Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Members of the target audience included Illinois farmers, farm family members, farm employees and migrant farm workers with physical or mental disabilities, occupational and physical therapists who provide services to the farm population, and agricultural organization professionals and educators who work directly with farm people. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the first fouryears of the project we supported each year fourof our program staff attendance at the NAP annual conference. Staff members also participated in the virtual NAP conference that was held during the 2019-2020 project year due to the COVID19 virus situation. Objective 1.1 Conducted 1.5 hourtraining sessions on needs of farmers with disabilities and AgrAbility program resources for patient care staff at 31 rural hospitals and sixregional medical centers for approximately 250 staff. Conducted 4=1 ½ hour sessions for 124 rural medicine students and 225 students enrolled in Dr Aherin's agricultural injury course.Through these sessions the students became familiar with the unique needs of farm people with disabilities and the basic prevalence of disabilities among the farm population. They were made aware of the services and resources available through the AgrAbility program. Twenty-six farm community program awareness sessions involving approximately 350 participants were held with rural professionals involving Extension, Farm Bureau, Soil and Water Conservation, FFA, Grain Handling Safety Coalition, and Illinois Rural Electrification Council. Staffed program exhibit at annual Illinois OT and PT conference attended each year by over 400 participants. Conducted a session about the AgrAbility program at twoIllinois Rural Health Association conferences and staffed program exhibit at the conferences that were attended by over 500 each year. Conducted threetraining sessions about AgrAbility services and Spanish resources to part time migrant health worker advocates with our collaborating partner Community Health Partnership (CHP). This provided the technical capacity to promote the program among migrant workers through their health clinics and work sites. All these training initiatives significantly enhanced the integration of the program awareness into the agricultural community. Objective 1.5 Two webinar training programs were held for the fourmigrant worker Promotores who worked part time to promote the program for migrant workers. They also attended a one day face to face training program. Objective 1.6 Two face-to-face one day training programs of our ambassadors were each held in threelocations in the state during the second and fourthyears of the project. Objective 1.7 Dr Rudolphi collaborated with Illinois Farm Bureau in planning and conducting an Agricultural Mental Health Summit that was held in March of this year. Approximately 40 professionals with responsibilities and/or interest in the topic participated. Through the summit available and needed resources in the state were identified and a state ag mental health working group was formed; Conducted a webinar for regional professionals on the agricultural mental health situationand invited to speak on agricultural mental health at fiveregional and state events. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Objective 1.5 The CHP Promotores discussed the program in small groups and individually at migrant health clinics and at worksites to approximately 1,000 migrant workers. Twelve individuals were directly referred to the program for assistance. Spanish materials developed for program promotion services included our program brochure, fourprogram blind type banners for each Promotores to use at various events, and a flip chart to use in direct discussions with workers. Objective 4.1 Developed new Facebook and Twitter pages. Posted educational and promotional material on each site several times a week. Each day on average 14 people view the FB page and our Twitter page gets approximately 1,375 views. We have had over 40K impressions since we launched these sites. The content of the sites consist of information that is 80% educational and 20% promotional. Developed fourclient success stories that were distributed to the agricultural state medial at various times that targeted the farm population. Hard copies of these stories were also developed and distributed at various farm venues. We staffed our display at 40 different agricultural events including the state fair, Farm Progress Show, commodity conferences, state Farm Bureau conference, FFA convention, etc. Over 750,000 farm people attended these various events. We obtained about 100 clients through these events and provided information about addressing disability needs of farmers to several thousand participants. At these events we have distributed approximately 20,000 program brochures and other materials. We developed an interactive state map that is linked on our program websites that provides the contact information of the local ambassadors. We assisted Co-Bank who is a large regional bank in developing a video about disabled veteran farmers that will reach thousands of their farm clients. AgrAbility services are outlined in the video. Objective 4.2 We have developed strong relationships with over twentystate and private non for profit organizations such as the Farm Bureau, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Farm Credit Associations, major medical centers, etc. who have allowed us to use their networks of mailings, newsletters, conferences, radio programs, etc. to directly reach Illinois farm people. This provides different avenues of communication and enhances our program credibility. We estimate that these networks have made direct and repeat contacts with over one million farm people during the program duration. We maintain contact with our non-profit support organizations through their involvement with our advisory committee, direct meetings with their professional staff, newsletters, conference calls and webinars. Objective 4.3 The efforts related to this objective is incorporated in the response within Objective 4.1. The one key audience not mentioned under that Objective is the Illinois state legislators. We participated every year in Agricultural Legislative Day at our state capitol. On those days we visited with the congressional members or their staff who were members of the senate and house agricultural committees in their offices where we had to opportunity to discuss the program and the impact we have had on the farming community. We also prepared a summary impact report that we provided each of these legislators as well as our most updated program brochure. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Note: Accomplishments of some objectives or portions of objectives related to training and dissemination of results are reported in the associated sections. Objective 1.2 The program has been active with the Illinois Farmer Veteran Coalition who's membership includes veterans who were farmers and veterans who are interested in becoming involved in the agricultural industry.Three program staff members actively participated in the coalition. At least twostaff members attended 14 meetings of the coalition during the five-year project. Kelly Cagnon was selected to be the first chair of coalition's marketing committee. Built strong links to veterans . Provided AgrAbility services directly to sixveterans and information about assistive technology to approximately fifty other veterans. Objective 1.3 Craig Wadsworth rehabilitation specialist with the Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) met personally with rural rehabilitation counselors and administrators with the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services (IDRS) to maintain their familiarization with our program in general and advocated for the AT needs of some of our clients. IATP has a contract with IDRS to provide services to those farm people who qualify has having a financial need for assistance to purchase AT. About thirtypercent of our clients qualify for this assistance. Objective 1.4 Our partnership relationship with IATP allowed for us to enhance the breadth of our services. Craig Wadsworth has rehabilitation expertise that assist our clients in making home modifications when needed. He assisted our client service manager when needed in making farm client assessments. He has directly assisted with approximately thirtyclients. Objective 1.6 Throughout the duration of the project approximately eightyvolunteer ambassadors located throughout the state promoted the program locally. There was about a 20% turnover each year who were replaced. Ambassadors distributed thousands of program brochures to local businesses and organizations, assisted with staffing program display at over thirtyagricultural events, participated in radio interviews, conducted awareness training and identified new clients. Program staff Jim Williams and Chip Petrea replaced ambassadors as needed and worked directly with them to provide needed program resources. It is estimated that the Ambassadors exposed the program to over 6,000 farm people. Objective 1.7 Mental health was one of our primary new focus areas. The achievement for this objective was significantly exceeded. Dr. Josie Rudolphi joined our agricultural safety and health program in July 2019. Dr. Rudolphi assisted Dr. Aherin in managing the AgrAbility program during the fifthyear of the project and became the program director September 1, 2020 after Dr. Aherin's full retirement. One of Dr. Rudolphi's areas of interest and expertise is agricultural mental health. Some of her non-training initiatives include: Formed a farm stress Extension group with representatives from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio and Missouri. They initially focused on sharing resources and identifying needed resources,and, Dr. Rudolphi lead the development and is the PI of a fiveyear project funded by USDA/NIFA that involves twelvestates in the North Central region to develop the Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Center that will expand stress management and mental health resources and services to agricultural producers and stakeholders. Objective 2.1 Near the end of the