MOTIVATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Head Start and Early Head Start - This program provides a comprehensive continuum of early childhood services designed to promote school readiness for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children from low-income families. These programs support children's cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development through high-quality early education, health and nutrition services, mental health supports, and family engagement activities. MET also emphasizes parent involvement and family well-being to strengthen the home environment and ensure children enter school prepared to succeed academically and socially. Motivation, Education and Training, Inc. (MET) serves eight counties in southeastern Texas: Montgomery, Hardin, Chambers, Liberty, Harris, Waller, Austin, Polk, and San Jacinto. The organization offers services at 2 Head Start sites, 13 Early Head Start sites, and 10 combined Head Start/Early Head Start Learning Centers. MET provides full-day child development services to 712 infants and toddlers, 42 pregnant women, and 425 Head Start children. In addition, home-based services are available, where a Family Educator visits families weekly to offer programming. Families receiving home-based services also come together for group learning experiences led by Head Start staff. MET employs an integrated approach that combines developmentally appropriate, family-centered, and culturally sensitive services to foster school readiness and promote strong, healthy families. During the last program year, 42 parents participated in job training or adult education, 18 attended English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, 1,263 parents received health education, and 120 parents participated in financial literacy training. Furthermore, 1,304 individuals volunteered in Head Start or Early Head Start programs, including 402 program parents.

MET administers the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) through Department of Labor funding across Texas (TX), Louisiana (LA), Kentucky (KY), Minnesota (MN), North Dakota (ND), New Mexico (NM), and Wyoming (WY). Additionally, MET offers specialized services such as NFJP TX Housing and TX YouthBuild. This funding primarily supports farmworker training to address chronic unemployment and underemployment among farmworkers and their families, who rely largely on agricultural labor. Services provided include career services, training programs, housing assistance, youth services, and emergency support. The program aims to stabilize agricultural employment and help individuals gain new skills to pursue higher-paying, year-round careers. A key focus is also addressing the critical need for safe and sanitary housing, both permanent and temporary. To achieve these goals, MET collaborates with 60 training providers across the states, offering educational instruction (CRT) and skills training (WEX and OJT) in various fields. The program's primary objective is to equip farmworkers with the entry-level skills necessary for job placement. In the 2024/2025 program year, MET exceeded all projected objectives, including enrolling participants in career training and providing emergency assistance. Notable achievements include training 1,140 individuals in classroom certifications, leading to an 80 percent placement rate based on these certifications. Training tracks ranged from Diesel Mechanics and Welders to Emergency Medical Technicians and Professional Truck Drivers. Furthermore, MET successfully placed participants in On-the-Job Training (OJT) positions, Work Experience (WEX) placements, and coordinated unsubsidized job opportunities. Historically, MET has provided employment and training services to over 100,000 farmworkers and emergency support to more than 200,000 farmworkers, including housing assistance. National Farmworkers Job Program Housing: This program supports the improvement of safe, decent, and affordable housing for migrant and seasonal farmworkers by providing housing rehabilitation services for owner-occupied single-family homes. MET ensures that all rehabilitation activities comply with applicable construction standards, local building codes, accessibility requirements, and energy-efficiency guidelines. The program helps reduce health and safety risks, extends the lifespan of housing units, and improves overall living conditions for eligible farmworker families. YouthBuild: This program serves eligible young adults by combining education, workforce training, and leadership development to help participants achieve long-term self-sufficiency. MET supports participants in earning a high school diploma or equivalent credential while receiving industry-recognized skills training across multiple career pathways. YouthBuild participants gain hands-on experience, develop employability skills, and receive stipends, wages, or living allowances during program participation, enabling them to transition successfully into employment, postsecondary education, or advanced training