Farmworkers Program

The purpose of the Farmworker Career Development Program (FCDP) is to assist migrant and seasonal farm workers that want to leave agriculture, or stabilize farmworkers who choose to stay in farmwork. The goal is to improve the lifestyle for migrant and seasonal farmworkers requesting assistance.

The program assesses the needs of each individual and can provide various assistance such as: funding for technical training, job-related workshops, evaluation and testing, ESOL, Spanish and English GED assistance, job placement, counseling, and referrals. Currently, the program serves eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers age 14 through adult.

Since the Farmworker Career Development Program is also a partner with Polk Works, through legislative measures, it maintains an open door policy to serve anyone in Core Services (i.e. information and referral).

The Farmworker Career Development Program (FCDP) is funded through various sources, mainly the State of Florida’s Department of Education, Workforce Investment Act, Section 167.

Need Help?

Eligibility Requirements for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers are:

  • Citizen or National of the United States
  • Must have been a disadvantaged seasonal or migrant Farm Worker during any 12-month period within the most recent 24-month period prior to application, or the spouse of or the dependant of the above.
  • Meet earned income eligibility requirements and at least 50% total work time in farm work or 25 days in qualifying farm work or at least $800 in qualifying farm work.
  • Social Security Card
  • Driver’s License (Picture ID)
  • Section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act enforced

Migrant Services

Migrant Services supports migrant students at all stages, from helping them initially access the program to providing the support they need to achieve academic success.

The goals of the program are to:

  • Identify and recruit eligible migrant students
  • Support and partner with relevant educational programs/organizations to close the achievement gap between migrant and non-migrant students in core subjects and graduation rate
  • Facilitate parental involvement activities that promote education in the home and English language development, and focus on decreasing educational interruptions
  • Provide instructional services to migrant students on an as-needed basis
  • Provide access to quality health, social and support services

Services Offered:

Identification and Recruitment

Migrant Services finds and completes a certificate of eligibility for each eligible migrant student, and facilitates their receipt of emergency assistance, including survival items, resource guide, etc.

Academics

Instructional services for migrant students are provided on an as-needed basis. These may include:

  • Attendance monitoring, and academic support and interventions
  • Facilitating tutoring and extended learning opportunities through partnerships with local schools and agencies
  • Providing adult education opportunities, such as classes for the GED, ESOL, vocational training, HEP, PASS, and other alternative programs

Health and Social Services

Migrant Services also supports students’ health and social development through the following services:

  • Extending access to health and dental providers
  • Supporting migrant families in locating housing, food, clothing, and other basic needs
  • Providing transportation to school-related and social service appointments for migrant students and families (when possible)

Parent and Community Involvement

Migrant Services also:

  • Partners with community and local agencies to help provide for the basic needs of migrant families
  • Facilitates opportunities for parents to develop English language learning skills, as well as opportunities to support family literacy, adult education, and parents’ understanding of their child’s education
  • Provides Parent Resource Centers, where parents have access to computers, programs, books and technology to promote home literacy and life skills
  • Oversees the Migrant Parent Advisory Council (MPAC), which affords parents the opportunity to be actively involved in the decision-making of the Migrant Services program

Farmworkers Program:

300 E Bridgers Ave
Auburndale, FL 33823
863-968-5658

Migrant Services:

District Office: 863-457-4707 Ext: 634
Para Espanol Llame: 863-457-4707 Ext: 632

Auburndale: 863-291-5395
Fort Meade: 863-285-1190
Frostproof: 863-635-7827
Haines City: 863-326-5376
Lake Wales: 863-635-7827
Lakeland: 863-668-3025
Mulberry: 863-425-9290
Wahneta/Winter Haven: 863-291-5395

Resources

Migrant Brochure English | Spanish (UPDATED 0219)

Migrant Student Overview (UPDATED 0219)