Bienvenidos a Maryland
The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP)
The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) is part of the new Workforce Investment Act , and Telamon has been designated by the U.S. Department of Labor as the NFJP sponsor in the state of Maryland. The program addresses the job seeking and employment stability needs of eligible migrant and other seasonally employed farmworkers in the state.
Because our sponsorship of the NFJP also designates Telamon as a required partner in the larger, One-Stop services delivery system, we are able to provide labor market and other employment-related information to anyone who contacts our office, located in Salisbury. Persons who do not qualify for NFJP services but do need further employment and training services or assistance are referred to an appropriate One-Stop partner agency. See Eligibility Criteria.
While Telamon's primary focus in Maryland is assisting farmworkers to upgrade their educational and skill levels so they may be more competitive in a non- agricultural labor market, we operate a variety of other programs, including:
Housing Assistance
Telamon engages in a number of activities designed to upgrade the lifestyle of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The shortage of decent housing for seasonal workers on the Eastern Shore is very real. Each summer farmworkers arriving in the area to work in the watermelons are forced to live in less than adequate motels and pay rents that often are more than they can earn. To remedy this situation Telamon is working to promote the development of farmworker housing. For farmworkers and recent farmworkers Telamon offers home ownership counseling and credit counseling.
Emergency Food Program
A food pantry located in the Salisbury office is open Monday through Friday during business hours. U.S.D.A. commodities supplemented with purchased food items provides relief for those in need. The pantry is open to the public, and pantry distributions are based on need.
Reading Is Fundamental
RIF, as it is known, is a book distribution program for children. Our RIF project in Maryland is targeted to children of migrant farmworkers, and distribution of books is made through the three Migrant Education Programs operating on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Emergency Shelter
Telamon receives a grant each year to support emergency housing and prevent homelessness among migrant workers. Any migrant farmworker within Wicomico County is eligible to receive aid under this program.
English Classes
English as a Second Language (ESL) is taught each summer at the Westover Labor Camp in Somerset County. Classes are held in the evening and open to all farmworkers who have a language barrier. The class is taught two nights per week during the course of the six-week season, and is designed for those whose primary language is Spanish.
Pesticide Safety Training
Through its participation in the AmeriCorps National Farmworker Environmental Education Program, sponsored by the Association of Farmworker Opportunities Program ( AFOP), Telamon provides training to over 1,000 farmworkers each year on how to live and work around pesticides safely. By educating farmworkers, agricultural employers and the community about the precautions that need to be taken when working with pesticides, our goal is to have a healthier agricultural work force. Any farmworker in Maryland is eligible to enroll in this training, and information concerning when and where it will be offered is available at 1-410-546-4604.
Urban Initiative
Funding from the Maryland Department of Agriculture has assisted our efforts to develop a program to educate the public about the dangers of using harmful cleaning chemicals and pesticides in the home. This program is open to the general public, with special consideration given to community groups, PTA's, church groups, schools, and any civic organization with an interest in learning more about this topic. Specific information concerning details of this training and the schedule for meetings may be obtained by calling 1-410-546-4604.
Pongase en contacto con las oficinas de Maryland