AgriSafe Network

QPR for Farmers and Farm Families
2022-04-28 10:00 - 11:30, 2022-05-05 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Chicago)
What is QPR? QPR training teaches laypeople and professionals to recognize and respond to mental health crises using the approach of Question, Persuade and Refer.
To attend this training participants must be 18 years of age or older.
In this 1.5-hour QPR training, we will provide:
– Information on the unique challenges farmers face that can lead to stress, depression, and suicide.
– Examples implementing each QPR component with someone at risk for suicide.
– Information on how to help someone at risk of suicide.
Registration spots are limited, so please only register if you can attend the event. No recording of this training will be available. Interested in hosting a QPR training session for your organization? Contact Olivia Bury (obury@agrisafe.org) for more information!
Register

Webinar: Ag Worker Health and Avian Influenza
2022-05-04 12:30 - 13:15
Summary: Avian Influenza is a disease caused by viruses that can infect birds and people. Avian influenza viruses are routinely present in wild bird species and can be transmitted to backyard and commercial poultry, but very rarely to people. This presentation will focus on understanding the current state of the avian influenza outbreak in the US and provide recommendations for personal protective equipment for people who work with poultry and poultry products.
Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to…

Describe avian influenza and how it can be transmitted between birds
Identify appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to use when working with exposed or ill animals
Recognize the human signs and symptoms that may indicate an avian influenza exposure
Access evidence-based health & safety resources focused on safe practices when working around potential animal-borne diseases

Intended Audience: Ag producers, farmers, poultry workers, veterinarians, healthcare providers, and anyone with exposure to poultry or other birds
This webinar is offered in English with Spanish interpretation, provided courtesy of the National Center for Farmworker Health

Watch the Recording Here

QPR for Farmers and Farm Families
2022-05-12 10:00 - 11:30, 2022-05-19 12:00 - 13:30, 2022-05-26 12:00 - 13:30, 2022-06-02 12:00 - 13:30, 2022-06-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2022-06-23 10:00 - 11:30, 2022-07-14 12:00 - 13:30, 2022-07-21 10:00 - 11:30 and 3 more dates
What is QPR? QPR training teaches laypeople and professionals to recognize and respond to mental health crises using the approach of Question, Persuade and Refer.
To attend this training participants must be 18 years of age or older.
In this 1.5-hour QPR training, we will provide:
– Information on the unique challenges farmers face that can lead to stress, depression, and suicide.
– Examples implementing each QPR component with someone at risk for suicide.
– Information on how to help someone at risk of suicide.
Registration spots are limited, so please only register if you can attend the event. No recording of this training will be available. Interested in hosting a QPR training session for your organization? Contact Olivia Bury (obury@agrisafe.org) for more information!
See a list of our upcoming QPR training dates here!

National Farmworker Women's Health Week
2022-05-15 - 2022-05-21
WHAT IS NFWHW?
National Farmworker Women’s Health Week is a public awareness campaign aimed at increasing public consciousness and understanding of the health risks farmworker women face, and as an extension, their families from working in the fields.

WHEN IS NFWHW?
NFWHW will be celebrated from May 15-21, 2022.

NFWHW PURPOSE

Raise awareness about the amazing contributions farmworker women have given to society while facing daily challenges due to inequity in access to health, wage, education, and more.
Raise awareness and provide education on the devastating health effects that farmworker women face due to pesticide exposure, especially during pregnancy. It may lead to miscarriages, preterm births, low birth weight, birth defects, and earning problems in children.

NFWHW GOAL
The goal is to create a lasting conversation about the health issues facing farmworker women as well as support for programs and efforts that work to educate and mitigate those health problems, thus improving overall farmworker women’s health education via a virtual format.
Learn More Here

Webinar: ATV-UTV Safety for Women
2022-06-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2022-09-19 14:00 - 15:00
ATV-UTV Safety for Women
Summary: Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, and farming is one of few industries in which family members (who often share the work and live on the premises) are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. ATVs and UTVs are found on all types of farms; they are useful for agricultural work, but they also pose serious hazards to operators and passengers. Studies indicate that injured ATV/UTV passengers are more commonly female and youth and that helmet use is significantly lower for passengers. The focus of the training would be on ATV/UTV maintenance and safety features, personal protective equipment (PPE), load and weight considerations, operation on public roadways, as well as employee training and considerations for working alone.
Intended Audience: Producers- This training is intended primarily for agricultural producers, including but not limited to farmers, ranchers, and any person or persons involved in some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock.
This material was produced under grant number SH-05068-SH8 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Watch Now

