ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

Due to the large numbers of farmworkers residing in Arizona who fall under the Hard To-Serve category, it has made it necessary for Project PPEP to create training programs that will maximize education and employment opportunities for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. PPEP has created these training programs to target them specifically because of the high rate of seasonal employment in agriculture. Areas of interest and industry are targeted to provide optimum opportunity for self-sufficiency for qualified families and individuals that will qualify for services under the National Farmworker Jobs Program, (NFJP) section 167, of the Workforce Investment Act.

Because of program experience, with the needs and problems of farmworkers in Arizona, this program has allowed us to develop the best program mix with a productive approach in meeting the training, job placement, and educational needs for stabilization in agriculture and other employment fields of interest to the farmworker.

Because most farmworkers are located in rural areas of the state, PPEP has located its Employment & Training Centers in conjunction with the One Stop Centers (funded through the state with WIA funding) in these rural areas to provide needed services. PPEP has also converted its offices in some counties to Satellite One- Stop Centers to accommodate the farmworkers and others with their employment search. In other counties PPEP is located within the actual One-Stop Centers to provide services to farmworkers that come through their doors. These services provide access to programs that go out to the farmworkers in the rural areas since it is unrealistic to expect the farmworkers to relocate to the major urban areas, with or without their families.

Services provide non-training-RELATED ASSISTANCE support services to qualified farmworkers to improve conditions for the farmworker to also remain in agriculture and to upgrade skills. We are able to expand their resources, which facilitate their remaining employed with in the agricultural industry by referring them to our wide network of non-NFJP funded services and One-Stop Centers.

WHAT’S NEW

In order to focus on job training and employment opportunities in the rural areas of Arizona and insure the continuation of appropriate program mix, PPEP's’ staff at the Employment & Training Centers and One Stop Center locations do the following:

• Pay close attention to the labor market assessment for the service area.
• Creates a number of training options/activities in order to serve the widest range of the farmworker population, including strong components, which will provide long term employability.
• Remains flexible in creating short term training programs which serve both employers and farmworkers
• Using the above, as much as possible, tailor made training opportunities available where farmworkers reside and work.

• Creates programs that will specifically target the Hard-to-Serve and offer them long-term training opportunities. This will be accomplished through offering them a variety of classes that can accomplish this. This can be done with ESL, GED, Charter High School, Computer, and other classes available through Project PPEP and other entities. To increase other Job opportunities, there are programs such as the OJT (On the Job Training), Customized Training, Occupational Skills Training, Apprenticeship Training and Work Experience that can enhance the skills of the farmworker for employment opportunities.

• One of the largest programs PPEP provides within it doors to farmworkers is the Commercial Drivers License Program. This program provides training to obtain a Class A or B license for driving jobs requiring the license. It has created opportunities for farmworkers in the School Districts as Bus Drivers and the communities as delivery drivers and upgraded skills to those farmworkers to enable them to get higher wages with in the Agriculture industries. There have also been opportunities to enter the world of short and long haul truck driving jobs with companies such as Swift Trucking.

The majority of the components are set up so many of our participants can be served with activities offered within our Employment & Training sites, along with the One-Stop Centers. This environment sets a comfort zone for those participants that are having language barriers or other problems such as transportation to larger institutions and don’t have the experience in larger settings.

We provide activities leading to long term employability and contributing to the potential for long term increase in earnings and employment. Commercial driver license classes, and specialized occupational skill training, meeting the specific needs of the selected employer accomplish this. We provide employability enhancement by offering educational classes such as the GED through our HEP program, ESL classes and High School Diploma through our Charter High Schools located in all the rural areas of Arizona.

PPEP is able to provide Non-Training Supportive Services to farmworkers who qualify for program benefits to remain in agriculture, along with referrals to other services in order to expand their resources which will facilitate their remaining employed within the agriculture industry.

PPEP provides Training-Related Supportive Services to a high percentage of those enrolled into training activities. PPEP utilized other PPEP non-NFJP funds and other agencies as well to augment these services. PPEP has a variety of other resources in its Employment & Training Centers to provide services in energy assistance, emergency assistance, housing activities, transportation, counseling and others. PPEP’s Behavioral Health component provides education and support in the areas of Career Guidance, substance abuse and mental health.

PPEP has linkages in the various rural communities that we constantly utilize for our trainees and other farmworkers who need services that we can not provide through the NFJP program or other resources. By working closely on a one to one basis with employers in rural communities, we not only are able to provide practical job training and placement services to the migrant and seasonal farmworkers based in those areas, but by encouraging job development in these small business, we are able to give a boost to local rural economies and, thereby, help build a better and more promising future for rural Arizona.

Our PPEP TEC Charter High School component has really encouraged the younger population to go back to school to graduate and get their high school diploma. The Charter School accommodates those individuals who are 15 to 21 years of age. The schools are located in 13 rural areas in the state of Arizona and are currently serving 54 farmworker youth throughout the state in obtaining their diploma. Once students have completed the Charter school, they are then eligible for school to work and enter another component of the Employment and Training. They are given opportunities to continue with their education or go directly into employment with other training if needed.

Project PPEP is currently providing new training programs that are relevant to the needs of the farmworker population and to the communities in which they live. Some of these areas of training are: Self-employment, Commercial Drivers License, A+ Certification in Computers, Landscape Technician Apprenticeship, Job Readiness, Workforce English, GED, Basic Computer Training and Office Skills, Construction Classes in Stucco, Masonry, and Building, Electrical Training and others being developed.

PPEP continues to be a leader in Arizona after 33 years of serving the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker. PPEP currently is a grantee of the Dept. of Labor under the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) section 167. Project PPEP itself has many programs it can offer to people who enter their doors, but also have many partners within the communities in Arizona to better serve the populations that it targets.

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Project PPEP is an innovative and pro-active program that provides services in education and training programs that help to promote full time unsubsidized employment among the farmworker population in Arizona. Are programs are developed to help the participant entering the program to move forward in his/her life and achieve their goals of employment and self-sufficiency. To bring families together and young people a better chance for success in the future of the working world.

Because of vision, 33 years ago are founder and CEO, Dr. John Arnold began living his dream of helping farmworkers. With a bus and a portable class room and a desire to help farmworkers and other rural people achieve a better way of life Dr. Arnold has taken PPEP from that portable classroom on a bus to numerous offices acros the state where farmworkers and rural people can receive self help services and advancement within their communities. PPEP has been able to keep up with the futures changes and adapt to the needs of the people and developed programs like the Charter High Schools that are across the state, to provide educational opportunities to youth that will now achieve their High School Diploma. Many of these children are farmworker children that are breaking the chain of illiteracy and following their hopes and dreams. It has given the adult farmworker a chance to change and move forward and to become self sufficient, breaking the chain of under employment and poverty.

Project PPEP has and will always move with change and the future needs of farmworkers with programs which benefit them in the best possible ways. All staffs are dedicated to the program and are always looking at new ways to serve the population with quality services and training that will continue to upgrade the quality of life and skills of the people they serve. Our motto has always been Si Se Puede!

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

There are many positions within the Dept. of Labor program. Currently we have positions open for:

Job Developer/Case Manager
Pima/Cochise Counties
24,170 — 26,645

GED Instructor
Yuma County
Part-Time
(Mon, Wed & Thurs. 5-10 pm)
15.00 Per Hour

CONTACT US

Self sufficiency for the disabled

Housing Development Corporation

Small business loans and assistance

PPEP TEC High School

Arizona Virtual Academy

Insight Schools California