Item No. 1 of 1

INVESTIGATOR: Lemos, M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION, INC
228 WARREN ST
HUDSON, NEW YORK 12534

BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK FOR FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE IN THE NORTHEAST 

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Farming should be among the most rewarded professions in our country. Instead, farmers are struggling. Since 2013, farmers have experienced a 50 percent decrease in net farm income -- a drop so severe that in 2018, median farm income was -$1,553. Meanwhile, production expenses and interest rates are rising, along with a growing incidence of devastating natural disasters. In addition to an occupation that can be isolating, physically taxing, and where so many factors are beyond an individual's control, these trends are contributing to reports of increased stress levels among farmers. In 2015, suicide rates among farmers were more than twice the rate of the general population (CDC, 2018).This projects aims to establish a Northeast regional Farmer and Rancher Stress Assistance network.This network willmust bring togetherdisciplines of farm financial, legal and behavioral health support and willinclude appropriate infrastructure for providers to connect, refer to, and integrate their services; provide ongoing peer support and education; and offer trainings and resources that increase the capacity of service providers. We will accomplish this by creating a network of service providers, building a website which will house resources for the network, and convene service providers for a 3-day training addressing key issues in farmer mental health.

OBJECTIVES: This project will develop a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network in the Northeast Region. Farmers in the Northeast face unique stressors and signs of increased farmer stress are apparent. To address farmer stress, this project will:* Convene a network of farmer service providers in the region to build connection and collaboration, gather resources, and provide feedback on regional needs,* Develop an online clearinghouse to share available resources and referrals with farmers and service providers, and* Train service providers on the network, available resources, and best practices for working with farmers under stress.

APPROACH: Advisory Team and NetworkEfforts include:Host monthly meetings with the Advisory Team, including two in-person meetings, in order to steer the project.Host quarterly meetings with Network Members togather resources, idenditfy additional resources needed, and connect service providers.Utilizing contacts identified by the Advisory Team and Network Members, conduct outreach to engage additional Service Providers in sharing resources and referrals for the clearinghouse and attending training opportunities.Evaluation for these efforts will consist of written documentation of meetings as well as a written survey of all network members.ClearinghouseEfforts include:Conduct outreach to partners in the region (and nationally, should partner applications in other regions be successful) to ensure that the clearinghouse's enhanced functionality will most effectively serve partners' needs.Conduct any needed technical changes to the back end of the clearinghouse to enhance its utility and functionality.Conduct outreach through the Advisory Team, Network Members, and additional Service Providers to add existing resource and referral listings to the clearinghouse.Review/analyze submitted resources to identify those most effective as well as gaps and needs. Develop four comprehensive resources (equivalent to 10-15 pages each) that integrate or build from existing resources and best practices in a variety of formats including documents, toolkits, articles, and video on the key elements of farmer stress assistance.The clearinghouse will be evaluated by hotline and clearinghouse data tracking systems as well as a written survey of network members.Northeast Regional TrainingEfforts include:Through Advisory Team and Network Member meetings, identify key topics for training. Training topics will include information on the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, available resources and referrals, and how to access the network and resources using the clearinghouse. The training will also offer workshops covering best practices of farmer stress assistance.These workshops will be grounded in the clearinghouse resources and the new resources developed by the team. Finally, the training will include collaborative space for cohorts to develop next steps for enhancing available resources at the state and regional level.The training will be evaluted by a written survey of network members as well as attendance records for the training.

