|
|
HELP New Mexico Farm Workers
| Topics |
|
| States served |
New Mexico
|
| Description |
HELP-NM is the state’s sole provider of the National Farmworkers Job Program. For 40 years HELP-NM has been a vocal advocate for New Mexico’s migrant and seasonal farm workers and in 2005 founded the innovative collaborative program now known as the Farm Worker Child Care Task Force to provide access to health services and improved living conditions to New Mexican farm workers and their families in Ana and Luna counties.
Migrant and seasonal farm workers from Dona Ana and Luna counties must work long hours and in temperatures that often exceeded 100 degrees for minimal pay. A law, recently passed by Congress, prohibits these farm workers from having their children work the fields. Even though the intent of this law was good, the hard reality is that older siblings are left with the responsibility of caring for their younger brothers and sisters because child day care centers are scarce and costly. Children stay in cars, in buses and in the trucks that transport farm workers to and from the fields. In these vehicles, children have no air conditioning and no restroom facilities and eat unrefrigerated food during the sweltering heat of summer in New Mexico. |
| Services offered |
To provide access to health services and improve living conditions HELP-NM convened the following agencies: New Mexico Department of Labor, New Mexico Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico, Advocates for Children and Families, Tierra Del Sol Housing Corporation, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department—Child Care Services Division. |
| Results |
This group combined forces to give over 150 farm workers and their children access to health services and improved conditions including: affordable child care and placement information, emergency financial assistance, child safety training, as well as access to programs for affordable housing, educational programs, and employment and training opportunities.
New Mexico Department of Labor provided employment information, outreach and recruitment of child care providers and identified children of farmworkers in need of care.
HELP NM provided employment placement services, on the job training, work experience, classroom and training related supportive services, emergency assistance, and meal reimbursements through the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
New Mexico Department of Vocational Rehabilitation--Migrant Assistant Program provided financial assistance, and rehabilitation educational services.
Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico offered additional supportive services, i.e., family resources services, rental and utility assistance, medical/prescription assistance, weatherization and child adult care food program.
|
| Source |
Jovita Tolbert, Director of Program Services, NASCSP
|
| Contact person |
Jovita Tolbert, Deputy Director of Program Services
National Association of State Community Services Programs (NASCSP)
E-mail: jtolbert@nascsp.org |
Summaries of success stories are provided for your convenience. Please contact the success story contact person directly for the most complete and current information.
|
