California COVID Workplace Outreach Project

CRLAF is proud to be one of 110 community-based organizations collaborating with the California Department of Labor and Employment (LAWD) and The Center at Sierra Health Foundation on outreach efforts to assist those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

California’s agricultural workers are an essential workforce responsible for food production that sustains the nation. They have experienced a higher risk of exposure throughout the pandemic due to field and packing facilities’ working conditions, a lack of preventive education and PPE, crowded transportation to and from worksites, and overcrowded housing conditions. The enforcement of workplace safety standards has been lagging, while systematic reporting of workplace risks and outbreaks has been lacking. Governor Newsom has even admitted that “systemic inequalities in our government and healthcare systems have left many Californians at a higher risk from COVID-19.”

In the coming months, we will focus on creating multi-lingual interactive engagements that connect our client communities with information on minimizing risks for contracting COVID-19, promoting the vaccine, providing public health guidance, workplace protections, and other state resources, including public safety net programs. We deeply appreciate LWDA and Sierra Health's paramount support that allows us to uphold this work.

“As rural residents lack significant access to fundamental healthcare and legal services, it is no surprise that farmworker families are so disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Our staff continue to work tirelessly, providing resources, information and aid to empower and strengthen the resiliency of our immigrant and client communities.”

-Amagda Perez, Executive Director of CRLAF-