Farmworker Services

Breaking the cycle of poverty for Northern California’s vast population of migrant and seasonal farmworkers, this strong desire brought California Human Development into being in 1967 and it remains the driving force of our mission today. Our farmworker services offices, and training centers help people of low income to obtain employment and greater financial stability across 31 Northern California counties. These programs empower individuals to pursue and achieve the American Dream—building successful lives, families, neighborhoods, and communities.

“Gracias California Human Development for all of your help in making my dream come true! I am truly grateful for all your support, encouragement, and confidence in me.”
– Felipe Malfavon-Rivero

Creating Opportunities: Felipe’s Journey

Everyone comes from different walks of life but we all share one thing in common; we strive for a better life for ourselves and for our loved ones. Felipe came to the United States when he was 18 years old, and he had a specific goal in mind which was to work with children. Felipe’s dream was to be a positive influence on the youth and children. READ MORE →

About Our Program

Farmworker Services’ primary focus is to serve Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFW) and other low-income individuals in need of employment and training opportunities. MSFWs who come to seek assistance are provided the tools to obtain jobs outside of the agricultural field. For those farmworkers that want to stay in the agricultural field, California Human Development (CHD) provides them with the tools to upgrade their current skill levels to help break the seasonal barrier that prevents them from obtaining stable employment.

CHD provides WIOA Career Services, including Basic, Individualized, Training, and Related Assistance only to qualifying low-income individuals including all 14 WIOA elements to youth-at-risk.

Services Provided

Services offered are based on eligibility.

Classroom / Vocational Training (Career Services – Training)

Classroom training is conducted in a classroom setting with appropriate licensing, curriculum, instructional personnel, facilities, and equipment. The training is paced according to the individual Farmworkers learning abilities, it gives the Farmworker opportunities to practice and test skill acquisition, and it provides measures of performance to both the instructor and student based on specific employment competencies.

Customized Training (Career Services – Training)

Participants who need job-specific skills training in areas of high labor market demand can attend vocational training. It is particularly suitable for those farmworkers who have strong motivation to enter careers outside of agriculture, but who have very limited non-agricultural occupational skills and who are also often in need of remedial math and language skills.

On-the-Job Training (Career Services – Training)

On-the-Job Training is conducted in a private employment setting with meaningful job duties, supervision, training, and equipment leading to unsubsidized placement and retention. The training is competency-based, substantially controlled by the Farmworkers’ learning pace, allows for demonstration of needed skills, provides opportunities to practice and test skill acquisition, and measures performance based on specific job competencies. OJT is particularly suitable for Farmworkers who have career awareness and work maturity skills but lack specific job skills. Generally, these are self-supporting Farmworkers or primary wage earners within Farmworker families. They need immediate income and cannot survive on part-time earnings or needs-based payments.

Work Experience (Career Services – Individualized)

Work experience is subsidized training conducted in a public or non-profit employment setting with meaningful job duties, supervision, training, and equipment. The training is: competency-based, substantially controlled by the farm worker’s learning pace, allows for demonstration of needed skills, provides opportunities to practice and test skill acquisition, and measures performance based on specific job competencies. Work Experience is especially suited for Farmworker dependents with limited skills and/or very little experience working in a non-agricultural work setting.

Emergency Support Services/Related Assistance (Career Services – Basic & ROA)

Through programs such as, but not limited to, the NFJP 167, CSBG, Dislocated Ag Worker, and other current funding available, CHD provides one-time emergency assistance and related assistance/support services during training to assist their participants with childcare, nutritional needs, shelter, transportation, utilities, and other emergency needs. Other forms of support services include drug testing, DMV charges, fingerprinting, background tests, clothing, and training materials. These services help the participant successfully complete their training activities, allowing them to gain unsubsidized employment resulting in self-sufficiency.

Programs Available

WIOA 167 National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP)

CHD’s Farmworker Services receives funds from the Department of Labor to implement the WIOA 167 National Farmworker Jobs Program. This program is designed to prepare migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers and their dependents (who suffer chronic seasonal unemployment and underemployment) for full participation in the labor force. Services from this program include all WIOA career services, counseling, education, job training, WEX, vocational training, on-the-job training, emergency supportive services, ESL and VESL classes, and referrals to other agencies. The results from completing the training include increased self-sufficiency, higher occupational skills, and increased education, which leads to satisfying careers, job security, and prosperous life.

Dislocated Agricultural Workers & EERE Programs

CHD receives funds through La Cooperativa Campesina de California to implement the Dislocated Agricultural Worker Programs. These are retraining programs for those Agricultural Workers who have been displaced or dislocated due to plant closure, season end, or other related cutbacks and who may be eligible to receive services through these programs. These programs offer participants with job placement and job training services. Program services include ESL, VESL, vocational training, Adult Work Experience, On-the-Job Training, Emergency Support Services, and basic readjustment services.

Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) & Cares Act

CHD receives Community Service Block Grant funds from California’s Department of Community Services and Development. CSBG enables us to help Farmworkers deal with a number of crises and problems resulting from poverty and extreme educational deficits. Without CSBG, our Farmworker Service offices could do little besides offering job training and job-related placement services. CSBG services typically include, help with rental payments, utilities, food or transportation, especially migrant families who are new to the area. Or perhaps, a client may receive a referral to other agencies in the surrounding areas. Public Hearings are held in each county every two years to get the input from the clients we serve – Farmworkers. We base our services from the needs expressed by the Farmworkers at these public hearings.

CHD received an augmentation to its original CSBG contract to implement the Cares Act. This program assists individuals that were directly or indirectly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Services include, emergency rental and utility assistance, referrals to drug rehab, pathways to citizenship and basic skills training. These services help facilitate the community back to a sense of normalcy after the results of the pandemic with both employment and housing needs.

