Migrant & Seasonal Worker Toolkit
Each year, thousands of migrant and seasonal workers come to Ohio to find work on farms, in processing plants, and other agricultural businesses. Right now, approximately 5,600 known migrant farmworkers are located throughout the state, working at camps licensed by the Ohio Department of Health. Many live in single-family homes, barracks-style housing, hotels, or homes with unrelated people. Because of these close living and working quarters, the state of Ohio is working to provide as many resources as possible to these workers and owners/operators to keep everyone healthy and safe. Please find a number of resources in both English and Spanish below.
English Resources
General Guidance
- Ohio Department of Health Coronavirus Website: General information about the Coronavirus in the state of Ohio.
- Agricultural Worker and Transportation Guidance: Issued guidance in September 2020 for health departments and workers.
- COVID-19 Job Search: The Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation has worked in partnership with the Development Services Agency and Jobs and Family Services to launch a new job search site to help connect essential businesses with those who are ready and able to work today.
- COVID-19 Travel Advisory
- Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers Hotline
- Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Outreach Map/Contact List: Contact information for outreach specialists (available peak season, March through October) for employers and farmworkers with questions or concerns.
- Retail Location Complaints: This form can be used to submit a complaint regarding enforcement of mask-wearing in retail establishments.
- Vaccine Communications Toolkit: Talking points and FAQs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Eligibility List: Find out if you are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
- Understanding How the Different COVID-19 Vaccines Work
- COVID-19 Fact Sheet: Safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines
- Myths vs. Facts COVID-19 Vaccine
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about COVID-19 vaccines
- Plain Language Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about COVID-19 vaccines
- Fact Sheet - Priority Populations and Vaccine Distribution
- What to know before, during, and after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
- Acceptable Forms of ID for Vaccine Appointments
Checklists
Spanish Resources
Guidance
Infographics
Vaccine
- Myths vs. Facts COVID-19 Vaccine
- Frequently Asked Questions COVID-19 Vaccine
- Phased Approach
- Eligibility List: Find out if you are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
- Understanding How the Different COVID-19 Vaccines Work
- COVID-19 Fact Sheet: Safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines
- Fact Sheet - Priority Populations and Vaccine Distribution
- What to know before, during, and after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
- Acceptable Forms of ID for Vaccine Appointments
Checklists
Posters & Signs
Health Screening Questions for Use With Customers
Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Hotline
Retail Signs & Posters
Videos
Medidas de Seguridad del COVID-19 Para los Trabajadores de Agricultura Migrantes y Temporeros
COVID-19 Safety Measures for Ohio's Migrant & Seasonal Farmworker Community
Support Organizations
FALCON Farmworker Advocacy Network
As a network of collaborating agencies, FALCON is committed to serving Ohio’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers and agricultural employers by encouraging and supporting the dignity of productive work, healthy working and living environments, educational networking, legal assistance, and spiritual outreach.
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, ABLE
525 Jefferson Ave.
Suite 300
Toledo, OH 43604
Fax: 419-259-2880
Website: https://www.ablelaw.org/
Toll-Free (Migrant):
(855) 884-9155
International:
001 (800) 649-9085
Representatives
|
Arturo Ortiz, |
Eugenio Mollo, |
|
Mark Heller, |
Patricia Y. Hernandez, |
Services
ABLE provides direct representation, worker rights education, and general advocacy to agricultural workers and immigrants, regardless of immigration status. Attorneys and advocates from ABLE can help with legal problems such as:
• Employment Rights of Agricultural Workers
• Unpaid Wages and Minimum Wage Claims
• Worker Health & Safety Concerns
• Field Sanitation
• Pesticide Exposure
• Housing Conditions
• Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Domestic Violence and Potential Remedies
• Immigration and Citizenship
• Government Benefits
• Childcare and Education
• Federal Income Tax Controversies
We cannot accept traffic or criminal cases.
Legal Aid of Western Ohio, LAWO
1800 North Blanchard St.
Ste. 109
Findlay, OH 45840
Phone: 419-930-2482
Fax: 419-334-9148
Website: https://www.lawolaw.org/
Representatives
|
Nancy Nava-Wade, |
Wendy Aviña, |
Services
LAWO provides direct representation, workers’ rights, education, and general advocacy to agricultural workers in all 88 counties in Ohio. Attorneys and advocates from LAWO can help with legal problems such as:
• Employment Rights of Agricultural Workers
• Unpaid Wages and Minimum Wage Claims
• Worker Health & Safety Concerns
• Field Sanitation
• Pesticide Exposure
• Housing Conditions
• Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Domestic Violence and Potential Remedies
• Immigration and Citizenship
• Government Benefits
• Childcare and Education
• Federal Income Tax Controversies
We cannot accept traffic or criminal cases.
Labor Union
Farm Labor Organizing Committee, FLOC
1221 Broadway
Toledo, OH 43609
Website: http://www.floc.com/
Representative
Baldemar Velasquez, President
bvelasq@floc.com
Phone: 419-243-3456
Fax: 419-243-5655
Services
FLOC is involved in a number of organizing campaigns both in the fields throughout the Midwest and the South and the inner-city streets of Toledo, OH. The role in all organizing efforts is to build a democratic institution among marginalized people so they can use their own voices to speak out against the injustices they face.