first year one of our partners Macon Resources (MR) who primarily provided marketing services hired a new director who decided to drop out of the collaboration with our program so their staff could focus on new initiatives. Kelly Cagnon, who was with MR and provided the marketing services, left her position to form her own consulting company. It was decided to contract with her for marketing services. This left IATP and CHP as our not-for-profit partners. Collaborations with the various state and private organizations involved on the program advisory committee were maintained and strengthened. These collaborations helped promote the program in the state, raise private contributions and provided insight on program improvements. Objective 2.2 We were not able to address this objective because Northwestern University Rehabilitation Institute ended their research efforts to evaluate and develop more durable prothesis for farm workers. Objective 2.3 Through records of past clients and clients identified through NAP and SRAP's we developed and utilized when needed a listing of farm people with various disabilities who were willing to serve as peer support counselors. Objective 3.1 The fiveyear annual average of farm clients directly served by the project was 74. Approximately 40% of these were new clients each year. Two reasons the goal of 100 clients per year was not reached was due primarily tothe restrictions placed as a result of the COVID virus. Our institution from the end of February forward has not allow personal visits to clients. This negatively affected the number of clients we were able to serve. We assisted our clients in identifying the appropriate AT they needed and a plan for obtaining it including if needed obtaining funds. Objective 3.2 This was part of what we did with the clients we worked with as described in Obj. 3.1. We also made farmers aware of available AT and funding sources through training sessions we conducted, program displays at farm events, training of OT's and PT's who serve disabled farmers, phone contacts by farmers and news releases. Provided approximately 1,000 farmers information about AT. Objective 5.1 Initially the program sustainability committee consisted of project staff Bob Aherin, Kelly Cagnon, Jim Williams and members of the program advisory committee. Near the end of the thirdyear of the project our college of ACES made our program one of the target programs for our college fund development office to assist in raising funds to help sustain the program over the next several years. Two professional fund development staff members joined our sustainability committee. The committee met basically on a quarterly basis. Objective 5.2 During the fourth and fifth year of the project period the sustainability committee met to develop an action plan to raise up to twomillion dollars to help sustain the program. The plan included developing a listing of possible organizations, businesses, and individuals including some former clients for the college fund development office to meet with personally and begin to develop a relationship with to consider long term giving to the program. Part of the plan involved developing a packet of material for potential donors. The packet contained a copy of the program brochure, examples of clients, and an outline of program needs. Objective 5.3 The new sustainability plan was launched during the fifthyear. During the whole project period the program received approximately $150,000 in contributions. A significant portion of the funds raised has and will be used to help cost share the obtaining of AT equipment for those farmers who do not qualify for IDRS financial assistance. A portion of the funds will be used to help sustain the program this year.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Robert J. Fetsch, Robert E. Petrea, Paul J. Jones, William E. Field and Robert A. Aherin. 2020. A 25-Year Overview of AgrAbility Demographics, Journal of Agromedicine, DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2020.1837318.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Rudolphi, J.M., Berg, R. and Marlenga, B. 2019. Who and How: Exploring the Preferred Senders and Channels of Mental Health Information for Wisconsin Farmers. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3836.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Rudolphi, J.M., Berg, R.L. and Parsaik, A. 2020. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Young Farmers and Ranchers: A Pilot Study. Jan 1 2020, In : Community Mental Health Journal. 56, 1, p. 126-134 9 p.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Rudolphi, J. 2020. Diversity of Mental Health Issues in Agriculture. Jan 2 2020, In : Journal of Agromedicine. 25, 1, p. 1 1 p.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Rudolphi, J.M. and Barnes, K.L. 2020. Farmers Mental Health: Perceptions from a Farm Show. Jan 2 2020, In : Journal of Agromedicine. 25, 1, p. 147-152 6 p.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Rudolphi, J.M., Berg, R. and Marlenga, B. 2019. Who and How: Exploring the Preferred Senders and Channels of Mental Health Information for Wisconsin Farmers. Oct 2 2019, In : International journal of environmental research and public health. 16, 20, 3836.
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Revised program website: https://agrabilityunlimited.org/. The revisions included making the website accessible.
|
Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Members of the target audience included Illinois farmers, farm family members, farm employees and migrant farm workers with physical or mental disabilities, occupational and physical therapists who provide services to the farm population, and agricultural organization professionals and educators who work directly with farm people. Changes/Problems:Dr. Robert "Chip" Petrea, who has been involved with our program since its inception in the early 90's fully retired at the end of August. Steve Beasely, who has been assisting Dr. Petrea, has assumedthe responsibilities as the client service manager. Dr. Josie Rudolphi joined our faculty in the agricultural safety and health program this past July. She grew up on a farm in Iowa, earned her bachelors and masters degrees from Iowa State University. She was a vocational agricultural instructor for 2 years prior to earning her PhD program in occupational safety and health from the University of Iowa. For the past 2 years she has been involved in research and outreach wth the National Farm Medicine Center at the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wisconsin. She will devote a portion of her position to our AgrAbility program. She is serving as the co-project director with Dr. Aherin. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four of our project staff attended and participated in the national AgrAbility workshop. We will not have any undergraduate or graduate or postdoctoral students involved directly in our project other than we will continue to conduct training sessions with selected student's academic programs. We have 5 part-time staff members including Dr. Josie Rudolphi who joined our faculty and program in July of this year. Additionally, we have another new agricultural safety and health faculty member who will be joining our staff in mid-January who will need to become familiar with our AgrAbility program because they will be assuming some yet to be determined responsibilities for program efforts. This includes the following: Kelly Gagnon who will continue assisting us with marketing and sustainability efforts. Stephen Beasley who is a retired rural physical therapist will continue to work with our veterans and related organizations to help increase our number of veteran clients. He will also assist us in the training of professionals about our program and assist with clients in identifying appropriate assistive technology. Craig Wadsworth (who is a rehabilitation engineer with the Illinois Assistive Technology program) will continue to work with us in providing client services. Robert "Chip" Petrea retired fully at the end of August. Steve Beasely is the new designated client service manager. Mr. Wadsworth will continue provide client service assistance to the program. He will continue with his training development of working with farm clients. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Distributed program marketing materials including Spanish versions that promote public awareness of AU services through our Extension service offices and PSA's to agricultural media. Materials were also distributed through our approximately 15 program collaborating organizations. Additionally, radio, press, and TV PSA's were distributed throughout the state. We staffed our program display at 13 major agricultural and rural health events in our state. These distributions included the information on the number of clients served and the type of services available through the program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Priority Area: Education Objective 1.1 We will continue to meet with some of the Illinois DRS counselors on an individual basis and attend one or more of their regional meetings. We plan on continuing conducting a training program to U of I Medical School Rural Medicine students. We intend to conduct AgrAbility program familiarization sessions to at least 30 OT's and PT's at local and regional rural medical facilities. Objective 1.2 We will continue to take a very active role in the Illinois Farmers Veteran coalition. Two staff members will continue serving on their board of directors and our marketing staff person will be an active member of the coalitionmarketing committee. We will conduct program familiarization presentations to various agricultural and rural health audiences with a goal of reaching 100 participants. Objective 1.3 We will continue to strive to provide awareness education/materials as applicable to all personnel in rural DRS offices in Illinois. We will continue to meet with DRS administrators to enhance our program's relationship and support with their program. Our goal is that at least 15 of our farmer clients each year will be eligible for financial assistance through Illinois DRS. Objective 1.4 Our goal will continue to be that 30 percent of IATP counselors