PROGRESS: 2019/09 TO 2020/08
Target Audience:This project will develop a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network in the Northeast Region (FRSAN-NE). To establish this network, this project aims to: Convene farmer service providers in the Northeast region to build connection and collaboration, gather resources, and provide feedback on regional needs; Develop an online clearinghouse to share available resources and referrals with farmers and service providers; and Train service providers on the Network, available resources, and best practices for working with farmers, farmworkers and others who work in food and agriculture under stress. For the purposes of this grant, the Northeast Region includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The target audience for this project is service providers and farmers in the Northeast region. FRSAN-NE's target audience includes 30+ Member Organizations representing each state in the Northeast region, including Cooperative Extensions, Farmers Union, NOFA, Agricultural Mediation Programs, Departments of Agriculture, and several direct-service organizations. These Member Organizations work with and represent a multitude of farmers, farm families, and farm communities, including multi-generation, first generation, new and beginning farmers, women farmers, migrant farmers and farmworkers, organic and sustainable farmers, dairy farmers, and traditional commodity growers. Member Organizations commit to participate in the Network by: Attending quarterly network calls; Providing information on programs, resources, and training materials for the clearinghouse; Participating in our training on farmer stress assistance; and Assisting in outreach about the network, clearinghouse, training, and further opportunities. The Network has met four times with an initial meeting in December 2019, and the next network meeting is scheduled for October 14, 2020. The current project is steered by an Advisory Board of organizations who led on the proposal development for this project. This Advisory Board meets bi-weekly and is tasked with designing, administering, and evaluating the project. Current members of the Advisory Board include: National Young Farmers Coalition Farm Aid Farm First Vermont University of Maine Extension Changes/Problems:As a result of the 4-month delay in the final approval process, we requested and received a No-Cost Extension of this project. The delays in approval limited our ability to proceed with these hires and proceed according to our original timeline. This project will be completed by 8/31/2021. Our project originally proposed an in-person training for all network members. However, the COVID-19 pandemic hindered our ability to gather in-person. We have surveyed our Network members about their preferences for online training and we will hold this training virtually in February 2021. Our current Project Evaluator is stepping down due to capacity constraints given the No-Cost Extension and new timeline of this project. We will bring on a new Project Evaluator to create and complete the pre- and post-training evaluations, as well as the final overall project evaluation. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Network has convened on 5 quarterly calls beginning in December 2019. 12/2/2019 Network Call (22 Participants, 19 Organizations): Alicia Harvie and Maddie Lutkewitte Farm Aid Caitlin Arnold National Young Farmers Coalition David Kimmel NJ State Ag Development Committee Pam Tinc New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health Tori Jackson and Leslie Forstadt UMaine Cooperative Extension, Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine Scott Carlson Farmers Legal Action Group Taryn Austin Allen Matthews and Steve Dickens VTFarm First Matt Strassberg VT Ag Mediation (EMC) Spencer Moss WV Farm and Food Coalition Claudia Kenney NY State Ag Mediation Andrianna Natsoulas NOFA New York Scott Marlow Rural Advancement Foundation International Martha Machnik Center for Mediation and Collaboration Rhode Island Devona Bell National Center for Appropriate Technology Claire Hinrichs Penn State University Todd Erling Hudson Valley Agribusiness Kay-Megan Washington MD Ag Mediation Program Jackie Schweichler PA Agricultural Mediation Program 12/13/2019, 2019 Network Call (20 Participants, 17 Organizations): Alicia Harvie and Maddie Lutkewitte Farm Aid Caitlin Arnold National Young Farmers Coalition Allen Matthews VT Farm First Jeff Cole The Carrot Project Caro Rosell NOFA-MASS Education Director Lisa Davis Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health Amy Liebman and Kate Kruse Migrant Clinician's Network Lee Reinhardt NCAT Diane Dotchfeld VT Agency of Ag Ed Staer and Kate Downes NY Farm Net Spencer Moss West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition Bethany Wallace NOFA-NY Jennifer Hashley New Entry Jan Perez UCSC Maria Pippidis UDel Cooperative Extension Maddie Kempner NOFA VT Ashlee O Dugan PASA 2/19/2020 Network Call (23 Participants, 20 Organizations): Maddie Lutkewitte and Alicia Harvie Farm Aid Jeff Cole The Carrot Project Pam Tinc NY Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health Jan Perez UC Santa Cruz Jesse Ketterman UMD Spencer Moss WVFF Caitlin Arnold and Martin Lemos National Young Farmers Coalition Tori Jackson and Leslie Forstadt UMaine Extension Kate Kruse Migrant Clinician's Network Lee Reinhardt NCAT Bethany Wallis NOFA-NY Scott Carlson FLAG Kay-Megan Washington MD Agricultural Conflict Resolution Service Scott Marlow RAFI Claudia Kenny NY State Ag Mediation Dave Kimmel NJ Ag Mediation Çaca Yvaire Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust Maria Pippidis UDelaware Ed Staehr NY Farm Net Martha Machnik Center for Mediation RI 4/22/2020 Network Call (27 Participants, 23 Organizations): Alicia Harvie and Maddie Lutkewitte Farm Aid Allen Matthews VT Farm First Caitlin Arnold and Martin Lemos National Young Farmers Coalition Pam Tinc NE Center for Occupational Safety & Health Martha Machnik Center for Mediation and Collaboration - Rhode Island (CMCRI) Polly Shyka UMaine Extension Spencer Moss West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition Lisa Davis PA Office of Rural Health John Chartier MOFGA Claudia Kenny NYS Ag Mediation Jan Perez UC Santa Cruz Lee Reinhart NCAT Kate Kruse Migrant Clinicians Network Scott Carlson and Stephen Carpenter FLAG Jennifer Hashley New Entry Jesse Ketterman and Shannon Dill UMD Dave Kimmel NJ Ag Mediation Lisa Jones WVU Small Farms Center Maria Pippidis UDelaware Bethany Wallace NOFA-NY Bonnie Braun UMD Extension Kate Downes NY Farm Net Roger Noonan NE Farmers Union 7/23/2020 Network Call (27 Participants, 23 Organizations): Alicia Harvie and Maddie Lutkewitte Farm Aid Allen Matthews and Steve Dickens VTFarm First Caitlin Arnold and Martin Lemos National Young Farmers Coalition Jonathan Malacarne UMaine Extension Jeff Cole Carrot Project Kate Downes NY FarmNet Jesse Ketterman UMD Jackie Schweichler Penn State Scott Carlson FLAG Kevin Cody and Jennifer Hashley New Entry Bethany Wallis NOFA-NY Scott Marlow RAFI Claudia Kenny NY State Ag Mediation Kate Kruse Migrant Clinician's Network Polly Shyka and Leslie Forstadt University of Maine Cooperative Extension Lisa Jones and James Harvey Penn State Maria Pippidis UDelaware Martha Machnik The Center for Mediation & Collaboration Rhode Island John Chartier MOFGA Shemariah Blum-Evitts Land for Good Daniel Prial NCAT Pam Tinc Northeast Center for Occupational Safety & Health FRSAN-NE currently features four Working Groups composed of Member Organizations who meet periodically to advance various project objectives: Data Analysis Working Group Objective & Current Status: The Data Analysis Working Group analyzed the January 2020 survey responses. The group had been focused on the survey information related to the training in order to help the Training Working Group determine plans for the network-wide training. Advisory Board Participants: Farm Aid, UMaine Extension Current Member Organization Participants: Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety Resources Working Group: Objective & Current Status: Our Resources Working is tasked populating an online clearinghouse database and providing content for resource guides on financial, disaster, mental health, and legal assistance. The group has developed a system of identifying and classifying resources for farmers through a Matrix that can be used by all Network members to assist in the acquisition of the most comprehensive set of resources in the Northeast. Advisory Board Participant: Farm First Vermont Current Member Organization Participants: National Center for Appropriate Technology, Rural Advancement Foundation International, Farmers' Legal Action Group Training Planning: Objective & Current Status: The Training Working Group is focused on planning a Network training curriculum in the Fall 2020 through March 2021 that will train individuals and teams in the NE Region. Given the pandemic, the group is developing an online training curriculum that will engage a diverse array of Service Providers with strong connections to the various target audiences of this project and with broad geographic coverage throughout the NE, including in state and federal government programs, Cooperative Extension staff, non-profit service providers, and peer service providers. Our Training Working Group is creating a workplan and process for designing, planning and executing that will cover topics including Strengthening Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience, Building a Strong Local Network to support Farming Communities, Building Communication Skills to Assist Stressed Clientele, and more. The training schedule will be finalized in the coming weeks and promoted within the Network and to external stakeholders as appropriate. Advisory Board Participant: Farm Aid Current Member Organization Participants: Agricultural Conflict Resolution Service at Maryland Dept of Ag; Center for Mediation & Collaboration RI; University of Delaware; Soul Fire Farm. ? Strategic Planning: Objective & Current Status: The Strategic Planning Working Group is tasked with facilitating a process to bring alignment to the Network, and collaborate to define our shared goals, vision, and set of guiding principles. The group holds monthly subgroup meetings to identify ways our organizations can build and sustain a collaborative, equitable, and inclusive network, as well as map a process that will engage the entire network culminating in a visioning/strategy session at the all-network training. As of August 2020, the working group has drafted a Vision Statement and a set of Network Values, which have been reviewed by the Advisory Team and the Network Membership. The Vision and Values will continue to be revised based on feedback from the Network Membership via Network calls and written feedback, and a final version will be ratified during our Network training in winter of 2021. Advisory Board Participant: National Young Farmers Coalition Current Member Organization Participants: NY State Agricultural Mediation Program,Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, NOFA NY How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of this project will be detailed in our final report to NIFA. Resources developed through this project will be made publicly available through the Clearinghouse and partner organizations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? FRSAN-NE plans to continue to convene the Network membership on quarterly calls throughout the remainder of the project and to begin planning the Network training to take place in February 2021. This training will now be held virtually due to COVID19. We will continue to populate the Resource Matrix and Clearinghouse, and make current and new resources available to the Network. We may also provide shorter webinar trainings in addition to the virtual training. We will conduct a pre- and post-training evaluation, as well as an overall project evaluation before the end of the project. These results will be included in our final report.