AgrAbility Regional Workshop
2022-06-28 - 2022-06-30
AgrAbility is a program sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture that provides assistance to farmers, ranchers and other agricultural workers, and farm family members impacted by disability, illness or chronic conditions. The program is funded through a competitive grant process for one National Project and State/ Regional Projects (currently serving 20 states). Each project involves a collaborative partnership between land grant universities and various non-profit disability services organizations.
Regional AgrAbility Workshops are a great way to network with AgrAbility peers and other professionals that have a role in assisting our clients.
This Regional Workshop will focus on urban agriculture, working with vocational rehabilitation, prescription medication safety, assistive technology in agriculture, farming with a developmental disability, business planning and work/life balance. On June 28th and 29th, there will be speakers from the National AgrAbility Project, Ohio AgrAbility Project, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, The Ohio State University, H.A.R.D. Acre Farm, LifeLyfts, Farm Service Agency, and others.
There will also be a day of Agricultural Tours on Thursday, June 30th.
In addition to those who are interested in assisting farmers with a disability or long-term health condition, this workshop would be helpful to:

Service providers (VR, state agencies, governmental organizations)
Agricultural professionals (Extension, FFA, ag educators)
Occupational/Physical therapists, staff, teachers, and students
Staff from other state AgrAbility projects and those working in ag safety, health, and wellness

You may view the agenda here: Ohio Agenda.pdf The agenda is subject to change.
Registration is open through June 22nd.
Register

Webinar: Appropriate PPE for Women in Agriculture
2022-06-28 12:00 - 13:00
Summary: Agriculture is a hazardous industry associated with many occupational injuries and diseases. Workers may be exposed to various types of occupational hazards simultaneously, possibly increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical for ensuring a safe working environment in agriculture. It is essential to utilize PPE that meets safety standards, is appropriate for your work, and is the proper fit. PPE is often designed with men in mind, making adequate fit and function problematic for women in agriculture.
This training will address the different hazards in agricultural work and the appropriate PPE for women. Additionally, this training will review how to conduct both a respirator fit test and a fit check (seal check) procedure. This presentation aims to guide the selection and effectiveness of PPE worn by women in the agricultural field.
Intended Audience: Producers – This training is intended primarily for agricultural producers, including but not limited to farmers, ranchers, and any person or persons involved in some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock.
This material was produced under grant number SH-05068-SH8 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Watch Now

Webinar: Women and Heat Stress
2022-06-29 12:00 - 13:00
Summary: People who work outdoors are more likely to become dehydrated and experience heat-related illness or heat stress. Although illness from exposure to heat is preventable, thousands become sick from occupational heat exposure every year, and some cases are fatal. Agriculture is an industry where workers have suffered heat-related illnesses. Specific groups within the agricultural community, including pregnant women, older workers, and young children, could have elevated risks related to prolonged heat and humidity exposure. However, with proper information and preventative action, heat-related illness can be avoided for all populations in the agricultural community.
This training will identify the warning signs of heat-related illness and discuss prevention strategies, including protective clothing and equipment to protect agricultural workers from the risks associated with prolonged exposure to heat and humidity.
This material was produced under grant number SH-37171-SH1 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Watch Now

Webinar: Implementing Community-Led Interventions with Gulf Coast Seafood Workers
2022-06-29 13:30 - 14:30
Summary: The University of Texas Medical Branch conducted semi-structured interviews and observations with Gulf Coast shrimp fishermen to understand their healthcare experiences and needs as well as policies that are impacting their health. Community-based participatory research (CBPR), a relational model that values the participants as equal partners in research, dissemination, and implementation, guided the interviews. To address the lack of healthcare options for (im)migrants, and at the request of the seafood workers participating in the ongoing CBPR study, we successfully implemented and treated workers through a free mobile clinic. Many of these individuals had not been seen by a healthcare provider in years, highlighting the importance of community trust and rapport building when addressing interconnected health and safety issues. CBPR, when applied to high-risk occupational settings with underreached populations (e.g., (im)migrant workers), can improve health and prevent injury.
Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to…
– Describe the healthcare experiences and needs of (im)migrant seafood workers
– Describe the principles of CBPR and how it can be applied to total worker health research
– Discuss the difficulties of CBPR and ways to ensure the community is equitably engaged in all aspects of research-to-practice partnerships
Intended Audience: Researchers, Practitioners, or Policymakers
Watch Now