will receive AgrAbility program awareness training and information on the needs of farm people with disabilities and the available resources. Continue from previous years enhancing the training and experience of Craig Wadsworth IATP rehabilitation engineer working with the AU program. Objective 1.5 We will continue to conduct additional training programs that further program knowledge among the Promotores de Salud's and the CHP designated staff. This will better prepare them to promote the program among migrant workers. The goal this year is that the Promotores de Salud's will meet with and provide information about the AU program to a minimum of 50 migrant workers through their migrant health clinics. Objective 1.6 We will continue to conduct additional training programs that further program knowledge among the Promotores de Salud's and the CHP designated staff. This will better prepare them to promote the program among migrant workers. The goal this year is that the Promotores de Salud's will meet with and provide information about the AU program to a minimum of 50 migrant workers through their migrant health clinics. Objective 1.7 Make educational and awareness resource materials available to farmers through the programs collaborating partners and through the AU web site. PSA's on disability issues will be developed and distributed to agriculture media outlets in the state.Dr. Josie Rudolphi, who joined our staff in July, will lead our agricultural mental health initiative. She will be conducting and facilitating a one-day agricultural mental health resource summit. She will also be evaluating what the gaps in this area are in our state and collaborating with other professionals on how best to meet these needs. Priority Area: Networking Objective 2.1 Maintain IllinoisFarm Service Agency employee involvement in volunteering with AU with the goal of 30 FSA employees serving as AU ambassadors. Maintain collaborations with Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB), Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA), and the Illinois Farm Service Agency. They have each been very active in assisting the program in obtaining volunteer ambassadors and promoting the program. Continue to work with and develop relationships with the Illinois Farmer Veterans organization. The goal is to increase the number of veterans we serve from the current 5 clients to 10. Objective 2.2 NURI is currently not needing disabled farmers for any of their studies. We will maintain contact with them and offer our services to assist as needed. Objective 2.3 Continue to maintain a list of farmers with various disabilities who are willing to be peer supporters of those with similar disabilities. Priority Area: Assistance Objective 3.1 Provide assessment, recommendations, and other consultationsas needed for farm people with disabilities by visiting on-site, telephone, and/or e-mail consultations. We now have an adjusted target to 100 clients who we have open cases by the end of year 5. Objective 3.2 Advise farmers with disabilities on opportunities available for participation in low interest loans and grants for acquiring assistive technology. All farm clients who have a need for financial assistance to purchase needed AT and need funding beyond contributions that are available to assist them will be made aware of low-cost loans. Priority Area: Marketing Objective 4.1 Continue to provide information to the farm community and public about the AU program. This will be accomplished through quarterly news releases and public service ads and through program partner networks. Staff program display at county, regional and state gatherings of farm families. We will continue to seek ways to improve the quality and available resources through social media including our website and on our program's Facebook and Twitter websites. Objective 4.2 AU will continue to work with the PCP groups who have been involved with the program and will strive to strengthen collaborative relationships to garner client referrals. We will continue to make a strong effort to enhance the number of organizations that link on their social media sites to our program website. Objective 4.3 Distribute current marketing materials including Spanish versions that promote public awareness of AU services. Radio, press, and TV PSA's will be distributed throughout the state. Display boards will be placed in local rural offices and at agricultural events. The goal will be to have our program exhibit at 15 state and regional agricultural and rural health events. Priority Area: Sustainability Objective 5.1: We will work with the two staff members of our U of I College of ACES fund development office in carrying out their initiative to raise 2 million dollars in endowment funds for our program over the next 4 years. We will also seek continued short term financial support from past organizations who have provided support and seek new supporters. This will be particularly needed because we will not be eligible for USDA funding during the 2020-2021 program year. Objective 5.2: Our sustainability plan will be reviewed and revised as needed.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Priority Area: Education Objective 1.1 We conducted meetings with the staff at 8 county veteran affairs offices involving approximately 65 staff members. In late October Dr. Aherin presented a 90 minute session about farming with a disability and the various resources available to 27 students enrolled in the U of I Rural Medicine program. Presentations about the program were made to 3 different agricultural professional audiences involving about 90 participants. Staffed program exhibit at the Illinois Rural Health Association annual conference and presented a session on the AgrAbility program. The conference was attended by over 500 people. We were not able to conduct a webinar for OT's, PT's and other rehabilitation counselors but will plan on setting this up in 2020. We participated in the Illinois Rural Health conference. We presented a breakout session about the needs of farm people with disabilities and our program services. We also staffed our program display at the conference. Objective 1.2 The program was discussed at 4 Farmer Veteran Coalition meetings. There are currently approximately 20 organizations involved with the coalition. Three of our program staff participate in the coalition. Kelly Gagnon is on the marketing committee helping develop a strategic marketing plan. James Williams and Steve Beasley are members of the advisory committee. Community based training meetings were held with the staff of 5 organizations involving about 90 participants. Objective 1.3 Assisted approximately 12 AgrAbility clients who qualified to obtain financial assistance from Illinois DRS to obtain needed assistive technology. We had individual meetings with approximately 6 rural DRS counselors to inform or remind them of the services available through AgrAbility. Objective 1.4 The project rehabilitation engineer Craig Wadsworth with the Illinois ATP continued to assist the client services manager in conducting farm client assessments. He assisted clients in obtaining needed financial assistance from DRS to purchase assistive technology equipment. He also aided other clients who were not eligible for DRS assistance. Objective 1.5 Spanish speaking resource materials including program display banners, program brochures and materials on arthritis were provided to Community Health Partnership of Illinois for use by their health care advocate worker volunteers to promote the program among migrant workers. Objective 1.6 There are currently 81 AgrAbility ambassadors located throughout the state. Approximately 26 new ambassadors were recruited to replace ambassadors who requested to end their service. Our two field coordinators met personally during the first half of the project year with many of the ambassadors. Some of the ambassadors assisted in staffing the AgrAbility exhibit at various ag events. Several client referrals were made by ambassadors. We attempted to hold two face to face training program for Ambassadors in the summer but not enough of them could attend due to conflicts to warrant the expense associated with holding this type of training. We held two 1 hour webinars in November that wereattended by 33 of the ambassadors. Objective 1.7 Dr. Josie Rudolphi, who joined our department in July and is now co-program director with Dr. Aherin, initiated a new agricultural mental health initiative. She began work on facilitating a conference this coming March that will bring together professionals in Illinois who address or provide mental health services for rural residents. The objective of the conference is to identify and catalogue the mental health resources available in the state to assist the farm population and to identify where the gaps in service are. Priority Area: Networking Objective 2.1 We have maintained a close relationship with our collaborative partners. Our partners have assisted in distributing information about the program through their communication channels and providing sustainability support. Objective 2.2 The Northwestern University Rehabilitation Institute is still not in need of farm clients for a research project because they currently do not have funding to continue their assessment of farm prosthesis. Objective 2.3 We have continued to maintain a listing of former AU clients who are willing to serve as peer support counselors as needed. Priority Area: Assistance Objective 3.1 We had at the beginning of the project year over 100 agricultural clients that were considered open cases whom we have provided services to over the past 3 years. We have had approximately 40 clients since September of 2018 whom we have provided significant direct services. We are in the process of contacting all active case clients to determine if they have additional needs that the program could be of service to them and determining which cases we should close. Objective 3.2 We have provided basic information on the types of assistive technologies to several hundred farm people who contacted us. Priority Area: Marketing Objective 4.1 A new client impact story video and blog post was produced in 2019 and posted to Facebook that features one of our female Farmer Veteran