Recipient Organization
GOVERNMENT OF GUAM- DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
MANUEL F.L. GUERRERO BUILDING
HAGATNA,GU 96932
Performing Department
Guam Department of Agriculture
Non Technical Summary
On Guam, 71% of farmers in the 2018 Guam Census of Agriculture are socially disadvantaged farmers. Over 188 farms in Guam reported an annual income that qualifies as limited resource farmers. The national average age of farmers is 57.5, the average age of Guam's farmers is 62. These defining criteria and accompanying characteristics are associated with stress and mental health issues. Our project aims to (1) fill an existing data gap and (2) provide support services and (3) provide access to resources for Guam's underserved agricultural community. We will initiate and expand stress assistance programs that provide professional agriculture behavioral health counseling to farmers. Our first objective is to conduct a needs assessment within Guam's agricultural community. In the first year, a vendor will be contracted to conduct a needs assessment. The scope of work includes site visits to farmers identified in our database. The contractor will visit farms and ask pre-approved questions regarding stressors, access to support services, and mental wellness perceptions. Our second objective is to utilize Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center's (GBHWC) expertise to train and certify agricultural advocates to identify those in need of support, provide initial support, and connect the community to resources. The Guam Department of Agriculture and GBHWC partnership will provide mental health first aid training to farmer advocates. Training for agricultural advocates will include eight hours in an evidenced-based curriculum called Mental Health First Aid, which provides a three year certification. Advocates will be provided with a four hour course titled Raw Coping Power Stress Management Training. Our third objective will provide education resources for the community. This objectivewill be to contract a vendor to develop a website, linked off our DOAG main website. This website will provide mental health wellness education and support resources for the agricultural community. The website will be viewable on mobile devices and connect farmers with service providers for 24/7 support.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
40%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
Our project aims to (1) fill an existing data gap and (2) provide support services and (3) provide access to resources for Guam's underserved agricultural community. We will initiate and expand stress assistance programs that provide professional agriculture behavioral health counseling to farmers.1. Our first objective is to conduct a needs assessment within Guam's agricultural community. In the first year, a vendor will be contracted to identify or design a meaningful assessment and execute the process. The scope of work includes designing or identifying a suitable assessment, conduct site visits to over 800 farmers identified in our database, provide incentives to encourage participation, collect and anaylyze the data, and provide a final report. The contractor will visit farms and ask pre-approved questions regarding stressors, access to support services, and mental wellness perceptions.2. Our second objective is to utilize Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center's (GBHWC) expertise to train and certify agricultural advocates to identify those in need of support, provide initial support, and connect the community to resources. The Guam Department of Agriculture and GBHWC partnership will provide mental health first aid training to farmer advocates. Training for agricultural advocates will include eight hours in an evidenced-based curriculum called Mental Health First Aid, which provides a three year certification. Advocates will also be provided with an additional four hour course titled Raw Coping Power Stress Management Training.3. Our third objective will be to contract a vendor to develop a website, linked off our DOAG main website. This website will provide mental health wellness education and support resources for the agricultural community. The website will be viewable on mobile devices and connect farmers with service providers for 24/7 support.
Project Methods
State: GuamPrimary Point of Contact Name: Jathan Muna-Barnes Email Address: jathan.muna-barnes@doag.guam.gov Phone: 671-300-7973Physical Address: 163 Dairy Rd. Mangilao, Guam 96913ActivityDescriptionLead EntityTimelineCostNeeds AssessmentNeeds assessment with site visits to farmers, data collection and analysis, final reportContracted VendorYear 1September 1, 2021 -August 31,2022$120,000Agriculture Advocates TrainingTwelve hour training for agriculture advocates; one 8 hour and one 4 hourGuam Behavioral Health and Wellness CenterYear 1September 2021 -August 2022$2,450 (training supplies) + 10,500 (training space)Education ResourcesWebsite development and trainingContracted VendorYear 1-2September 2021 -August 2022$35,000Agriculture Advocates OutreachAdvocacy groups will conduct outreach in the agriculture community to identify those who may need additional support and guide them to available resourcesFive selected advocacy groups-September 2021-August 2022$150,000$30,000 each groupEvaluation ---1. Advocacy group trainees will complete Participant training surveys to provide feedback on skills learned and effectiveness of training2. DOAG staff will randomly accompany trained members to monitor their outreach skills3. Success of website and outreach will be measured in number of farmers or ranchers who visit the website.4. Outeach effectiveness will be measured in the number of participants reached through the project duration.5. Outreach participants will also be asked to complete outreach effectiveness surveys.6. Needs asssessment will be evaluated in the level of comprehensive information contained within, and the number of farmers and ranchers contacted through in-person site visits.