Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The CalAgrAbility Program serves the 58 California Counties; works to assist agricultural and agribusiness workers who have physical and mental disabilities to adapt their homes and/or farms in order to enable them to continue working in agriculture. Audiences also include health, government, non-profit service providers regarding accommodating disability and avoiding secondary injury on farms, developing strategies to reduce work barrier, this also includes other AgrAbility staff. CalAgrAbility consumers as well as the general farming public are reached via mass email, mail, Internet and phone. Educational materials are also targeted for other farming and agricultural health providers to be able to use in their own workshops and have available for their consumers interested in farming health. Target audience summarizes as: any person or organization with interest in disabilities, farming issues, rehabilitation, assistive technologies, rural areas, social services, ergonomics, arthritis, workers comp, bilingual cultural farm matters, etc. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?To build CalAgrAbility's capacity to assist agriculture populations, staff continues to participate in National AgrAbility Program's Community of Interests (COIs), NAP All-Staff calls and committees. Staff attends monthly seminars from the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety on topics addressing CA's unique agricultural health and safety challenges. Staff also joins webinars regularly on topics such as: assistive technologies, preventing secondary injury, ag worksite accommodations, fall prevention for ag producers, mental health, TBI. CalAgrAbility staff holds collaborative meetings within its team and with partner, Ability Tools to discuss program goals and develop strategies to best assist disabled farmers and farmworkers. Seminars, workshops, and attendance of conferences are listed in major activities above. Staffing booths at conferences has also been an opportunity for staff to grow professionally as they can take turns in attending sessions that are relevant to AgrAbility work. This year they attended the AgSafe Conference where they learned that workers in the Salinas Valley are actively seeking safety options and welcome safety as a part of their everyday work. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?For the 26 new consumers, staff have conducted in person site visits; and provided assistance via phone, email and mail. Staff have also invited consumers to apply for conference scholarships and have been able to use conferences as opportunities to meet with clients that live in the Southern part of the state. CalAgrAbility has distributed 15 packets with program informational brochures, health and safety educational materials to rural clinics; an additional 15 were mailed different Agricultural Associations across the state; 2 displays were delivered in-person to State and privately managed Migrant Centers. This map shows the 23 counties that have been outreached by mail. The shading indicates number of mailings sent ranging from lightest (1 mailing) to darkest (6 mailings) a total of 30 mailings were sent in May, 2017. [California County Map shaded in lavender-purple, CalAgrAbility outreach by mail in 23 counties]. CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have attended 25 health, conference and expo events to share CalAgrAbility information with agencies that serve rural communities and potential consumers. CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have led a total of 7 "Rehabilitating Farmers and Workers" workshops and webinars for professionals from ILCs, DOR, mental health professionals, UC Extension and engineers; these professionals provide services and are in contact with disabled farmers, ranchers and farmworkers. These workshops averaged 18 attendees. The program has conducted outreach and presentations in-person in 12 out of the 58 California counties. Some of these counties had more than one in-person outreach effort. This map shows counties that have been targeted, the shading indicates number of outreach events staffed ranging from lightest (1 event) to darkest (5 events). [California County Map shaded in teal-blue, CalAgrAbility outreach in-person in 12 counties. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next grant year, CalAgrAbility will continue to assist disabled farmers and farmworkers. The current strategy involves assisting, outreaching, marketing conducting education workshops/webinars through collaborating with partner Ability Tools and other collaborators such as DOR, EDD, FREED, ILCs, LCHCA etc. We will continue to outreach at conferences as this approach has yielded strong ties with professionals that can later refer potential AgrAbility clients. As suggested by NIFA at the National AgrAbility Workshop, we will using a map to plan our outreach in an effort to cover the whole state.