clients. AgrAbility of Illinois Gives Sheep Farmer Freedom - Donna from Big Rock Organics (29 three-second views) Republished client impact story: Meet the Halpin Family (483 three-second views) 301 page followers (271 in September 2019) Messaging -2 new client referrals sourced from Facebook Email Marketing: We have been sending out quarterly e-blasts to a mailing list of 100+ area farmers and partners. We have continued to have regular communications with our ambassadors. Our E-Newsletter included the following: 1. A Client Success Story; 2. Links to our Facebook and Twitter pages; 3. Ambassador Training Updates & Growth; and4. Upcoming Illinois Farm Veteran Meetings. We have staffed our program display at 13 major agricultural and rural health venues distributing several thousand program brochures and other resource materials. These venues produced 12-15 new clients. Objective 4.2 We have had four project staff conference call meetings and two face to face meetings with our advisory committee and one conference call. We distributed information about the program in March at the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day that was held at the state capitol in Springfield. Objective 4.3 A 45 minute training session was conducted in late April for 47 students enrolled in Dr. Aherin's agricultural injury course. Priority Area: Sustainability Objective 5.1 Our sustainability committee is primarily made up of members of our advisory committee plus project staff members. As reported last year our college selected the AgrAbility program as one of a handful of programs that is being targeted by the college fund development office to raise program endowment funds over the next 4 to 5 years to assist in supporting the program. This fund-raising effort was launched this past spring. The two fund development staff met with our staff and advisory committee this past spring. They outlined their approach to raising funds for our program. Their focus will be significant long-term support. For funds needed on a short-term basis there will be other staff in the fund development office who will assist us with that effort. The goal for the endowment fund is to raise 2 million dollars and then 4% from the fund would be provided to support the program on yearly basis. This year approximately $35,000 was raised from primarily agricultural related organization to assist in our short term funding needs.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Miller, C.D. and R.A. Aherin. 2018. The prevalence of disabilities in the U.S. farm population. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health. Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Submitted for publication. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health published by American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. https://doi.org/10.13031/jash.12934.
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Members of the target audience incuded Illinois farmers, farm family members, farm employees and migrant farm workers with physical or mental disabilities, occuational and physical therapists who provide services to the farm population, and agricultural organization professionals and educators who work directly with farm people. Changes/Problems:Use of Carryover Funds While we don't know at this point what the amount of the fund balance will be at the end of the project year we know it will be a reasonable amount. As explained in last year's report, the balance is due primarily to two unforeseen issues. At the beginning of our 4 year project period one of our long standing not for profit organizations was Macon Resources (formally Easter Seals). During much of the first year the primary staff person involved with our project through their sub-award contract with us who lead the marketing of our program and facilitated training programs had to take leave due to a medical issue. Originally they thought she would be off work for about 6 weeks but it ended up being nearly 4 months and shortly after returning to work she decided to retire. It took Macon Resources a few more months to replace her position. During the staff person's illness and then the transition to a new staff person they were only able to provide a minimal amount of service and billed us for only a small portion of their budget. During the middle of this Macon Resources hired a new director. As I discussed in last year's proposal the new director and myself decided it was in the best interest for the reasons discussed in last year's report that we end our relationship. While other program staff devoted more time to marketing to offset some the lack of support from Macon Resources we were somewhat behind our marketing goals. We developed a consulting relationship with Kelly Gagnon who has worked with us some in the past who has a very strong marketing and fund raising background to manage our marketing efforts and assist with sustainability. She has really enhanced our marketing program which has been a factor in growing the number of clients served. This transition and not expending most of our market fund portion of our budget is one factor in having carryover funds. The second issue is that we have not spent a major portion of the budget for the services provided by the Illinois Assistive Technology Program. The primary project need they would fill is to assist Chip Petrea with serving our clients. We would compensate them for services provided for those clients who do not qualify for assistance from the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services. This is because for those clients they have a contract with DRS to be reimbursed for services they provide to clients who qualify for assistance from DRS. We have had fewer clients that did not qualify at least initially DRS assistance in purchasing assistive technology. This resulted in them not needing to bill us for as much of their services as originally anticipated. However, this number is starting to grow as the number of clients grows. If allowed, we would like to develop a second budget at the end of the project year once we know what the balance will be to help build our project beyond what the base funding will allow. Items that would be included in the budget would be the development of a program promotional video. The one we currently have is about 15 years old and outdated to the point we don't use it anymore. Additionally we would like to develop two more videos. One would be targeted toward Illinois veterans that would inform them of the services we provide to assist them to either continue farming or start a farming career. The other video would target migrant workers that would be in Spanish to help them see the value in our services to their types of disabilities and to make them feel more comfortable using our services. We would also like to obtain more examples of assistive technology that would be commonly needed by farm people with disabilities that could be used both in promoting the program at different agricultural venues and in training programs with OT's and PT's. We have some other needs but these are some of the primary ones. We would also like to hire a part time graduate student to assist us with collecting and analyzing various type of program evaluation data. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four of the project staff attended and participated in the National AgrAbility Project workshop held in Portland, Maine. Some staff participated in some of the NAP webinars. Robert Petrea has been training Craig Wadsworth with the Illinois Assistive Technology Program to assist him in providing direct services to farm clients. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been diseminated by email, PSA, through formal presentations and through our program website and social media. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Priority Area: Education Objective 1.1 We will continue to meet with some of the Illinois DRS counselors on an individual basis and attend at least one of their regional meetings. Training may be conducted for other professionals. The goal is to train 40 professionals. We will present a training session to about 30 U of I Medical School Rural Medicine students. We will conduct AgrAbility program familiarization sessions to 20 OT's andPT's at local and regional rural medical facilities. Will conduct one webinar for OT's, PT's and other rehabilitation counselors with at least 30 participants. Will participate in the Rural Health Conference and attempt to make a presentation at their conference. Objective 1.2 AU including its funded partners and some not funded partners will conduct training programs for at least 50 organization members and agency staff. Objective 1.3 Provide awareness education/materials as applicable to all personnel in rural DRS offices in Illinois. Meet with DRS administrators to enhance our program's relationship and support with their program. Our goal is that at least 15 of our farmer clients will be eligible for financial assistance through Illinois DRS. Objective 1.4 Thirty percent of IATP counselors will receive AgrAbility program awareness training and information on the needs of farm people with disabilities and the available resources. Continue from previous years enhancing the training and experience of the IATP rehabilitation engineer working with the AU program. Objective 1.5 Conduct additional training programs that furtherprogram knowledge among the Promotores de Salud's and the CHP designated staff. This will better prepare them to promote the program among migrant workers. The goal this year is that the Promotores de Salud's will meet with and provide information about the AU program to a minimum of 40 migrant workers through their migrant health clinics. Objective 1.6 Work with volunteer community ambassadors in enhancing their abilities to promote the AU program in their local communities. Conduct a one day training program for all AU ambassadors. Our goal is that 70% of the nearly 80 ambassadors will be able to attend this training. Objective 1.7 Make educational and awareness resource materials available to farmers through the programs collaborating partners and through the AU web site. PSA's on disability issues will be developed and distributed to the ag media