Seasonal Agricultural and Migratory Workers Program
Seasonal Agricultural Migratory Workers Program (SAMW) Program grant period for Fiscal Years 2004 - 2007 has been extendED through JunE 30, 2009
The mission of the Seasonal Agricultural and Migratory Workers (SAMW) Program is to develop and maintain primary health care services in rural and urban areas; provide financial and technical assistance to primary care clinics serving this target population; and, coordinate similar programs of the federal government and other State and voluntary agencies.
The SAMW Program awards grants to community-based, private, non-profit, licensed primary health care clinics throughout California for the provision of comprehensive primary and preventive health care services. Clinics must be licensed under paragraph (1) or (2) of Subdivision (a) of Section 1204, of the Health and Safety Code. During FY 1997-2000, the SAMW Program is funding 45 clinics to support or enhance the delivery of primary health care to seasonal agricultural workers, migratory workers, and their families.
The current legislative authority for the program was entered into law by SB 1117 in 1983, and re-codified in the Health and Safety Code, as Sections 124550 - 12 4555 (previously Sections 1181 - 1181.5), by SB 1360 in 1995.
Utilizing a variety of funding streams, the SAMW Program has successfully assisted rural community clinics in enhancing both primary medical and dental care services, nutrition counseling, and health education. The goal is to improve the health status of a targeted population of medically underserved, indigent persons, and those who experience cultural and/or language barriers. Additionally, this program focuses on the development of bilingual services in health education, nutrition, and outreach, and the collection of data on the health status and unmet medical needs of farm workers.