A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94

Chapter 327

Projects for Migratory Agricultural Workers and Seasonal Farm Workers with Disabilities

(CFDA No. 84.128)

I. Program Profile

Legislation: The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1993, P.L. 93-112, Title III, Part B, Section 312, as amended by P.L. 102-569 and P.L. 103-73 (29 U.S.C. 777(b) (expires September 30, 1997).

Purpose: To provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities who are migratory agricultural workers or seasonal farmworkers and to members of their families (whether or not the family members are individuals with disabilities) who are with them.

Funding History

Fiscal Year	Appropriation	Fiscal Year	Appropriation
1977	$530,000	1987	$1,058,000
1980	1,530,000	1988	1,100,000
1981	1,325,000	1989	1,100,000
1982	951,000	1990	1,086,000
1983	951,000	1991	1,171,000
1984	950,000	1992	1,171,000
1985	950,000	1993	1,171,000
1986	957,000	1994	1,171,000

II. Program Information and Analysis

Population Targeting

There are at least 280,000 migratory agricultural workers and seasonal farmworkers with disabilities in the labor force. In addition, there are an estimated 60,000 family members with disabilities nationwide.

Services

Currently, there are nine projects operating in States that have high concentrations of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Services are typically provided in small geographic areas within each State. Projects include the development and implementation of special arrangements for providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities who are migratory agricultural workers or seasonal farmworkers, and to members of their families, where necessary, to rehabilitate such individuals.

Program Administration

Under Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended in 1992, applicants must address the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds. Under Section 20 of the Act, grantees must advise individuals with disabilities who are applicants for or recipients of services or, as appropriate, the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of those individuals, of the availability and purposes of the State Client Assistance Program (CAP), including information on the means of seeking assistance under such program.

Projects are administered by a State agency designated pursuant to a State plan approved under Section 101 of the Rehabilitation Act, a nonprofit ageny working in collaboration with a State agency, or a local agency participating in the administration of such a plan. Grants pay up to 90 percent of the cost of projects.

Management Improvement Strategies

The applicant must give satisfactory assurance that in the provision of services there will be appropriate cooperation between the grantee and other public or nonprofit agencies and organizations having special skills and experience in the provision of services to migratory agricultural workers, seasonal farmworkers, or their families, including programs under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Section 311 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the Migrant Health Act, and the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963.

Projects are monitored on a quarterly basis from the appropriate Regional Office. The Regional Office reviews the grantees' progress toward achieving their stated goals and objectives, and provides technical assistance, as needed.

III. Sources of Information

Evaluation of the Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers' Vocational Rehabilitation Service Projects (San Francisco, CA: E.H. White and Company, September 1987).
Program files.

IV. Planned Studies

The Department has recently conducted a study of the vocational rehabilitation services to migratory workers and seasonal farmworkers under the Vocational Rehabilitation State grants program and this program. The results of this study were released in fiscal year 1994.

V. Contacts for Further Information

Program Operations:: Tony Cavataio, (202) 205-8206
Program Studies:: Sandra Furey, (202) 401-3630

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