outlets in the state. A training session will be offered to at least 40 farmers/migrant farm workers. Conduct a survey of a randomized sample of Farm Bureau members on their current beliefs related to mental health and their perception of the impact of aging on mental health issues. The goal is to receive responses from at least 40 farmers. Our Farm Bureau staff person who serves on our program advisor committee was going to assist us with this during this year but she decided to retire and we were not able to do this during year 3. Our goal is to conduct a webinar as proposed in our initial work plan on mental health issues either at the end of this project year or early next year. Priority Area: Networking Objective 2.1 Retain/expand IL Farm Service Agency (IL FSA) employee involvement in volunteering with AU with the goal of 30 FSA employees agreeing to serve as AU ambassadors. Maintain collaborations with Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB), Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA), Illinois Farm Service Agency. They have each been very active in assisting the program in obtaining volunteer ambassadors and promoting the program. Continue to work with and develop relationships with the Home Grown by Heroes program for veterans. The goal is to increase the number of veterans we serve from the current 3 clients to 10. Objective 2.2 NURI is currently not needing disabled farmers for any of their studies. We will maintain contact with them and offer our services to assist as needed. Objective 2.3 Continue to maintain a list of farmers with various disabilities who are willing to be peer supporters of those with similar disabilities. Priority Area: Assistance Objective 3.1 Provide assessment, recommendations, and other consultations, as needed for farm people with disabilities by visiting on-site, telephone, and/or e-mail consultations. We are on target to reach 120 clients served by the end of year 4. Objective 3.2 Advise farmers with disabilities on opportunities available for participation in low interest loans and grants for acquiring assistive technology. All farm clients who have a need for financial assistance to purchase needed AT and need funding beyond contributions that are available to assist them will be made aware of low cost loans. Priority Area: Marketing Objective 4.1 Continue to provide information to the farm community and public about the AU program. This will be accomplished through quarterly news releases and public service adsand throughprogram partner networks. Staff program display at county, regional and state gatherings of farm families. We will continue to seek ways to improve the quality and available resources through social media including our website and through social media onFacebook and Twitter. Objective 4.2 AU will continue to work with the PCP groups who have been involved with the program and will strive to strengthen collaborative relationships to garner client referrals. This year we will make a strong effort to enhance the number of organizations that link on their social media sites to our program website. Objective 4.3 Distribute current marketing materials including Spanish versions that promote public awareness of AU services. Radio, press, and TV PSA's will be distributed throughout the state. Display boards will be placed in local rural offices and at agricultural events. The goal will be to have our program exhibit at 15 state and regional agricultural and rural health events. Priority Area: Sustainability Objective 5.1: Our primary efforts this year will be the new partnership formed with our U of I College of ACES and the college fund development office to implement a major fund raising plan to be developed during this project year. The goal as described in the accomplishment section is to raise 5 million dollars over the next 2 to 3 years to provide an endowment fund to provide support for both our AgrAbility and farm safety programs. Objective 5.2: The sustainability plan developed will be reviewed and revised as needed. Training Provided We will not have any undergraduate or graduate or postdoctoral students involved directly in our project other than we will continue to conduct training sessions with selected student's academic programs. We have 3 staff members who are part time who will continue to enhance their technical knowledge about the program. This includes the following: Kelly Gagnon who will continue assisting us with marketing and sustainability efforts. Stephen Beasley who is a retired rural physical therapist will continue to work with our veterans and related organizations to help increase our number of veteran clients. He will also assist us in the training of professionals about our program and assist with clients in identifying appropriate assistive technology. Craig Wadsworth (who is a rehabilitation engineer with the Illinois Assistive Technology program) will continue to work with us in providing client services. Robert 'Chip" Petrea, our client service manager, will continue to train Craig on the unique needs of farm people so he can assist in providing client services. Program Evaluation Whenfeasible we will evaluate the quality of our services including the impact we have had on our clients. We would like to use carryover funds to hire a half time graduate student to assist with various types of evaluations and the associated data collection and analysis.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Priority Area: Education Objective 1.1 We conducted training sessions with outpatient and inpatient care staff at 15 different hospitals and 1 regional medical center. We conducted meetings with the staff at 6 county veteran affairs offices involving approximately 65 staff members. In late October Dr. Aherin presented a 90 minute session about farming with a disability and the various resources available to 32 students enrolled in the U of I Rural Medicine program. Staffed program exhibit at the Illinois Rural Health Association annual conference that was attended by over 600. We attended the annual Illinois OT and PT conference and discussed the program with participants. There were over 400 in attendance. Objective 1.2 The program was discussed at 2 Farmer Veteran Coalition meetings. It is led by the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Department of Agriculture. There are currently approximately 20 organizations involved with the coalition. Three of our program staff participate in the coalition. Kelly Gagnon is on the marketing committee helping develop a strategic marketing plan. Community based training meetings were held with the staff of 6 county organizations involving about 55 participants. Objective 1.3 Assisted approximately 15 AgrAbility clients who qualified to obtain financial assistance from Illinois DRS to obtain needed assistive technology. We had individual meetings with approximately 10 rural DRS counselors to inform or remind them of the services available through AgrAbility. Objective 1.4 The project rehabilitation engineer with the Illinois ATP continued to assist the client services manager in conducting farm client assessments. He also assisted farm clients with making modifications in their homes or offices as needed. Objective 1.5 A conference call training program was conducted for 5 Community Health Partnership volunteer migrant health workers. The session provided them with and overview of the program, its services and available program promotion resources available to them to promote the program. Four of these individuals attended the 1 day training programs we held for volunteer ambassadors. Objective 1.6 There are currently 81 AgrAbility ambassadors located throughout the state. Approximately 25 new ambassadors were recruited to replace ambassadors who requested to end their service. Our two field coordinators met personally with most of the ambassadors. Many of the ambassadors assisted in staffing the AgrAbility exhibit at ag events. Several client referrals were made by ambassadors. Three one day training programs were held for the ambassadors in November. Objective 1.7 We launched a special training program on working on farms with arthritis for migrant workers. The part time migrant health workers were provided a set of Spanish training resources on arthritis. They have initiated small group training of migrant workers. We plan on hosting a webinar late this summer or after fall harvest on mental health for farmers and agricultural workers. Priority Area: Networking Objective 2.1 We have maintained a close relationship with our collaborative partners. Our partners have assisted in distributing information about the program through their communication channels and providing sustainability support. Some of our partners provided space for our program exhibit at little or no cost at various ag events. Objective 2.2 The Northwestern University Rehabilitation Institute is still not in need of farm clients for a research project because they currently do not have funding to continue their assessment of farm prosthesis. Objective 2.3 We have continued to maintain a listing of former AU clients who are willing to serve as peer support counselors as needed. We have utilized them this year on a few situations. Priority Area: Assistance Objective 3.1We have currently provided various types of services to 78 agricultural clients. Thirty nine are clients who we have continued to assist from last year and 39 are new clients. This is a 34% increase in clients served from last year. Objective 3.2 We have provided basic information on the types of assistive technologies to several hundred farm people. Priority Area: Marketing Objective 4.1 We launched our new Facebook and Twitter pages. We have been posting promotional and educational content on the Facebook page 4 times per week. Since January an average of 14 people view our Facebook page each day. We have been posting promotional and educational content on our Twitter page 2 times per day. Since January between 136 and 1,375 people have viewed our AgrAbility's profile tweets each day. On average, this totals to 358 impressions per day. This is over 25.5K impressions since the beginning of 2018. We have distributed 2 newsletters since September. Email Marketing: We are attempting to have more