The Kentucky migrant vocational rehabilitation program: A demonstration project for working with hispanic farm workers

Migrant farm workers with disabilities, primarily of Hispanic (i.e., Mexican/Mexican-American) background in the United States, represent an impoverished rehabilitation population. Despite significant service needs, these workers are often reluctant to seek out community services. Effectively identifying and serving members of this population depends on an informed, collaborative approach among service providers. Key elements of effective intervention include comprehensive outreach strategies, and culturally responsive rehabilitation services. The Kentucky Migrant Vocational Rehabilitation Program (KMVRP) is demonstrating the efficacy of a service delivery model based on the principles of cultural sensitivity training, resourceful outreach efforts, pre-intervention capacity building, and the development of working relationships with consumers, their families and significant others, and key community businesses and human service providers.