State Restructuring of ID&R Processes

ESCORT has assisted various states in re-structuring their ID&R process. After reviewing a state’s ID&R practices, ESCORT may suggest the implementation of statewide recruiters instead of local recruiters; or the utilization of a community-based approach instead of a school-based effort. ESCORT also provides training for local district staff to ensure that children are not overlooked during any restructuring of recruitment efforts.

When assessing a state’s ID&R efforts, ESCORT takes several factors into consideration: number of children, number of recruiters, where recruiters are located (district vs. region vs. state), agricultural activities in the state, and recent migratory history of families. ESCORT’s assessment includes the answers to key questions, such as:

• Why do families or youth travel to the state? What are the reasons for migrant children moving into the area? What are the qualifying activities in the state?
• How do the state and its operating agencies currently identify and recruit migrant children? Is there a plan to identify all migrant children in the state? How and where are recruiters deployed? Who hires the recruiters?
• How are recruiters trained? What tools are recruiters provided with in order to make eligibility determinations in a proper and timely manner? Are recruiters trained in building recruitment networks and personal safety, for example?
• How is child eligibility determined and documented? Does the state have a standard and current COE?
• Are cultural and language customs of migrant families considered when finding and recruiting families?
• What quality control assurances do the state and its operating agency have implemented in order to ensure proper eligibility determinations by their staff? Are COEs reviewed by a trained reviewer? Is there a process for resolving eligibility questions?
• How do the state and its operating agencies validate completed COEs and eligibility determinations? Is the re-interviewing of recruited families an established practice to validate eligibility determinations in the state or its operating agencies?

Through this process, ESCORT’s role is to assist the state in identifying the recruitment areas in need of improvement, as well as to validate the effective practices currently being implemented. In addition, these questions become the basis for the development of the state’s plan for identification and recruitment.