regular communications with our ambassadors. In January our new newsletter was sent to them. The January E-Newsletter included the following: 1.A Client Success Story; 2.Links to our Facebook and Twitter pages; 3. Ambassador Training Updates & Growth; 4.Upcoming Illinois Farm Veteran Meeting; 5.Article with Winter Safety Tips; and 6.Angelic Organics Learning Center Farmer Training Alliance Information. In February a survey was sent to the ambassadors. We requested feedback about how they have promoted AgrAbility and for other issues. The results of the survey and questions asked is included with our products. We produced threehandout publications highlighting the service story of 3 clients. The following are the links to our website, Facebook and Twitter sites: http://agrabilityunlimited.org/ https://www.facebook.com/AgrAbilityIllinois/ https://twitter.com/AgrAbilityIL?lang=en We have staffed our program display at 15 major agricultural and rural health venues distributing about 8.000 brochures. Objective 4.2 We have had four project staff conference call meetings and one face to face meeting with our advisory committee and one conference call. We distributed information about the program in March at the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day that was held at the state capitol in Springfield. We personally dropped a program information packet to state representative. Objective 4.3 A 45 minute training session was conducted in late April for 46 students enrolled in Dr. Aherin's agricultural injury course. Priority Area: Sustainability (Major Development!) Objective 5.1 Our sustainability committee met two times. As part of our sustainability efforts Bob Aherin scheduled a meeting with the University of Illinois College of ACES Associate Dean for Extension and director of fund development to see if they would assist the program in raising funds. They were both very familiar with the program. They understood how it was meeting significant needs. They also asked questions about our Extension and academic agricultural safety programs. Our goal going into the meeting was try to obtain a commitment to assist us in raising $100,000 to $200,000. After initial discussion the Associated Dean Dr. Nickols-Richardson stated that both programs were critical that need to be maintained and developed further to meet the needs for our ag industry. She directed the fund development office to establish a goal and work with Dr. Aherin and his staff along with the staff and resources of the fund development office to raise 5 million dollars over the next 2 to 3 years that would be put in an endowment sustainability fund for support of the two programs. We were in total shock to receive this level of support! We are in the process of scheduling strategic planning meetings with the fund development office so this effort can be launched in the next couple of months.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Miller, C.D. and R.A. Aherin. 2018. The prevalence of disabilities in the U.S. Farm Population. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health. Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Submitted for publication.
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes farm people with physical and mental disabilities and those who provide direct services to farm people with disabilities including primary rural occupational and physical therapists. More specifically, the target audience includes farm operators, paid farm family members, farm managers, non-paid farm family members, and farm employees including migrant workers and veterans who are currently farming or would like to develop a farm related career. Changes/Problems:Just a few days before submitting this report the new director with Macon Resources had decided to end their contract with the program to provide marketing services. She wants her staff to be able to devote more time to marketing some new initatives she wants implemented for their organization. The staff person who provided marketing services for MRI and our progrfam left MRI recently to form a private consulting buisness. She has agreed to provide these services for the program. I will soonbe submittinga program change request. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four of our project staff attended and participated in the national workshop that was held in Lexington, Kentucky. One new staff member attended an inservice training program for new AgrAbility staff sponsored by the National AgrAbility Project and the Collorado state project that was held in Colorado. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have continued to include case studies on our program website which is promoted and available to our target audiences, our supporters and the general public. We have included information about the number of clients and types of services that we specifically provided to those clients in PSA's and oral reports to various agricultural audiences. Dr. Petrea, our client service manager, maintains a spreadsheet of clients served and services provided that we distribute to various agricultural audiences including those organizations who have or are potentially interested in providing financial or inkind support for the program. An annual summary of services provided will be placed on our program website. We also discuss the services we have provided when being interviewed for radio and TV programs that reach various agricultural audiences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. We will continue to provide services to farm people who request them with a goal of servicing 70 clients. 2. We will expand our marketing efforts through the developement and implementation of a new marketing plan. 3. We will enhance our sustainability efforts throgh the involvement of a professional fund raiser and the development and implementation of a new sustainability plan. 4. Training programs will be conducted for OT's, PT's, Illinois Department of Rehabiltation Services counselors, volunteer workers with the CHPI program, AgrAbility Ambassadors and students in the rural medicine program at the U of I. 5. At leasttwo2 face to face meetings will be held with all program staff during the year plus two conference calls. 6. A minimum of two newsletters will be produced and distributed to our communities of interest. 7. We will have our program exhibit staffed at at least eight different agricultural events including the Farm Progress Show, FFA convention, Commodities Conference, and the Northern Illinois Farm Show. 8. Develop at least two radio PSA's and at least fourprint PSA's to be distributed to the state ag media. 9. We will develop a Spanish version of our program display for use with migrant workers. 10. Hold a one day training program in two locations in the state for our AgrAbility volunteer ambassadors. 11. Hold at least two conference calls with our AgrAbility volunteer ambassadors. 12. Program will be promoted through our partners and collaborators who are members of the program advisory committee. 13. Hold a minimum of two face to face advisory committee meetings and at least on conference call with them. 14. Maintain our involvement with the Farmer Veterans Coalition and our work with the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs. 15. At least two staff members will participate in the NAP workshop. 16. Apply to the Illinois Rural Health Association to present a session at their annual conference on our AgrAbility program. 17. Provide program information to Illinois Assistive Technology Program staff. 18. Conduct a training program on farming with arthritis and/or mental health issues. 19. Continue to seek collaboration opportunities with Northwestern University Rheahbilitation Institute. 20. Provide low interest loan information to clients as appropriate.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Priority Area: Education Objective 1.1 Conducted training sessions with outpatient and inpatient care staff at five different medical centers including staff at a veteran's outpatient treatment center. Presented a 90 minute session about farming with a disability and the various resources available to 35 students enrolled in the U of I Rural Medicine program. These students will be serving rural areas. An orientation program was conducted for 5 staff with the Community Health Partnership (CHP) of Illinois about the program so they can share this information with migrant workers through their community health clinics. The program brochure was translated into Spanish for their use. Objective 1.2 The program was discussed at three Farmer Veteran Coalition meetings. Community based training meetings were held with the staff of nine county organizations including U of I Extension, Farm Bureau, Farm Service Agency, Soil and Water Conservation, IL Rural Electrical Council, IL Department of Agriculture, and FFA. Objective 1.3 We assisted approximately ten AgrAbility clients with the application process to obtain financial assistance from Illinois DRS to obtain AT. Worked with DRS counselors in understanding the needs that these farmers have for AT. Staff had individual meetings with approximately ten rural Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services counselors to inform them of the services available. Objective 1.4 The project rehabilitation engineer with the IATP received direct training from the client services manager on how to conduct farm client assessments. Training included assisting with some farm client site visits. This was an effort in addition to the training he received on serving clients by the NAP at two different training events to further enhance his ability to perform client assessments. Objective1.5 Spanish versions of the program brochures were provided to CHP for use in promoting the program. Conducted a training conference call with CHP staff members. Objective 1.6 There are 79 AgrAbility ambassadors located throughout the state. Approximately 15 of the ambassadors were recruited this year. Our 2 program coordinators met personally with most of the ambassadors to review the program and resources. Periodic emails were sent updating them on recent program activities and new resources. Many of the ambassadors assisted in staffing the AgrAbility exhibit at regional agricultural