National 72 73 75

State 62 66 68

PY09 PY10 PY110

102030405060708090

NationalState

PY09 PY10 PY110

20

40

60

80

NationalState

PY09 PY10 PY110

1020304050607080

NationalState

8

FJEP Locations by RWB

FJEP Local Sites by Parent Agency

• School District Sites– Collier County School District– Hillsborough County School District– Orange County School District– Pasco County School District– Polk County School District– Putnam County School District

• Technical Institute Sites– Manatee Technical Institute

• County Government Sites– Miami-Dade County– Palm Beach County

• College Sites– Indian River State College– Seminole State College– South Florida State College

• Community Based Sites− ALPI – PAEC (Quincy) − ALPI – Volusia (Deland)− Centro Campesino (Florida City)

Role of Partnership Programs

• Regional Workforce Boards (RWB)– Access to federally funded workforce preparation programs– Employment readiness and on-the-job training opportunities– Job placement and referral services

• Career and Technical Education Programs– Conduits through which FJEP participants obtain short-term

targeted trainings that yield high-skill/high wage jobs.– Local FJEP offices can be feeder programs to CTE programs in

their service areas.

• FJEP/CTE/RWB partnerships are a ‘win-win-win’ scenario for the Partnership Program, the FJEP Site, and the FJEP participant.

FJEP Site Representative Putnam County

• Introduction of Lucia Valdivia-Sanchez, FJEP Assistant Project Coordinator & Case Manager– Putnam County School District

• Establishing working partnerships and best practices with local Regional Workforce Boards (RWB)

• RWB programs available to FJEP participants• Success Stories in Putnam County/Region 8

12

Contact Information

Mario Zuniga, State Director1313 N. Tampa St., Ste 103Tampa, Florida 33610(813) 224-1920