Source: Rollins Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory submitted to NRP
FARMER AND RANCHER STRESS ASSISTANCE NETWORK - NORTH CAROLINA (FRSAN-NC)
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1027151
Grant No.
2021-70035-35460
Cumulative Award Amt.
$559,605.00
Proposal No.
2021-09306
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2021
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2022
Program Code
[FF-L]- IYFC, Admin. Discretionary & Reim. Extension
Recipient Organization
Rollins Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
2101 Blue Ridge Road
Raleigh,NC 27607
Performing Department
General Administration
Non Technical Summary
North Carolina is home to 46,200 farms, 85% of which are family owned and operated as defined by the USDA-NASS 2017 Census of Agriculture. Farms have been plagued with numerous stressors including catastrophic weather, nuisance law suits, land loss, COVID-19, labor issues and more. NC has been working to better understand and respond to the issue of farm stress resulting in a network of researchers, Extension professionals, behavioral health providers, agricultural organizations, funders, policy makers, and farmers/ranchers. Outcomes of collaboration serve as underpinnings for successful development of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network-NC (FRSAN-NC). FRSAN-NC will be overseen by NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services in collaboration with the NC Agromedicine Institute, NC State and NC A&T Cooperative Extension and CareNet Counseling, Inc. New and existing partners will be involved at to strengthen FRSAN-NC's work,, especially in relation to farmers of color and veterans. This will include coordinating with the Southern Region-FRSAN to ensure that work is completed with minimal repetition and maximum sharing.FRSAN-NC will set up and implement a statewide farm crisis and resource line, develop and implement an agricultural specific curriculum for the recognition/management of farm stress-related conditions and emotion regulation, and increase access to counseling and support systems needed to reduce the burden of farm stress. Opportunities will be made for farmers, ranchers, their family members, and staff of agencies supporting farmers (e.g., Cooperative Extension, Farm Services Agency, Farm Credit, etc.) to take advantage of other stress-related trainings such as Mental Health First Aid.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
80260503030100%
Knowledge Area
802 - Human Development and Family Well-Being;

Subject Of Investigation
6050 - Communities, areas, and regions;

Field Of Science
3030 - Information and communication;
Goals / Objectives
FRSAN-NC will be overseen by NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services in collaboration with the NC Agromedicine Institute, NC State and NC A&T Cooperative Extension and CareNet Counseling, Inc. New and existing partners will be involved to strengthen FRSAN-NC's work, especially in relation to farmers of color and veterans. This will include coordinating with the Southern Region-FRSAN to ensure that work is completed with minimal repetition and maximum sharing.FRSAN-NC will set up and implement a statewide farm crisis and resource line, develop and implement an agricultural specific curriculum for the recognition/management of farm stress-related conditions and emotion regulation, and increase access to counseling and support systems needed to reduce the burden of farm stress. Opportunities will be made for farmers, ranchers, their family members, and staff of agencies supporting farmers (e.g., Cooperative Extension, Farm Services Agency, Farm Credit, etc.) to take advantage of other stress-related trainings such as Mental Health First Aid.
Project Methods
Methods for implementing the FRSAN-NC are outlined below; surveys will be conducted at events and trainings where appropriate. Number of participants will be shared for those activities that are confidential based on type of service provided to these individuals.1. Develop and implement farm specific curriculum on recognition/management of farm stress related conditions and emotional regulation for farmers, ranchers, and their communities. A total of 25 workshops will be conducted, reaching a total of 200 individuals across the state. (lead: CareNet, Inc.)2. Provide access to Mental Health First Aid and other behavioral health training, as appropriate. Support will be provided for tuition reimbursement, supplies, travel, and subsistence for individuals to access/conduct Mental Health First Aid or other behavioral health trainings, as appropriate. (lead: NC Agromedicine Institute)3. Partnering to care for NC's Diverse Farm Community. Twoworkshops will be conducted across the state reaching a total 120 individuals with continuing education credit for CareNet staff.(lead: NC Cooperative Extension/ CareNet, Inc.)4. Increase access to behavioral health (BH) and Farmer to Farmer peer support services for farmers of color, veterans, farmworkers, and their families.Identify BH providers of color and/or with military services from a farm background.Provide training for providers of color and/or with military service not from a farm background.Provide farm stress awareness training and resources for farmers of color and veterans.Work with consultant to coordinate training & resources for farmworkers. (lead:NC A&T State University/NC Agromedicine Institute)5. Establish care circle model for farms in crisis.Partners will come together with other farm-related organizations (e.g., Farm Credit, USDA -Farm Services Agency, etc.) to develop a model for agencies to collectively support farms in crisis. Care circles will be coordinated by six Community Connector staff (lead: CareNet, Inc.)6. Set up & activate Farm Crisis & Resource Line.Six staff will be trained on use of farm crisis & resource line software; crisis and resource line will be promoted and activated. (lead: NC Agromedicine Institute)7. Establish counseling internship /pilot counseling services in Cooperative Extension offices. A pilot counseling program will be established in Cooperative Extension Offices with the goal being to reduce stigma associated with accessing services in a clinical setting. Program will be developed as a special project for a master's level counseling student in their final program semester.(lead: NC Agromedicine Institute/NC Cooperative Extension)8. Support cost of behavioral health services for farmers, ranchers, and their families. Funds will be made available to support up to 6 counseling sessions/100 individuals. (lead: CareNet, Inc.)9. Coordinate activities with Southern Region - Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Network (SR-FRSAN). Participate in SR-FRSAN meetings; monitor activities of SR-FRSAN & other state partners; participate in SR-FRSAN SWOT analysis and other activities/workgroups; share learned experiences and provide technical assistance to other states, as appropriate; promote SR-FRSAN activities across NC. (lead:NC Agromedicine Institute)

Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience Farmers, ranchers, farm family members, farmworkers, and agencies/organizations providing support to farming and ranching populations in North Carolina. Changes/Problems:What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Subcontracts with the NC Agromedicine Institute-East Carolina University and CareNet, Inc - Wake Forest Health will be maintained. Work will continue on each of the state work plan goals discussed earlier in this report. Staff will continue to collaborate with community partners across NC and the southeastern US to close any gaps that exist relative to access to services, support services and training. Efforts will also be made to ensure that project activities and outcomes are evaluated and documented. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The FRSAN-NC Coordinator and Outreach Specialist were both certified as adult Mental Health First Aid trainers. The Outreach Specialist has also completed rural, first responder and military modules. The FRSAN-NC Resource Specialist has been certified as a youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and QPR trainer. All three, along with five other Institute staff, the Executive Director (ret.US Marine Corp) and a student (ret. US Army) from The Veteran's Farm of North Carolina have completed Farmer to Farmer (peer support) training. Thirty-three (33) health profession students (Master of Public Health, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Nursing Science, and Doctor of Nursing Practice) completed a module on psychosocial conditions in agriculture as part of the Institute's Fundamentals of Agromedicine course. The Institute also maintained its online Agriculture Behavioral Healthcare for Family Farm Systems and Agricultural Behavioral Health Care for Family Farm Systems - The Farmworkers courses https://www.piedmontahec.org/courses-and-events/68461/ashce-agricultural-behavioral-healthcar-for-family-farm-systems and https://www.piedmontahec.org/courses-and-events/68462/ashce-agricultural-behavioral-healthcare-for-family-farm-systems---the-farmworkers Dr. Tutor Marcom shared an overview on the development, implementation and future plans for FRSAN-NC with ~75 participants at a national Family Consumer Sciences meeting held in Raleigh, NC. Similarities and differences in state and regional FRSAN programming and reporting were discussed. Tips for working with local Cooperative Extension agents and state level leaders were also shared. The Institute sponsored a session on Cultivating Health Farmers: How Family Medicine Can Keep NC Farms Growing on December 3rd at the 2022 Winter Family Physicians Weekend coordinated by the NC Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Dawn Caviness led the session along with farmer and Stanly County family physician, Dr. Holly Stegall. Two hundred fifty five (255) physicians were in attendance. A physician that grew up on a farm provided the following feedback: "I grew up on a farm, my dad was a farmer, my grandad was a farmer, and I helped farm until leaving home. Farming and the beauty and stress of it was my normal. It was so helpful to hear y'all's stories to help me find language to describe it and understand it better for myself and for what it was like for my parents. Even growing up in it, without hearing it, it's hard to understand the water we swim in until someone describes it and then I'm like, yeah! That's it! So, thanks for putting to words what it's like and helping others understand it better (farmers themselves and those caring for them)." Dr. Dawn Caviness - Atrium Health, Dr. Roberta Bellamy-Medical and Family Therapy Consulting, Mr. Elliott-Veterans Farm of NC, and Reverend Brian Davis-CareNet attended the 2023 International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health meeting in Tampa, Florida with support from the Institute. Each of gave oral presentations about their work with the Institute in addressing the health or behavioral health needs of North Carolina's farmers including military veteran farmers, women and farmworkers. They were also given the opportunity to attend professional development sessions and to network with others from around the world doing work in the area of farm stress. Dr. Tutor Marcom continues to serve on the dissertation committee for a health sciences student from Radford University Carilion who is surveying healthcare providers in NC's top ten agriculture producing counties to determine what they know about and how they respond to patients presenting with farm stress. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been disseminated through in-person and virtual events, social media, websites, popular media and word of mouth. The project has a dedicated website www.ncfarmstress.org and Facebook page @Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. Additional information about dissemination efforts can be found under Goal 2 above and under Products and Other Products sections below. Bobby Thompson, a farmer and Farm Health Connector from Pitt County spoke about farm stress leading to suicide at NC Senator Don Davis's May 5th listening session for the 2023 Farm Bill. Bobby's comments were broadcasted on WNCT Channel 9 News. https://www.wnct.com/news/politics/congressman-don-davis-hosts-listening-session-in-pitt-county-regarding-2023-farm-bill/ What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Subcontracts with the NC Agromedicine Institute-East Carolina University and CareNet, Inc - Wake Forest Health will be maintained. Work will continue on each of the state work plan goals discussed earlier in this report. Staff will continue to collaborate with community partners across NC and the southeastern US to close any gaps that exist relative to access to services, support services and training. Efforts will also be made to ensure that project activities and outcomes are evaluated and documented.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications


    Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

    Outputs
    (N/A)

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Subcontract between NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) and East Carolina University-NC Agromedicine Institute ('ECU-Agromedicine') was completed on October 26, 2021. Subcontract between ECU-Agromedicine and Wake Forest CareNet, Inc was completed on January 3, 2022. Efforts on project objectives began immediately despite delays in hiring personnel. Overall focus has been on creating the infrastructure necessary to operate the network, to develop strong partnerships internal and external to the project, to provide behavioral health services and support for members of the farming and ranching community and to provide training for project staff, farmers, ranchers and others. Project staff have also participated in a research project 'Navigating Financial and Mental Health Crisis' with NC State University and RAFI-USA. A fulltime FRSAN-NC Coordinator and 60% Resource Coordinator have been hired. Both have completed Mental Health First Aid training with the Coordinator having also completed QPR and agricultural medicine training. The NC Farm Stress website (www.ncfarmstress.org) and NC Farm Help Line are now active with funds leveraged from non-federal funds. Non-federal funds were also leveraged to purchase case management software to manage incoming/outgoing referrals and FRSAN-NC services for farmers and ranchers. In addition to internal project partnerships, new partnerships are being developed daily with stakeholders across the state. Behavioral health services have been provided for thirteen individuals from a seven different farms. Eleven adults received services from a private licensed marriage family therapist. Thirty-four (34) sessions were held virtually with two being held in-person. Two children received services from CareNet, Inc with all six (6) sessions being conducted in person. New partnerships are underway to expand service availability through the NC State Telepsychiatry Program (NC STeP), Healthier Lives at School and Beyond project and NC Baptist on Mission. NC Farm Bureau has pledged funds to support a full-time licensed behavioral health provider to be stationed at the NC Agromedicine Institute ('the Institute') as part of the FRSAN-NC team. Project staff are active members of the NC Rural Health Association's Rural Behavioral Health group. This helps to ensure that the work of FRSAN-NC is not occurring in a vacuum, is relevant to overall rural behavioral health activities and maximizes resources that can benefit farming and ranching communities. Peer support activities have continued through the Institute's Farmer to Farmer project as well as through a women in agriculture group facilitated by a farm woman, family physician and licensed marriage family therapist. Training on the recognition and management of farm stress has been provided for 963 individuals attending one of 21 events. Experience with these events appears to indicate that farmers are becoming more comfortable talking about farm stress recognition and management. The farm woman who co-facilitates the women in agriculture group regularly shares with other women about the importance of seeking out behavioral health services and self-care. A farmer participating in a training session shared with other farmers about how having a peer farmer long-term has been of benefit to him. FRSAN-NC is being recognized as the 'go to' source for training and technical assistance relative to farm and ranch related stress. For example, a USDA regional administrator requested a webinar on July 14, 2022, for project staff to share about the work of FRSAN-NC and other Institute programs available to reduce risks for beginning farmers and ranchers. Sessions are currently scheduled with other local Farm Bureau and Cooperative Extension groups through the end of 2022. Planning efforts are also underway for the FaithHealth Farm Connector Program which will be facilitated by CareNet, Inc and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (see Prospectus, Objective 5). The importance of faith among farmers and ranchers has been documented previously by Dr. Tutor Marcom's research and is being reiterated by rural health leaders (NC Rural Health Association, 2022) Project staff have developed a working relationship with the Southern Region-FRSAN (SR-FRSAN) and regularly participate in SR-FRSAN office hours and workgroups. Through participation in the research project with NCSU and RAFI-USA,, investigators have found that when dealing with farm stress, black farmers are more likely to seek group support and reported lower levels of farm stress. Caucasian farmers are more likely to deal with stress and financial strain independently.

    Publications