The Michigan Department of Human Services recognizes that a multitude of barriers - language, cultural, procedural and informational - may impede the delivery of services to qualified migrant farmworkers and family members. The Migrant Resource Council is one mechanism DHS has sought to develop and utilize at the local level as a means of overcoming these barriers.

The Migrant Resource Councils, which are voluntary groupings of migrant service providers, seek to identify and address problems at the local level through informal coordination and cooperation. Whereas the councils have no programs or funding of their own, they seek to work through the various service delivery systems the council members represent. Council members are sensitized to a variety of problems and needs of the farmworker and, in turn, seek to sensitize their respective organizations.

The Council chairperson usually serves one year with no bar to reelection. Elections are to be held October-November. New chairpersons begin their term with the January meeting. The membership of Councils is open to all with primary emphasis on getting local representatives from migrant and seasonal farmworker service programs.