San Joaquin & SETA/Galt Youth Program

CHD is granted through the County of San Joaquin & the Sacramento Employment & Training Center to implement the San Joaquin Youth CHD WorkStart Program and the WIOA Galt Youth Program. At-risk youth between the ages of 16-24 that are either in-school or out-of-school may qualify for services within San Joaquin & Sacramento County. Special attention to those that are basic skills deficient, at-risk of dropping out, and are living in limited English-speaking households. Services include getting the youth back into school, obtaining their High School Diploma or GED, ESL, and providing opportunities for career exploration and paid employment work experience to prepare them for a successful transition into the private sector labor market. All 14 required youth elements are offered to youth participants.

CHD’s Mobile Unit

CHD owns a 45-foot recreational vehicle that is implemented as a mobile classroom and a mobile office. This vehicle is equipped to bring the services offered under the Farmworker Services umbrella to rural communities or to communities that do not have access to a FWS Outreach office or local American Job Centers. The unit is self-contained with its own computer network and internet access through a satellite service. CHD’s mobile unit can also be used in the case of a disaster, such as floods or fires to help bring emergency assistance to the community in need.

Disaster Relief (Fire & COVID-19)

CHD receives funding through La Cooperativa, the State of California’s Employment Development Department, and the Department of Community Services and Development to implement NEG Disaster Relief Programs. These programs were designed to assist Agricultural and Non-Agricultural Workers that are directly and indirectly affected by disaster and are living or working in a county declared “disaster” by the State’s Governor. CHD has been able to provide disaster relief to eligible individuals with temporary employment by placing them onsite within the affected areas to assist with clean up, recovery, and rebuilding of disaster areas. CHD also provides emergency employment-related support services, such as safety and temporary work-related materials to help assist these individuals to rejoin the workforce. Both temporary employment and workforce development services are offered through the NEG Programs.

SETA Galt One-Stop

Through funding granted by SETA, CHD manages one of the American Job Centers in Sacramento County located in the City of Galt. Career Services including Basic, Individualized, Training, and Related Assistance Only under WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker funding are offered to job seekers. All required youth elements are also offered to youth in need of assistance.

Solano, Sonoma & WANB One-Stop Operators

CHD is the One-Stop Operator (OSO) for Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano & Sonoma America’s Job Centers. As the OSO, CHD provides guidance and recommendations to Workforce staff and administration to ensure the centers (with a focus on the Vallejo Job Center) are considered comprehensive job centers where job seekers receive the WIOA services they are entitled to as indicated under the WIOA regulation directives and guidance. CHD provided the recommendations to the WDB Board of Directors so they may request approval from the State of California Employment Development Department that not only has the Job Centers passed the Basic Certification process, but they are also in line with the Hallmark of Excellence. The OSO Team monthly partner meetings with center partners, WDB staff, and other CBOs operating with America’s Job Centers.

Rapid Response

With funding received by La Cooperativa, CHD will have the ability to increase outreach efforts as well as collaborate and link with America’s Job Centers and local area rapid response teams to provide job training and placement to Farmworkers that have lost their positions due to plant closures and agricultural employment season end. Agricultural employees do not always receive warnings of company closures and find themselves out of work with limited or no assistance. Warn notices posted on CalJOBS don’t include the agricultural harvest season-ending. The Rapid Response program allows case managers to research, expand their outreach efforts and reach those unemployed agricultural job seekers.

Time of Use (TOU) Community Education Project

Funded through the Community Resource Project, CHD provides low-income adults & youth, seniors, disabled individuals and multicultural communities with the information needed to take advantage of off-peak time of use energy rates. Encouraging the community to take advantage of using clean energy at the right times of the day.

Complaint System Awareness & Referral Program

With funding received from La Cooperativa, CHD will collaborate with the State Monitor Advocate on matters addressed in the field, such as, but not limited to, unfair wage an hour, health and safety issues and other harmful situations agricultural workers face.

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Francis Ortiz-Chavez assists in CHD adult ESL class 1977-78

Francis Ortiz-Chavéz assists in CHD adult ESL class 1977-78.

“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned…” — Cesar Chavez

FUNDING & CREDENTIALS

CHD is a designated provider of Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) services, and receives funding through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). CHD training centers are approved by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education.

California Human Development has successfully implemented The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) for over 40 years. The NFJP is a nationally-directed, locally-administered program of services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. California Human Development (CHD) provides career basic, individualized, and training services as described in WIOA Section 167(d) and 134 ( c ) 2 and 20 CFR Part 80 to eligible low income, adult and youth migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. Program services include but are not limited to vocational training, on-the-job training (OJT), work experience, job readiness, job development, job placement, ESL emergency assistance, and referrals. Career Services and Training grant recipients help farmworkers and their dependents acquire necessary skills to either stabilize or advance in their agricultural jobs or obtain employment in new industries. The goal is for agricultural workers and their dependents to full participation in the local workforce to improve the quality of their lives. Our case managers assist farmworkers to obtain employment and greater financial stability across 31 northern California counties. This program creates pathways for individuals to pursue and achieve the American Dream—building successful lives, families, neighborhoods, and communities. CHD has enrolled over 17,000 Farmworkers into the NFJP and has placed over 10,000 into unsubsidized employment.

For more information on the NFJP Program please follow the link below:

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/agriculture

Meet the Team

Mary Potts, Farmworker Services Division Director

Delia Cardenas, Farmworker Services Deputy Director

Blanca Barba, Central Regional Manager

Juan Francisco Prieto, Eastern Regional Manager

Norma Garcia, Western Regional Manager