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Project Impact: CalAgrAbility staff has conducted 26 intakes for new consumers (disabled farmers and farm workers) and continues to provide assistance for on-going cases from the previous grant year. A series of site assessments, information on equipment modification, job task restructuring, environmental modifications, and recommendations for low cost solutions have been provided to our consumers. The project staff facilitated a range of activities to our consumers, including advocacy with agencies, referrals, coordination with support activities among providers, assistance in navigating medical/rehabilitation agencies, translation, identifying low cost solutions, troubleshooting assistance and general support. One of CalAgrAbility's success stories comes from a farmer that was bit by a deer tick right before she was deployed for duty in the Coast Guard. For 2 years, she suffered symptoms of Lyme disease before she was diagnosed. By this time, her Lyme disease had progressed causing degenerative arthritis, scaring in her lungs, and had started eating her jaw bone. After a year, she was declared 100% disabled veteran enabling the military to relieve her from her duty. To help with her illness, her doctor wanted her to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. However, it quickly became obvious that these were hard to obtain it in her area. As a result, she started her own farm planting a variety of herbs and vegetables. With her condition, it was hard to stand up after weeding, seeding, or tilling on the ground. CalAgrAbility staff suggested the Hoss Wheel Hoe to assist her without having to get on the ground. The wheel hoe was the perfect solution allowing her to work her farm for 6 hours at a time without feeling pain. CalAgrAbility collaborated with the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to purchase the assistive tool for this veteran-farmer without her having to spend a dime. The farmer received her tools in June 2017; she can now work effectively and safely producing fresh produce not just for herself, but also restaurants and chefs in her area. CalAgrAbility informational literature has been distributed in various forms and at several venues. Several webinars, workshops and in- person seminars were conducted to reach a wide audience of disabled farmers and farmworkers, as well as professionals throughout the state. These activities serve well the project's mission of helping disabled farmers and farmworkers stay active and productive in agriculture. The following is a list of specific activities carried in 2016-2017. Priority Objective 1. Education is to increase the knowledge of farmers/workers with injuries, chronic disease and diabetes, and their families, as well as health, government and non-profit service providers regarding accommodating disability and avoiding secondary injury on farms, and developing strategies to reduced work barriers. Activity 1a. From 2016-17: CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have led a total of 7 "Rehabilitating Farmers and Workers" workshops and webinars for ILCs, DOR, mental health professionals and engineers. These workshops averaged 18 attendees. One of these workshops was our "Assistive Technology for Farming and Gardening" full day event held in San Bernardino County in California. For this event, Michigan AgrAbility's Assistive Technology Professional and CalAgrAbility Staff led the trainings. During this workshop, an attendee from the University Cooperative Extension invited CalAgrAbility to speak about assistive devices at their "Limited Space Gardening and Accessibility" workshop. UC Extension offered to pay staff expenses to have CalAgrAbility's session at their workshop. Activity 1b. From 2016-17: CalAgrAbility has authored 3 newsletters and translated these into Spanish. UC ANR also ran an article featuring AgrAbility on the topic of diabetes and farming in November 2016. 10 public service announcements have been produced and disseminated by the UC Bilingual Media and local magazines. A Northern California radio station interviewed CalAgrAbility staff. Activity 1c. From 2016-17: CalAgrAbility has conducted 4 Arthritis Foundation (AF) land exercise classes in rural communities. Activity 1d. From 2016-17: The California Small Farms Conference was rescheduled. Activity 1e. From 2016-17: CalAgrAbility has distributed packets with program informational brochures, health and safety educational materials to 15 rural clinics and 15 ag associations. Additionally, 2 displays were delivered to State and privately managed Migrant Centers. Activity 1f. From 2016-17: CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools staff participated at the 2017 AgrAbility NTW and Virtual NTW. Activity 1g. From 2016-17: Report for NAP to be completed and submitted by July 31st 2017. Priority Objective 2. Networking is to encourage information sharing among customers, peer supporters, student and volunteer groups, stakeholders and public and private organizations that can assist CalAgrAbility consumers in the short- and long-term. Networking also builds service capacity through collaboration with health, farm and rehab service professionals. Activity 2a. From 2016-17: CalAgrAbility and ATN have held 4 formal collaborative meetings and continuous email exchanges to discuss project's progress, exchange information, and review development of materials, workshops and webinars. Activity 2b. From 2016-17: CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have attended 14 health events to share CalAgrAbility information with agencies and consumers. CalAgrAbility was also represented at 9 expos and conferences; some of these were the AgSafe Conference, Latino Farmer Conference and the Empowering Women Veterans Conference. In conjunction with National AgrAbility, staff held a booth at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, this collaboration