shows or events. Several client referrals were made by ambassadors. Objective 1.7 We have collected and are reviewing materials available from the NAP and other sources on arthritis in preparation of conducting one or two training programs on this topic and possibly another topic during 3rd and 4th years of the project. Priority Area: Networking Objective 2.1 Primarily through our advisory committee we have maintained a close relationship with our collaborative partners which includes the Farm Service Agency, IL Department of Health, Illinois Department of Agriculture, IL Office of Rural Health, FFA, Farm Bureau, IL Electric Council, Carle Regional Medical Center, Growmark, and others. Our partners have assisted in distributing information about the program and providing sustainability support. Some of our partners provided space for our exhibit at various agricultural events. Objective 2.2 We have made initial contact with NURI early in the project year. They informed us they are reassessing their prosthesis project with farmers and did not need any new clients at that time. We are to contact them again before the end of this project year. Objective 2.3 We have continued to maintain a listing of former AU clients who are willing to serve as peer support counselors as needed. Priority Area: Assistance Objective 3.1 We currently provided various types of services to 52 agricultural clients. Thirty two are clients who we have continued to assist from last year and 20 are new clients. This is a 61% increase in clients served from last year. Objective 3.2 We have provided basic information on the types of assistive technologies available for a variety of various levels and types of disabilities to several hundred farm people. These individuals either have directly requested information or talked to us at an agricultural event where we either had an exhibit or gave a presentation about the program. Provided information on low interest loans available through the Illinois Assistive Technology Program and Farm Credit Services. Priority Area: Marketing Objective 4.1 We made significant improvements to our AgrAbility website. This includes an interactive state map where users can locate the name and email address of the AgrAbility ambassador for their area, download copies of our program brochure, obtain information about our staff and our partners, review examples of clients we have served, and see a listing of web resource links. We have produced 4 significant public service articles that were published by the agricultural media throughout the state. The following is the link to the program's website: http://agrabilityunlimited.org/ We developed an AgrAbility Illinois Facbook page which is at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/AgrAbilityIllinois/ We provided technical assistance to Co Bank, a large regional bank who is developing a video about disabled veteran farmers. We were interviewed for sevenradio programs and two television programs. Two new program displays were developed that each include two blind type banners. One of the displays was in Spanish. Objective 4.2 We have had four conference call meetings with the staff of our three not for profit partners and three face to face meetings. During these meetings we outline the specifics of our activities for the next couple of months and reported on our progress to date. Between meetings the project director communicates with the staff by e-mail, phone and meetings with individual staff. Distributed information about the program in March at the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day. We personally dropped a program information packet to the director of the IL Department of Agriculture and state representative leaders on the state house and senate agricultural committees. Objective 4.3 A training session was conducted for 30 junior, senior, and graduate students enrolled in Dr. Aherin's agricultural injury course during the spring semester. Most of these students will be either operating farms or will be working in agricultural industry organizations. Distributed four public service announcements to the agricultural media in an effort to reach our target farm audience. Staffed our AgrAbility program display at 12 rural or agricultural venues. Over 350,000 farm and rural people participated in these events. Obtained over 15 new clients through this effort. We are also enhancing our contact with farm people through our web and Facebook sites. Priority Area: Sustainability Objective 5.1 Our newly formed sustainability committee met twice. We did make written and personal contact with organizations who have been past program contributors and a few new potential contributors. In our state we have a significant percentage of farmers with disabilities who do not qualify financially for assistance from the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services to purchase needed assistive technology. Thus, funds are needed to cost share these purchases. A report was prepared and provided to those organizations who have supported us and/or are considering supporting the program. The report provided a basic description of the farm people we have assisted during the past twelve months. Thus far this year we have received contributions totaling a little more than $31,000. Growmark who is a large agricultural cooperative made a commitment to provide our program $10,000 per year for the nextfive years.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience is farm people with physical and mental disabilities and those who provide direct services to farm people with disabilities including primarily rural occupational and physical therapists. More specifically, the target audience includes farm operators, paid family members, farm managers, non-paid farm family members, and farm employees including migrant workers and veterans who are currently farming or would like to develop a farm related career. Changes/Problems:As previously mentioned the significant unexpected problem we had was the lack of services for several months of a staff person from one of the collaborating partners Macon Resourcesto lead the program promotion and facilitation of training programs due to a significant medical problem that led to her retirement. This person was replaced and we are working on catching up with the program promotion activities and training initatives. Also, due to personal issues we lost Brenda Besse as our norther Illinois program field coordinator. This delayed identifying individuals to serve in local communities as volunteer program ambassadors. Chip Petrea recently took over these responsibilities asexpanded duties to his position with the project. We have been told that we can carryover unexpended funds into the next project year. While we will be working deligenly to make up some of the lost effort due to the loss of the services of these individuals initially in these two positions we will need to utilize some of the carryover funds to support enhanced efforts during the 2nd year of the projectto allow us to fully reach our initial goals. Due to the limited services in these areas because of the issues discussedour ability to reach the number of clients we would serve for the first year was impacted. We anticipate with the new individuals providing these services we will be able to make greater strides toward reaching our client service goals next year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Five project staff members attended and participated in the national workshop. Three staff members travel costs were supported by the projectincluding Jim Williams, Craig Wadsworth, and Steve Beasley. Bob Aherin and Robert "Chip" Petrea's travel costs werecovered by the National AgrAbility Project evaluation sub-contract we have with Purdue. The project director met with new staff members Craig Wadsworth, Steve Beasley and Kelly Gagnon and reviewed their job expectations and dicsussed with them the goals and objectives of the program. Chip Petrea has taken Craig Wadsworth and Steve Beasley with him on client service calls to help them become familiar with this activity/service and the needs of farm clients. They will be assisting and backing up Dr. Petrea as needed. A training program webinar with the Hispanic Community workers will be conducted in late June. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We have included example case studies on our program website which is promoted and availble to clients, program supporters and the general public. We have included information about our clients we have served in PSA's. Dr. Petrea maintains a chart of clients served and the services we provide. That chart has been used as a basis for a presentation to sustainability support organizations including First Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Services, Illinois Agricultural Association. Growmark, two private foundations, and the Illinois Farm Bureau. These groups have contributed approximately $25,000 this year to the program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Terri Moore, the program leader for the project with Macon Resources Incorporated (MRI) who was responsible for leading program promotion efforts and facilitating some of our training developed some significant medical issues that prevented her from working for several months (she eventuallyretired partially because of her health problems). As a result,no one was providing the basic service of developing most of our news releases and having them distributed throughout the state until about April 1stwhen Ms. Moore's responsibilities were take over by Kelly Cagnon with MRI. We anticipate putting out several PSA's during the last quarter of this project year. We have had our program display at approximately six major agricultural events and will be at several more during the last quarter of the project year. This is described under the "What was accomplished..." section of this report but in summary: 1. Continue to serve farm clients as we make contact with them; 2. Training sessions will be scheduled and conducted during the last quarter for one or more groups of rural rehabiliation counselors, rural OT's and PT's; 3. A training session will be conducted with Community Health Partnership for the four primary community