Illinois Migrant Council | Serving Illinois Farmworkers

About Illinois Farmworker Families

	Low Income
	Inadequate family resources to cover basic necessities or emergencies Any loss of wages threatens family’s socio-economic stability Average earned wages for family of four is $10,000/below federal poverty guideline
	Unemployment, Underemployment
	Job insecurity No coverage of unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation Occupational hazards Changing farm labor demand Lack of marketable job skills for twenty-first century economy
	Lack of Education
	Average education level for adults below eighth grade Low literacy levels
	Substandard Housing
	Crowded migrant housing Poor sanitation and plumbing, exposures to waste and sewage Illinois migrant labor camp code for housing unit inspections applies only to sites with four or more families or ten or more workers Constant threat of homelessness Unaffordable rents Lack of information about fair housing and tenant rights
	Discrimination toward farmworkers who are U.S. citizens and documented aliens as immigration fears have grown
	Limited English language skills for communicating with local communities

Obstacles to School Success for Migrant Children and Youth

	Frequent mobility during upstream migration during school terms
	Disruptions in school attendance when it’s essential for economic survival to work alongside family members
	Significant differences in state and local standards and requirements
	Limited English language skills at home
	Difficulty of serious academic study after a long day of manual labor
	Lack of access to technology exacerbates the digital divide
	Gaps in educational skills and concepts that impact standards-based assessments tied directly to high school graduation
	No support or preparation for post-secondary education
	No career exploration for entry into the twenty-first century workforce

Health Disparities Among Farmworkers and Latinos in Rural Illinois

	Health disparities arising from
	Language barriers Cultural differences Discrimination Geographic Itinerant lifestyle Lack of income Lack of information/knowledge
	Impact of health disparities
	Inadequate health and nutrition by national standards Anemia and vitamin deficiencies Higher incidence of chronic disease (diabetes, cardiovascular) Pandemic influenza and upper respiratory infections (tuberculosis, asthma) Environmentally-related illness Gastro-intestinal problems High risk for HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, STDs Lower life expectancy Lack of access to the health services delivery system Lack of access to health education and screening resources      Screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancer      Diabetes prevention and management      Tobacco cessation techniques
	Occupational risks for migrant and seasonal farmworkers
	Exposure to harmful pesticides Heat exhaustion and collapse Higher incidence of chronic disease (diabetes, cardiovascular) Safety hazards Basic worker needs for shade, water, sanitation, work breaks and safety standards – especially during hot summer months