Government Agencies
Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, ODJFS
4020 E. 5th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43216
P.O. Box 1618
Columbus, OH 43216
Website: https://jfs.ohio.gov/
Ohio Migrant Hotline
1-800-282-3525
Representatives
|
Jennifer Crist, |
Ohio Means Jobs - Sandusky |
|
Alma Gutierrez |
Ilda Zuniga |
Services
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is dedicated to serving the agricultural community statewide. Responsibilities are to ensure that agricultural job seekers and employers are informed of the services provided by local OhioMeansJobs Centers.
Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Program (MSFW) Bilingual Employment Professionals located in various OhioMeansJobs Centers’, assist employers in searching for agricultural workers, both in and out-of-state. Employers are encouraged to take advantage of the OhioMeansJobs Centers’ labor exchange services to locate job seekers who are willing to fill temporary agricultural and food processing positions. MSFW staff work with all segments of the agricultural industry; including orchards, plant nurseries, greenhouses, vegetable, fruit, dairy, poultry, and livestock farms.
USDOL Wage & Hour
General line: 1-866-4-USWAGE (1-866-487-9243)
Website: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd
Columbus District Office
200 N. High St.
Room 646
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 469-5678
Cleveland Area Office
1240 E. 9th St.
Room 817
Cleveland, OH 44199
(216) 357-5400
Cincinnati Area Office
550 Main St.
Suite 10-277
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 684-2908
Representative
Danielle Calderon
Calderon.Danielle@dol.gov
Services
The WHD enforces Federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD also enforces the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to Federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.
Ohio Department of Health, ODH
246 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-7455
Website: https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/agricultural-labor-camp/welcome
Representative
Recreation, Engineering, and Community Health (REACH) Unit Administrator:
Mary Shaffer, MS, REHS
mary.shaffer@odh.ohio.gov
Services
Issues licenses, conducts pre-licensing inspections, completes plan reviews for new or substantially altered housing, reviews and revises rules for agricultural labor camps in Ohio.
GLCAP - Migrant Head Start
127 S Front Street,
Fremont, OH 43420
Website: https://www.glcap.org/programs/child-care-education/migrant-seasonal-head-start/
Representative
Jacquie Wells
Child Development/Rural Transit Director
jswells@glcap.org
Services
GLCAP provides services to participating children and their families in Ohio. The program is designed to provide support to children of migrant/seasonal farm workers attending Head Start. Children between the ages of 6 weeks to 5 years
SOCIAL JUSTICE · EMPOWERMENT · ADVOCACY · EDUCATION
La Conexión
P.O. Box 186
Bowling Green, OH 43402
Phone: 419-308-2328
Email:
laconexionwc@gmail.com
Website:
www.laconexionwc.wixsite.com/laconexion
Representatives
Services
La Conexion is an empowerment organization working with Latinos and recent immigrants in NW Ohio. Program areas include:
• Community organizing. Outreach and community building
• Adults capacity development. English as a Second Language and Citizenship classes.
• Youth enrichment program. Tutoring and homework assistance, mentoring, academic support, advocacy
• Service access and navigation
• Advocacy on issues facing Latinos and recent immigrants
• Art & culture
• Interpretation services (fee for service for area agencies & institutions)
Justice for Migrant Woman
HQ – Fremont, OH.
Website:
www.justice4women.org
Representatives
Services
Advancing the human and civil rights of migrant women and their families.
La Voz de la Comunidad, Inc.
1907 W. State St. #122
Fremont, OH. 43420
Website: https://www.lavozdelacomunidad.us/
Representative
Lydia Alejandro,
Director
lyd12alejandro@yahoo.com
Cell: 419-552-1542
Services
Addressing issues for the Latino community in Sandusky County. Includes: navigating families through social service and health systems, referral to community resources, networking and serving on Boards to advocate improved race relations, and health equity. And State Committees to address Covid-19 of migrant farm workers, and Latino communities relative to testing and vaccine distribution.
HOLA Ohio
PO Box 3066
Ashtabula, Ohio 44005-3066
Website: http://holatoday.org/
Representative
Veronica Dhalberg
Executive Director
(440) 812 - 4626
www.holaohio.org
Services
HOLA Ohio is a 501c3, nonprofit organization based in Painesville with a mission to improve quality-of-life opportunities and empower the Latino community through outreach, education, civic engagement, entrepreneurship and skills development.
YWCA Northwest Ohio
1018 Jefferson Ave
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: 419-255-5519
Website: https://www.ywcanwo.org/
Services
Service/Assistance: YWCA HOPE Center provides medical and legal advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, transportation assistance and referrals for victims of sexual assault/intimate partner violence. Bilingual advocate available.
Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition
2149 Collingwood Blvd
Toledo, OH. 43620
Website: https://www.lchtc.org/
Representative
Amy LaGesse, MA
Regional Grant Coordinator & Secretary
alagesse@lssnwo.org
Phone: 419-243-9178 EXT. 128
Cell: 419-466-2636
Services
The Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition was implemented in 2009 to comprehensively respond to the problem of human trafficking. The Coalition is comprised of multi-disciplinary professionals and community members who strive to develop a coordinated victim assistance response to combat human trafficking. The Look Beneath the Surface Grant started in 2017 and replaces the Rescue and Restore Grant that began in 2014. The Look Beneath the Surface Grant works to identify and refer foreign born human trafficking victims and domestic human trafficking victims to appropriate services. This grant serves 21 counties throughout Northwest Ohio.
Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, OCHLA
Riffe Center – 18th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Website: https://www.ochla.ohio.gov/
Representatives
Services
State Agency. Commission under the Governor's umbrella.
The Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs was created in 1977 with seventeen mandates proscribed in sections 121.32 and 121.33 of the Ohio Revised Code. These mandates fall into one of three categories:
- TO ADVISE [Public Policy Center] the Governor, the Ohio General Assembly, and state government agencies on all matters affecting Hispanic Ohioans, by issuing reports, proposing programs, commenting on legislation, and conducting policy-related research.
- TO CONNECT [Latino Community Network] the diverse Latino communities across the State of Ohio by serving as a hub of information for and about Hispanic Ohioans by hosting meetings, conducting surveys, promoting collaboration, encouraging communication, and endeavoring to assure access to decision-making bodies.
- TO BUILD [Organizations Development Center] the capacity of Latino community organizations, especially those of, for, and by Hispanic Ohioans, by applying for and accepting grants in partnership with organizations, subcontracting programs to local groups, and conducting education programs to enhance and strengthen community organization staff and leadership.
En Camino
Immigrant and Migrant Outreach
Website:
Representatives
Services
En Camino facilitates services for migrants and immigrants from the two locations of St. Wendelin, Fostoria and Saints Peter and Paul Toledo. The services are: spiritual, educational, interpretation, translation and legal. Normally, En Camino works with local parishes, school systems, doctors and hospitals. Both locations have OLAP accredited offices (Office of Legal Access Programs).
Catholic Diocese of Toledo, Office of Intercultural Ministries
1933 Spielbusch Ave
Toledo, OH 43604
Website: https://toledodiocese.org/page/hispanic-ministries
Representatives
Education
Ohio Migrant Education Center, OMEC
428 ½ Croghan St.
Fremont, OH 43420
Phone: 419-332-6007
Fax: 419-332-8350
Website: https://omec.nwoesc.org/
Representatives
Services
Ohio Migrant Education Center (OMEC) assists school districts that serve migrant children in their effort to create a learning environment that will foster success. The Center has supplemental materials available for teachers to use with their ESL migrant population in Ohio.
GLCAP M/S Head Start
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership
127 S. Front St.
Fremont, Ohio 43420
Phone: 1-800-775-9767
Website: https://www.glcap.org/programs/child-care-education/preschool/
Representative
Jacquie Wells,
Director of Child Development and Rural Transit
Mobile: 419-680-3847
jswells@glcap.org
Services
Serves: Fremont, Hartville, Napoleon, New Carlisle, Shiloh
Glcap Migrant/Seasonal Head Start offers high quality year round educational programs for children of families who work as migrant or seasonal agricultural work. NO COST – Offer Full Day classes, nutritious meals and snacks, free medical exams, disability services, transportation to and from centers. Early education for children ages birth to 5 years old. Centers include: Fremont, Hartville, Napoleon, New Carlisle, Shiloh
JOB TRAINING · EMERGENCY SERVICES & HOUSING
Path Stone Corporation
2-453 Co. Rd. V
Liberty Center, OH 43532
hcruz@pathstone.org
Phone: 419-875-6654
Fax: 419-875-4010
Website: https://pathstone.org/
Representative
Diana Guzman
dguzman@pathstone.org Heather Cruz,
Director of Training & Employment
Path Stone Corporation
Services
Path Stone is an employment and training agency which can transition agriculture workers into mainstream labor positions or skilled agricultural positions. They also provide emergency services, food assistance, and referrals to migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
HEALTH SERVICES
Community Health Services, CHS
2221 Hayes Ave.
Fremont, OH 43420
Phone: 419-334-3869
Fax: 419-334-8546
www.CHSOhio.com
Representative
Jennifer Leonard
jleonard@fremontchs.org
Cell: 419-208-5178
Services
CHS provides comprehensive medical and dental services to both adults and children in five counties and eight locations. They offer the following medical services and specialties:
• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• OB/GYN
• Pediatrics
• Behavioral Health Services
• Family Dentistry
Ohio Migrant Health Centers
Health Partners of Western Ohio
329 North West Street, 2nd Floor
Lima, Ohio 45801
(419) 221-3072
admincontact@hpwohio.org
Ph: 877-516-4149
Health Services in:
Toledo, Napoleon, Defiance, Bryan, New Carlisle, Lima, Kenton
Community and Rural Health, Inc.
www.fremontchs.com
1220 East State St
Freemont, OH 43420
(419) 334-3869
Health Services in:
Freemont, Fostoria, Stony Ridge, Napoleon, Willard