Frequently Asked Questions from April 10 Session
- Will the priority counties listed in the original RFA remain the same?
(Yes. The priority counties are Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Yolo, Sonoma, Butte, Shasta, Kern, Kings, Merced, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Imperial, Tulare, Fresno, Riverside, Madera, Ventura and Santa Barbara. Other rural counties in areas with high numbers of farmworkers may also be considered.)
- What legal services should be offered through the RSE?
(While there is no minimum requirement for the extent of legal services to be provided, organizations should collaborate with the legal service provider to determine the appropriate services that will serve the specific needs of the region. The services offered should be guided by RSE’s goal to help workers better understand available protections under the labor code and to simplify their access to state enforcement agencies. Services may include training and legal assistance to help workers resolve compensation, labor law, and workplace issues. Refer to the RFA for further details.
- What is the maximum award and duration of the grant?
Applicants may apply for up to $500,000 to host the clinics, which would include any necessary sub-grants to a legal service provider, every 12 months for two consecutive years with satisfactory completion of performance goals.
- How many clinics is the grantee expected to hold per year?
(While the RSE program provides clinic hosts some flexibility in establishing clinic frequency based on the region’s needs, in most cases hosts should plan to host clinics on a monthly basis. )
- What are the responsibilities of the clinic host in hosting the RSE clinics?
(Clinic hosts should develop a plan to provide legal services to farmworkers that may include providing technical assistance to applicant staff on preparing workers to attend a legal clinic, training for applicant staff to support workers on administrative claims, providing in-person or remote consultation with a legal services provider to workers at the clinic on options to resolve a legal issue, or providing representation to workers that opt to proceed with a claim or complaint with the state agency. Refer to pages 7- 8 of the RFA for a list of specific clinic host responsibilities.
- The RFA states that all applicants for this role must demonstrate at least 12 months of relevant experience. Is this still a requirement to serve as a clinic host?
(Yes, all applicants for this role must demonstrate at least 12 months of experience with the activities described in the RFA.)
- Will DIR provide a list of legal service providers in our area?
(DIR does not currently have a list of legal service providers. However, if you are unable to identify a legal service provider in your area, DIR will help identify a legal service provider that can support the clinic. )
- Will an Activator Plus who is selected to be an RSE clinic host be required to increase its coverage area?
(There is no requirement to add additional counties or regions beyond your current coverage area. )
- Can clinics be mobile or conducted virtually?
(DIR intends that clinics be conducted in person and in a fixed location. However, DIR will consider alternative clinic formats that are conducive to increasing farmworker access to legal services. )
- How many counties can applicants serve as a clinic host?
(Clinic hosts must serve at least one county and may serve more than one county. )
- Can more than one organization apply for RSE jointly?
(The program is generally designed for a single entity to serve as a clinic host. However, LWDA will consider joint applications. )
- If DIR identifies a legal service provider to partner with an RSE awardee, will DIR provide funding to the legal service provider directly?
(No. DIR will provide funding for the legal service provider in its award to the clinic host. DIR cannot direct funds to any organization, such as a legal provider, that has not participated in a competitive bidding process. )
- Are the priority communities in rural areas and farmworkers still a primary target?
(Yes, the RSE is directed towards rural areas and primarily agricultural workers. )
- Is DIR requesting specific information from organizations in the email expressing interest in serving as an RSE Clinic Host.
(No, but DIR welcomes the inclusion of any additional information you would like to provide to help expedite review and approval.)
- Would we submit a new budget and summary of deliverables for RSE?
(Yes, organizations approved as a RSE clinic host will submit a new budget and deliverables that includes RSE programming after they submit budget and deliverables for Activator Plus on May 2 to avoid any delays in the execution of the Activator Plus agreement. )
- Can an organization team up with another activator plus in our region and use their office as the location for the services?
(Yes. Clinic hosts may select any location that is accessible to workers for RSE clinics.)
- Can legal service providers participate in clinics remotely or do they need to be in-person?
(Providers can participate in clinics remotely. )
- How should my organization express interest in serving as a RSE clinic host?
(Organizations should express interest by no later than 4/25 by sending an email to CWOP@dir.ca.gov. No additional application is needed at this point.)
- When will DIR respond to emails expressing interest in serving as a clinic host?
(DIR will respond the week of April 21.)
- We have another grant for immigration related work. Can we combine the outreach work of RSE?
(No, as a general rule, you can only invoice work completed under one grant. )
- We have internal staff doing legal services, is there a requirement to partner with an external legal aid provider?
(There is no requirement that legal services be provided by an external entity.)
April 2025