was featured in the AgrAbility Harvest Newsletter. CalAgrAbility also joined Migrant Education and state housing representatives to outreach at migrant centers. (Coincides with objective 4a) Activity 2c. From 2016-17: To rebuild the Advisory Board CalAgrAbility has kept in contact with collaborators from Migrant Education, Ergonomics Roundtable, NRCS, DPR, DOR, and AF to meet this fall. Activity 2d. From 2016-17: CalAgrAbility has identified and progressed on collaborations with representatives from United Way, California Association of Agricultural Labor, Ag Safe, Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living and On-Site Health & Safety. Activity 2e. From 2016-17: To build CalAgrAbility's capacity to assist agriculture populations staff continues to participate in NAP's Community of Interests (COIs), committees and webinars. CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools Staff call into All-Staff Calls. Furthermore, California submits an e-note every month and they continue to tweet on social media. Priority Objective 3. Assistance is direct service -- to provide California consumers/families services to fill with their immediate and long-term needs, related to accommodating injury, illness, and disability while continuing work on the farm. Activity 3a. From 2016-17: From Sept 1st2016 to May 31, 2017, CalAgrAbility staff has conducted 26 intakes for new consumers. Activity 3b-e. From 2016-17: The 26 clients received a combination of: Site assessments, information on equipment modification, job task restructuring, environmental modifications, recommendations for low cost solutions, advocacy with agencies, referrals, coordination with support activities among providers, assistance in navigating medical/rehabilitation agencies, translation, troubleshooting assistance and general support has been provided by CalAgrAbility staff for consumers. Priority Objective 4. Marketing is to increase awareness about CalAgrAbility's work and consumers and to provide links among/between our education-assistance-networking objectives and activities. Activity 4a. From 2016-17: See Activity 2b.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The CalAgrAbility Program serves the 58 California Counties; works to assist agricultural and agribusiness workers who have physical and mental disabilities to adapt their homes and/or farms in order to enable them to continue working in agriculture. Audiences also include health, government, non-profit service providers regarding accommodating disability and avoiding secondary injury on farms, developing strategies to reduce work barrier, this also includes other AgrAbility staff. CalAgrAbility consumers as well as the general farming public are reached via mass email, mail, Internet and phone. Educational materials are also targeted for other farming and agricultural health providers to be able to use in their own workshops and have available for their consumers interested in farming health. Target audience summarizes as: any person or organization with interest in disabilities, farming issues, rehabilitation, assistive technologies, rural areas, social services, ergonomics, arthritis, workers comp, bilingual cultural farm matters, etc. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?To build CalAgrAbility's capacity to assist agriculture populations, staff continues to participate in National AgrAbility Program's Community of Interests (COIs), NAP All-Staff calls and committees. Staff attends monthly seminars from the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety on topics addressing CA's unique agricultural health and safety challenges. Staff also joins webinars regularly on topics such as: assistive technologies, preventing secondary injury, ag worksite accommodations, fall prevention for ag producers, mental health, TBI. CalAgrAbility staff holds collaborative meetings within its team and with partner, Ability Tools to discuss program goals and develop strategies to best assist disabled farmers and farmworkers. Seminars, workshops, and attendance of conferences are listed in major activities above. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?For the 28 new consumers, staff have conducted in person site visits; and provided assistance via phone, email and mail. CalAgrAbility staffed a booth at the Small Farms Conference; this conference targets the very important niche of farmers for AgrAbility. CalAgrAbility has distributed 13 displays with program informational brochures, health and safety educational materials to rural clinics; these are all clinics that serve the ag community. The 4 California Natural Resource Conservation Services regional offices also received a display; NRCS has provided assistance to multiple CalAgrAbility consumers. CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have attended 30 health and expo events to share CalAgrAbility information with agencies that serve rural communities and potential consumers. CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have led a total of 13 "Rehabilitating Farmers and Workers" workshops and webinars for professionals from ILCs, DOR, mental health professionals and engineers; these professionals provide services and are in contact with disabled farmers, ranchers and farmworkers. These workshops averaged 20 attendees. CalAgrAbility has authored 2 newsletters and translated these into Spanish. These were disseminated to our mailing listserv, which has about 2,000 recipients including past and current consumers as well as posted on our Twitter. Furthermore, 7 public service announcements have been produced and disseminated by the UC Bilingual Media and local magazines. UC Bilingual Media disseminates PSAs to multiple radio stations in CA and even in Northern Mexico. CalAgrAbility has conducted 2 arthritis land exercise classes in rural communities; on average CalAgrAbility gets one full consumer from each of these classes. Many attendees often do not know that they are at risk of developing arthritis due to the repetitive nature of ag work. Additionally, 1 workshop on diabetes and farming were led for Latino farmworkers at a Migrant Center. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next grant year, CalAgrAbility will continue to assist disabled farmers and farmworkers. The current strategy involves assisting, outreaching, marketing conducting education workshops/webinars through collaborating with partner Ability Tools and other collaborators such as DOR, EDD, FREED, ILCs, LCHCA etc.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Project Impact: CalAgrAbility staff has conducted 28 intakes for new consumers (disabled farmers and farm workers) and continues to provide assistance for on-going cases from the previous grant year. A series of site assessments, information on equipment modification, job task restructuring, environmental modifications, and recommendations for low cost solutions have been provided to our consumers. The project staff facilitated a range of activities to our consumers, including advocacy with agencies, referrals, coordination with support activities among providers, assistance in navigating medical/rehabilitation agencies, translation, identifying low cost solutions, troubleshooting assistance and general support. The following is a list of activities carried in 2015-2016 and planned for the upcoming year (2016-2017) within each of the priority objectives as outlined in the approved proposal. Priority Objective 1. Education is to increase the knowledge of farmers/workers with injuries, chronic disease and diabetes, and their families, as well as health, government and non-profit service providers regarding accommodating disability and avoiding secondary injury on farms, and developing strategies to reduced work barriers. This objective is carried out primarilyin two formats--(1) Oral/Visual Presentations/Trainings, and (2) Written Publications. These include workshops using power point; in-service training seminars; webinars; formal classes; presentations at meetings/conferences; newsletters/research notes; public service announcements; and brochures and displays. Activity 1a. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have led a total of 13 "Rehabilitating Farmers and Workers" workshops and webinars for ILCs, DOR, mental health professionals and engineers. These workshops averaged 20 attendees. Activity 1b. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility has authored 2 newsletters and translated these into Spanish. UC ANR also ran an article featuring AgrAbility on the topic of Multiple Sclerosis in March 2016. 7 public service announcements have been produced and disseminated by the UC Bilingual Media and local magazines. CalAgrAbility actively contributed to the development and review of the Arthritis and Gardening resource published in March 2016 by the National AgrAbility. Activity 1c. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility has conducted 2 Arthritis Foundation (AF) land exercise classes in rural communities. Additionally, 1 workshop on diabetes and farming was led for Latino farmworkers. Staff is scheduled to complete an arthritis and diabetes training at a migrant center in Sutter County. Activity 1d. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility staffed a booth at the Small Farms Conference, this booth was very popular and attendees were excited to learn about this important program. CalAgrAbility hosted a Table Talk titled "Ability Solutions: Arthritis, Disability and Aging Farmers." CalAgrAbility promoted the conference on social media and personally encouraged consumers to apply for the scholarship. Activity 1e. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility has distributed 13 displays with program informational brochures, health and safety educational materials to rural clinics; 8 were mailed off to USDA, State and privately managed Migrant Centers. The 4 California Natural Resource Conservation Services regional offices also received a display. Other agencies that received a display were the Kerman Branch Library, Butte Employment and Social Services, ALBA and 2 Independent Living Centers. Activity 1f. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility's Program Director, Community Health Manager and a representative from Ability Tools attended the 2016 National AgrAbility Conference in Fort Collins. CalAgrAbility presented a workshop titled "Effective Outreaching to Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers." In late 2015, CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools staff joined the Virtual NTW webinars. Activity 1g. From 2014-15: Report for NAP to be completed and submitted by June 30th 2016. Priority Objective 2. Networking is to encourage information sharing among customers, peer supporters, student and volunteer groups, stakeholders and public and private organizations that can assist CalAgrAbility consumers in the short- and long-term. Networking also builds service capacity through collaboration with health, farm and rehab service professionals. Networking is a 4-pronged approach: (1) Reconstituting the Advisory Board (AB); (2) Building collaborations with agricultural, health, and rehabilitation agencies; (3) Strengthening CalAg's presence in the state among existing collaborators; and (4) Exploring social networking venues. Activity 2a. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility and ATN have held 6 collaborative meetings to discuss project's progress, exchange information, and review development of materials, workshops and webinars. Activity 2b. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have attended 30 health events to share CalAgrAbility information with agencies and consumers. (Coincides with objective 4a) Activity 2c. From 2014-15: To rebuild the Advisory Board CalAgrAbility has mailed out invitations to collaborators from Migrant Education, Ergonomics Roundtable, NRCS, DPR, DOR, and AF to meet this Summer. Activity 2d. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility has identified and progressed on collaborations with representatives from Ampla Health rural clinics, NRCS, Latino Coalition for a Healthier CA, Proteus and the CA Small Farms Conference. Activity 2e. From 2014-15: To build CalAgrAbility's capacity to assist agriculture populations staff continues to participate in NAP's Community of Interests (COIs) and committees. This year they have participated in the Arthritis and Gardening Resource Committee which published this resource in March 2016. CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools Staff call into All-Staff Calls. Furthermore, California submits an e-note every month and they continue to tweet on social media. Priority Objective 3. Assistance is direct service -- to provide California consumers/families services to fill with their immediate and long-term needs, related to accommodating injury, illness, and disability while continuing work on the farm. Achievement of this is a multiphasic process: 1) Conducting (bilingual) intake interview; 2) Conducting worksite assessments to identify problem areas, 2) Providing technical information for equipment, job task environmental modifications, 3) Recommending low cost solutions, 4) Advocating for consumers with appropriate agencies - referrals, 5) Working directly with providers to coordinate support activities. Activity 3a. From 2014-15: From Sept 1st 2015 to April 30, 2016, CalAgrAbility staff has conducted 28 intakes for new consumers. Activity 3b-e. From 2014-15: Site assessments, information on equipment modification, job task restructuring, environmental modifications, recommendations for low cost solutions, advocacy with agencies, referrals, coordination with support activities among providers, assistance in navigating medical/rehabilitation agencies, translation, troubleshooting assistance and general support has been provided by CalAgrAbility staff for consumers. Priority Objective 4. Marketing is to increase awareness about CalAgrAbility's work and consumers and to provide links among/between our education-assistance-networking objectives and activities. Marketing involves (1) producing new materials (brochures, posters, displays) and (2) attending events utilizing the marketing materials. Activity 4a. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have attended 30 display events to share CalAgrAbility information with agencies and consumers. (Coincides with objective 2b) Activity 4b. Stipulated to be carried out in 2015-16 is the production and printing of new brochures and program promotional materials. Program brochures, inserts, posters and table runners in English and Spanish have were printed in 2015.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience: The CalAgrAbility Program serves the 58 California Counties; works to assist agricultural and agribusiness workers who have physical and mental disabilities to adapt their homes and/or farms in order to enable them to continue working in agriculture. Audiences also include health, government, non-profit service providers regarding accommodating disability and avoiding secondary injury on farms, developing strategies to reduce work barrier, this also includes other AgrAbility staff. CalAgrAbility consumers as well as the general farming public are reached via mass email, mail, Internet and phone. Educational materials are also targeted for other farming and agricultural health providers to be able to use in their own workshops and have available for their consumers interested in farming health. Target audience summarizes as: any person or organization with interest in disabilities, farming issues, rehabilitation, assistive technologies, rural areas, social services, ergonomics, arthritis, workers comp, bilingual cultural farm matters, etc. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? To build CalAgrAbility's capacity to assist agriculture populations, staff continues to participate in National AgrAbility Program's Community of Interests (COIs), NAP All-Staff calls and committees. Staff attends monthly seminars from the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety on topics addressing CA's unique agricultural health and safety challenges. Staff also joins webinars regularly on topics such as: assistive technologies, preventing secondary injury, ag worksite accommodations, fall prevention for ag producers, mental health, TBI. CalAgrAbility staff holds collaborative meetings within its team and with partner, Ability Tools to discuss program goals and develop strategies to best assist disabled farmers and farmworkers. Seminars, worshops, and attendance of conferences are listed in major activities above. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? For the 32 new consumers, staff have conducted in person site visits; and provided assistance via phone, email and mail. CalAgrAbility staffed a booth at the Small Farms Conference; this conference targets the very important niche of farmers for AgrAbility. With AF, CalAgrAbility has distributed 12 displays containing program informational brochures, health and safety educational materials to rural clinics; these are all clinics that serve the ag community. The 4 California Natural Resource Conservation Services regional offices also received a display; NRCS has provided assistance to multiple CalAgrAbility consumers. CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have attended 23 health and expo events to share CalAgrAbility information with agencies that serve rural communities and potential consumers. CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have led a total of 14 "Rehabilitating Farmers and Workers" workshops and webinars for professionals from ILCs, DOR, mental health professionals and engineers; these professionals provide services and are in contact with disabled farmers, ranchers and farmworkers. These workshops averaged 34 attendees. CalAgrAbility has authored 5 newsletters and adapted 5 research notes on topics such as farming with Multiple Sclerosis. These were disseminated to our mailing listserv, which has about 2,000 recipients including past and current consumers. Furthermore, 14 public service announcements have been produced and disseminated by the UC Bilingual Media and local magazines. UC Bilingual Media disseminates PSAs to multiple radio stations in CA and even in Northern Mexico. CalAgrAbility has conducted 4 arthritis land exercise classes in rural communities; on average CalAgrAbility gets one full consumer from each of these classes. Many attendees often do not know that they are at risk of developing arthritis due to the repetitive nature of ag work. Additionally, 4 workshops on diabetes and farming were led for Native American and Latino farm working groups. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? For the next grant year, CalAgrAbility will continue to assist disabled farmers and farmworkers. The current strategy involves assisting, outreaching, marketing conducting education workshops/webinars through collaborating with partner Ability Tools and other collaborators such as DOR, EDD, FREED, ILCs, etc. In addition to the current strategy, the program will be incorporating a trilingual, bicultural Hmong speaker to outreach to Hmong farmers who are farming with a disability. This is a vital point for assisting effectively California's diverse agricultural community.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Project Impact: CalAgrAbility staff has conducted 32 intakes for new consumers (disabled farmers and farm workers) and continues to provide assistance for on-going cases from the previous grant year. A series of site assessments, information on equipment modification, job task restructuring, environmental modifications, and recommendations for low cost solutions have been provided to our consumers. The project staff facilitated a range of activities to our consumers, including advocacy with agencies, referrals, coordination with support activities among providers, assistance in navigating medical/rehabilitation agencies, translation, identifying low cost solutions, troubleshooting assistance and general support. CalAgrAbility informational literature has been distributed in various forms and at several venues. Several webinars, workshops and in-person seminars were conducted to reach a wide audience of disabled farmers and farmworkers, as well as professionals throughout the state. These activities serves well the project's mission of helping disabled farmers and farmworkers stay active and productive in agriculture. The following is a list of activities carried out to date and planed for the upcoming year (2015-2016) within each of the priority objectives as outlined in the approved proposal. Priority Objective 1. Education is to increase the knowledge of farmers/workers with injuries, chronic disease and diabetes, and their families, as well as health, government and non-profit service providers regarding accommodating disability and avoiding secondary injury on farms, and developing strategies to reduced work barriers. This objective is carried out primarily in two formats--(1) Oral/Visual Presentations/Trainings, and (2) Written Publications. These include workshops using power point; in-service training seminars; webinars; formal classes; presentations at meetings/conferences; newsletters/research notes; public service announcements; and brochures and displays. Activity 1a. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have led a total of 14 "Rehabilitating Farmers and Workers" workshops and webinars for ILCs, DOR, mental health professionals and engineers. These workshops averaged 34 attendees. Activity 1b. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility has authored 5 newsletters and adapted 5 research notes. 