Promotores de Salud staff who will be promoting the AU program to migrant workers; 4. We plan to hold a webinar outlining AgrAbility services to professionals who serve the Illinois farm population during the last quarter of the project year if it can be scheduled and promoted. If this is not possible it will be held during the first quarter of next year; 5. Develop an agreement with Illinois Department of Rehabiliation Services to conduct program orientation training for their counselors who serve the rural areas of the state. The training will be conducted during the 2nd year of the project as initially proposed; 6. A conference call will be held with AU program volunteer ambassadors and most of the new ambassadors will attend a half day program orientation training program; 7. Program promotion materials will be shared with those partners who are willing to promote the program with their farm clients which include the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Farm Service Agency, Illinois Rural Electric Cooperatives and others who express interest; 8. Meet with Northwestern University Rehabiliation Institute to learn more about the type of farm clients they are seeking to work with so we can promote this through our program; 9. We anticipate participating in one or two meetings of the two committees of the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs we were recently asked to join. If they do not meet before the end of the last quarter of this project year we anticipate they will meet during the 1st quarter of next year; 10. We will be distributing PSA's about the program during the last quarter; 11. We will be staffing our program display at the Illinois FFA convention and the Illinois State Fair. We may have the opportunity to have our display at one or two more major agricultural venues before the end of the last quarter; 12. Sending maillings about the program goals, services, past and potential future impact on assisting farm people in the state who have disabilities that are affecting their productivity and quality of life; and 13. The new sustainability committee will make contacts with additional potential program contributors and work on developing a strategic plan for sustainability.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This is a brief summary of the progress we have made to date towards the completion of the first year objectives. Priority Area: Education Objective 1.1 Training sessions will be scheduled and conducted during the last quarter of the project year for one or more groups of rural rehabilitation counselors, rural OT's and PT's. An approximately 45 minute training session was conducted for 32 students enrolled in Dr. Aherin's spring semester agricultural injury course. Most of these students will be either operating farms or will be working in agricultural industry organizations. In November Dr. Aherin presented a 45 minute session to 33 students enrolled in the U of I Rural Medicine program. These students will be serving rural areas. Objective 1.2 A training session will be conducted with migrant worker community health care volunteers during the last quarter. We plan to hold a webinar outlining AgrAbility program services to professionals who serve the Illinois farm population during the last quarter if it can be scheduled and promoted. If this is not possible this will be conducted during the first quarter of the 2nd project year. Objective 1.3 We anticipate developing an agreement during the last quarter of the project year with Illinois DRS to conduct training of their counselors who serve rural areas. This training may be done in various regional settings. This training will be conducted in the 2nd year of the project as proposed. We are distributing our program brochure to all DRS offices. Objective 1.4 The Illinois Assistive Technology Program has agreed to organize and take the lead in conducting the training of their counselors about the AgrAbility Unlimited program. We anticipate this training will be conducted in the 2nd year of the project but some of the training may be conducted during the last quarter of this project year. An agreement has been reached with IATP for their rehabilitation engineer to receive one on one training regarding providing services to farm clients. Also, the IATP staff person attended the national AgrAbility workshop and attended training sessions including new staff training to enhance his ability to assist with conducting farm client needs assessments. This training will continue over the next couple of years. Objective1.5 An MOU has been developed with Community Health Partnership of Illinois regarding the program promotion services that will be provided by their four community Promotores de Salud staff who will participate in a training session provided by the AU program director during the 4th quarter. Objective 1.6 The northern Illinois and southern Illinois program coordinators have either solidified continued involvement of volunteer CA's or are working on filling new positions. The anticipation is that about 80 ambassadors will be active in promoting the AU program in their communities by the end of the project year. Brenda Besse (the Northern Illinois program coordinator) resigned from her position for personal reasons in early January. Robert "Chip" Petrea agreed to expand his appointment with the AU program to include taking over much of the work that Ms. Besse was performing (in particular the work with the ambassadors). All Ambassadors will receive the new program brochure and a conference call will be held between the Ambassadors and the project staff during the 4th quarter of the project. Objective 1.7 We have collected and are reviewing materials available from the NAP and other sources on arthritis in preparation for conducting a training program on this topic in years 2 to 4 of the project. Priority Area: Networking Objective 2.1 The northern Illinois field coordinator worked with the state Farm Service Agency community program director in identifying FSA county staff whomight be interested in serving as a local AU ambassador. Several of these individuals have agreed to serve in this position. Programinformation is being shared with our partner organizations for distribution to their local offices. This includes Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Electrical Cooperatives, and Illinois Department of Agriculture. Objective 2.2 We have made initial contact with NURI and they are willing to collaborate with us. It is anticipated that a meeting will be scheduled with members of their staff and the AU staff during the 4th quarter. We are also sharing information with clients who have a need for available low cost loans to assist with AT cost. Objective 2.3 We have maintained a listing of former AU clients who are willing to serve as peer support counselors as needed. Brenda Besse (who is a below the knee amputee) has talked with clients who have experienced recent amputations. In an effort to identify more veterans who could benefit from AU services we have been invited to be a member of a new coalition called Home Grown by Heroes that is being facilitated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Illinois Farm Bureau. We have met twice with the group during the program year. Wehave made other member organizations aware of the services our program has to offer veterans. Those with disabilities and agricultural interest will be made aware of our program. Priority Area: Assistance Objective 3.1 We have currently provided various types of services to 31 agricultural clients. Fifteen are clients who have continued to assist from a year or two prior to the start date of our new project and 16 are new clients since September 1, 2015. Objective 3.2 We have provided basic information on the types of assistive technologies available for a variety of various levels and types of disabilities. Also provided information on availablility of low interest loans through the Illinois Assistive Technology Program and Farm Credit Services. Priority Area: Marketing Objective 4.1 We have distributed some news releases about the program but not as many as planned due to the medical issues the program promotions coordinator for the project unexpectedly had that prevented her from working for several months (and eventually retired). Thus, noone was providing the basic service of developing most of our news releases and having them distributed throughout the state until about April 1st.We anticipate putting out several PSA's during the last quarter. We have had our program display at approximately six major agricultural events and will be at several more during the last quarter. This will include the state FFA convention. Also, due to the medical issues of the program staff person responsible for program promotion, we were delayed in getting a new program brochure developed. The brochure was recently completed and is being printed. The brochure will be distributed through various agricultural organizations. Objective 4.2 We have provided information to our PCP but not as much as initially anticipated due to not having services of our program promotion staff member. There is a new person in this position and we will be enhancing our contact with these organizations during the last quarter. Objective 4.3 We have done some of this but will be doing significantly more during the last quarter as the new program promotions staff person becomes more involved during the last quarter. Priority Area: Sustainability Objective 5.1: Formed a committee that currently consist of three members. This includes the project director, the southern Illinois Field Coordinator who has strong proven experience in raising funds for the program, and the promotions and marketing staff person with MRI. A few more members will be added in the next several months. So far this year we have received approximately $20,000 in contributions. We anticipate receiving some additional contributions during the last quarter. Most of these funds will support on a cost sharing basis the purchase of AT for those farmers who need assistance but do not qualify for DARS assistance.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
http://dev.agrabilityunlimited.org/#
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