IMPACT: 2019/09 TO 2020/08
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Establish a diverse, regionally- representative Network of member organizations. Key metrics and accomplishments include: We held five Network membership meetings, beginning in December 2019. Our next meeting is scheduled for 10/14/2020. As detailed in our proposal, we aimed for 75% of Network members' to have their work enhanced by participation in the network. In our Network survey, 87.5% chose at least two ways of participating in the Network, including an increased understanding of available resources, and identifying Network members and organizations to connect with. As detailed in our proposal, we aimed for 90% of Network members to report increased understanding of available resources and referrals. At the time of our Network survey, 75% reported increased understanding of available resources; 37.5% reported increased understanding of referrals. Objective 2: Develop a Clearinghouse of farmer assistance programs in the region, inclusive of professional ag behavioral health counseling and referrals. Key metrics and accomplishments include: Number of new educational and promotional materials: 196 resources have been loaded into the Resources Matrix as of 7/31/2020; the 4 guides (Financial Counseling, Mental Health, Disaster Relief, Legal Assistance) are in progress. Number of Clearinghouse site visits and 1-800-FARM-AID hotline calls: Between October and July 31st, there were 854 visits to Farm Aid's Clearinghouse from the Northeast region. Between 10/1/2019 and 7/31/2020 there were 119 calls/emails to the hotline from callers in the Northeast, accounting for 14% of volume.? 30 of the 119 callers were directed to USDA services. 5 of which were Agriculture Mediation Program, the remaining were to the Farm Service Agency. Number of page views and/or hotline referrals to other governmental programs and resources through agencies such as HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency and Veterans Affairs: We highlighted HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Agency on the Farm Aid website and on COVID-19 resource guides that went out to farmers since March. We plan to report on the number of page views and hotline referrals in our final project report. 90% of Network members report increased understanding of available resources and referrals: 75% reported increased understanding of available resources; 37.5% reported increased understanding of referrals. Objective 3: Educate and train individuals and teams in the region about Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network activities and how they can access and use existing resources and programs in their work with agricultural workers and communities under stress This training will be held in February 2020 and will be detailed in our Final Report.?

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2019/09 TO 2020/08
No publications reported this period.