14 public service announcements have been produced and disseminated by the UC Bilingual Media and local magazines. Activity 1c. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility has conducted 4 Arthritis Foundation (AF) land exercise classes in rural communities. Additionally, 4 workshops on diabetes and farming were led for Native American and Latino farm working groups. Staff will be completing additional land exercise trainings this summer. Activity 1d. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility staffed a booth at the Small Farms Conference, this booth was very popular and attendees were excited to learn about this important program. Workshops relevant for AgrAbility consumers were the "Opportunities for Veterans" and "Managing Heat Stress Workshop." CalAgrAbility promoted the conference on social media and personally encouraged consumers to apply for the scholarship. Activity 1e. From 2014-15: With AF, CalAgrAbility has distributed 12 displays containing program informational brochures, health and safety educational materials to rural clinics and 1 for the Madison Migrant Center. The 4 California Natural Resource Conservation Services regional offices also received a display. Activity 1f. From 2014-15: A representative from Ability Tools, CalAgrAbility's partner, attended the 2015 National Training Workshop (NTW) in Rochester, New York. In late 2014, CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools staff joined the Virtual NTW webinars. Activity 1g. From 2014-15: Report for NAP to be completed by June 30th 2015 and USDA year report to be completed after grant year completion on August 31st 2015. Priority Objective 2. Networking is to encourage information sharing among customers, peer supporters, student and volunteer groups, stakeholders and public and private organizations that can assist CalAgrAbility consumers in the short- and long-term. Networking also builds service capacity through collaboration with health, farm and rehab service professionals. Networking is a 4-pronged approach: (1) Reconstituting the Advisory Board (AB); (2) Building collaborations with agricultural, health, and rehabilitation agencies; (3) Strengthening CalAg's presence in the state among existing collaborators; and (4) Exploring social networking venues. Activity 2a. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility and ATN have held 6 collaborative meetings to discuss project's progress, exchange information, and review development of materials, workshops and webinars. Activity 2b. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have attended 23 health events to share CalAgrAbility information with agencies and consumers. (Coincides with objective 4a) Activity 2c. From 2014-15: To rebuild the Advisory Board from CalAgrAbility collaborators and consumers, CalAgrAbility will be coordinating a meeting with individuals who submitted a letter of support and agreement to be on the board and invite new members from DOR and NRCS. Activity 2d. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility has identified and progressed on collaborations with representatives from Ampla Health rural clinics, NRCS, Farm-to-Mouth, Migrant Ed., COEH Bridges, and an ergonomist working with DOR. Activity 2e. From 2014-15: To build CalAgrAbility's capacity to assist agriculture populations staff continues to participate in NAP's Community of Interests (COIs) and committees. This year they have participated in the Arthritis and Gardening Resource Committee and they call into All-Staff Calls. Furthermore, California submits an e-note every month and they continue to tweet on social media. Priority Objective 3. Assistance is direct service -- to provide California consumers/families services to fill with their immediate and long-term needs, related to accommodating injury, illness, and disability while continuing work on the farm. Achievement of this is a multiphasic process: 1) Conducting (bilingual) intake interview; 2) Conducting worksite assessments to identify problem areas, 2) Providing technical information for equipment, job task environmental modifications, 3) Recommending low cost solutions, 4) Advocating for consumers with appropriate agencies - referrals, 5) Working directly with providers to coordinate support activities. Activity 3a. From 2014-15: From Sept 1st 2014, CalAgrAbility staff has conducted 32 intakes for new consumers. Activity 3b-e. From 2014-15: Site assessments, information on equipment modification, job task restructuring, environmental modifications, recommendations for low cost solutions, advocacy with agencies, referrals, coordination with support activities among providers, assistance in navigating medical/rehabilitation agencies, translation, troubleshooting assistance and general support has been provided by CalAgrAbility staff for consumers. Priority Objective 4. Marketing is to increase awareness about CalAgrAbility's work and consumers and to provide links among/between our education-assistance-networking objectives and activities. Marketing involves (1) producing new materials (brochures, posters, displays) and (2) attending events utilizing the marketing materials. Activity 4a. From 2014-15: CalAgrAbility and Ability Tools have attended 23 display events to share CalAgrAbility information with agencies and consumers. (Coincides with objective 2b) Activity 4b. Stipulated to be carried out in 2015-16 is the production and printing of new brochures and program promotional materials.
Publications
|
|