Insurance and Assistance Programs

Although farmworkers fit the eligibility profile for assistance programs such as Medicaid, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and Social Security Insurance, few can actually obtain benefits. This is because of enrollment and eligibility standards that are not designed to accommodate people who must move frequently to find work, or whose income may fluctuate dramatically during the agricultural season even though their annual wages are below the poverty level. Also, many farmworkers do not understand that they are eligible for benefits and so do not apply.

Farmworkers work hard for a living, and like any other proud people, do not want a handout. Rather, in return for their vital role in our economy, they seek the same opportunities for themselves and their families that other American workers take for granted.

 Farmworker Children

The circumstances of farmworker children are particularly poignant. Poverty and migration make it difficult for farmworker children to create a different future for themselves. Constant mobility makes it hard for farmworker children to complete their education. The median educational level for the head of a migrant household was 6 years in 1986.

Curriculums vary greatly between schools and districts, and high numbers of mobile children interfere with teachers' ability to organize and deliver instruction. Children who move often are two and a half times more likely to need to repeat a grade than children who do not move.

Changing schools is hard on children emotionally, too. Children are more likely to drop out of school if they change schools four or more times. The Migrant Head Start Program, a federally subsidized educational program, has proven to be very beneficial to children who move frequently. But, as with most programs, the need outweighs the resources. However, there is some hope in recent years. Despite the deep emotional ties and traditions that bind the farmworker family, it appears that more students are now being allowed to stay behind in school when other family members migrate. Educators who work with migrant children say that 55 percent of migrant children graduate nationwide, compared with only 45 percent just a few years ago.

The economic pressure on migrant children to drop out is also intense. The Department of Labor has found that most seasonal agricultural workers are married and/or have children. The family's poverty dictates that all able family members work. In fact, agriculture is the only industry that allows workers under the age of 16.

The Fair Labor Standards Act sets age 12 as the legal limit for farm work, with exemptions available for children as young as 10 or 11. Studies have shown that many children under age 12 continue to do farm work. A 1988 survey of parents who were hired farmworkers in six states found that about a third of the parents interviewed had children working in the fields. When children work in the fields, occupational injury presents an even more significant risk than for adults because of their lack of experience. A 1990 study of migrant children working on farms in western New York showed that one third of the children had been injured while working during the past year.

Even when children do not work, they may be at risk. Because child care facilities are rarely available, many farmworker children are present in the fields and thus are exposed to pesticides on plants and in the dirt. Children have a smaller body mass than adults and their metabolisms differ from those of adults. As a result, it is thought that the consequences of pesticide exposure may be more severe for children.

The migrant lifestyle imposes both physical and mental stresses on children and families. Comparisons on the east coast between the health status of migrant children and children from the general population show that migrant children are almost three times more likely to be reported in fair or poor health.

Additionally, differences in the acculturation levels of parents and children place a strain on the family. Due to their superior English language fluency, some migrant children refer to themselves as negotiators for their parents, a role requiring skills well beyond those expected for a child's age.

 Conclusion

Farmworkers lead difficult but honorable lives. Their problems are many, and finding solutions poses tremendous challenges. But many people and organizations remain committed to helping farmworkers to overcome poverty and powerlessness. Much more is needed, but some progress has been made.

Several states have taken great strides toward improving farmworker housing. The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the need to protect agricultural workers from pesticides, and has revised its Worker Protection Standards.

Migrant health centers nationwide serve as models for creative delivery of services to hard-to-reach populations. Other agencies and organizations with interests in health, social services, education, and employment are working to build service networks on behalf of farmworkers. One such organization is the National Center for Farmworker Health. NCFH operates a Resource Center to provide information and technical assistance related to migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

Everyone benefits from farmworkers' labor. They are hardworking people doing the best they can to make a better life for themselves and their children. They are proud of who they are and what they do. Farmworkers are a tremendous national resource, often taken for granted. Their hard work brings food to your table.

 Related Resources

• Facts about Farmworkers
  
• Migrant Health Monograph Series: 10 papers focusing on the top priorities as identified by the National Advisory Council on Migrant Health >>