Continuing Education:
The Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety offers 0.10 CEU or 1.0 contact hour/s of participation. This course is eligible for 1.0 CPH Recertification Credits and is sponsored by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, an approved provider of CPH Recertification Credits by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. The following groups of professionals have been able to use these CEUs in the past; Industrial Hygiene (CIH), Certified Public Health Professional(CPH), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Nursing (RN, LPN), Social Work (LSW), Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), Audiology (ABA), and others. Please contact your accrediting agency regarding any questions about receiving credits.

Webinar: More than Milk: Strong Bones and Injury Prevention for Aging Women in Ag
2022-06-30 12:00 - 13:00
Summary: Do farmers or ranchers really retire? Generational family operations frequently include the aging parents, the living legends of agriculture. Farmers and ranchers self-identify good health with the ability to work. The normal aging process slows down one’s ability to engage in meaningful activities physically and mentally, essentially to continue working. Swirl in the postmenopausal issues incurred by the female farmer, and a myriad of health hazards arise.
Unlike men, who experience a gradual loss of bone mass as they age, women will lose over 30% of their bone mass in the first five years after menopause. Agriculture is a hazardous and uncertain profession. Women are working well past the age of menopause. Training measures should focus on avoiding common risk factors and preventative actions to decrease the likelihood of an injury. Workplace and home safety are achievable. We will also address other age-related changes such as vision, hearing, and sleep disturbance. Every member of the family operation will benefit from learning creative strategies and solutions to help the aging in-place seniors achieve wellness and self-fulfillment.

This material was produced under grant number SH-37171-SH1 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Watch Now

QPR for Farmers and Farm Families
2022-06-30 12:00 - 13:30, 2022-07-07 10:00 - 11:30
What is QPR? QPR training teaches laypeople and professionals to recognize and respond to mental health crises using the approach of Question, Persuade and Refer.
To attend this training participants must be 18 years of age or older.
In this 1.5-hour QPR training, we will provide:
– Information on the unique challenges farmers face that can lead to stress, depression, and suicide.
– Examples implementing each QPR component with someone at risk for suicide.
– Information on how to help someone at risk of suicide.
Registration spots are limited, so please only register if you can attend the event. No recording of this training will be available. Interested in hosting a QPR training session for your organization? Contact Olivia Bury (obury@agrisafe.org) for more information!
This training has already happened, see a list of our upcoming QPR training dates here!

Webinar: Zoonotic Disease and Pregnancy: A Deeper Dive
2022-07-01 12:00 - 13:00
Summary: Zoonotic Diseases are transmitted between farm animals and humans and can pose additional risks to those who are pregnant. According to the World Health Organization, more than half of all human pathogens are zoonotic and have represented nearly all emerging pathogens during the past decade. Farmers and farmworkers have higher levels of risk for contracting zoonotic diseases because of the frequency of their exposure to animals. Prevention is the best defense. Understanding how the disease transmission process works, building a team, and effectively communicating within that team is essential in preventing the spread of zoonotic disease. Women working in agriculture should be aware of the following special considerations during pregnancy: which animals are common carriers of zoonotic disease, symptoms of the disease(s), prevention measures, and pregnancy risks.
Intended Audience: Supervisor or Managers: This training is intended primarily for health and safety professionals including but not limited to owner/operators, safety officers or specialists, managers, supervisors, safety coordinators, health safety and environmental interns, and any person or persons who serve as safety personnel in an agricultural setting. Producers: This training is intended primarily for agricultural producers including but not limited to farmers, ranchers, and any person or persons involved in some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, horticulture, or other livestock.
This material was produced under grant number SH-05068-SH8 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Revisions were made to this material under grant number SH-36995-HA1 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Watch Now

Agricultural Safety and Health Course for Medical and Safety Professionals
2022-07-12 - 2022-07-15
The Agricultural Health and Safety Course for Medical and Safety Professionals is designed to examine key health and safety issues specific to rural and agricultural workers. Experts will present course material relevant to those working in health care, public health, education, and safety professions.
Course Dates

Session A: Agricultural Health — July 12-13, 2022
Session B: Agricultural Safety and Prevention — July 14-15, 2022
Session C: Special Topics — Online modules available July 12 – Aug. 12, 2022

How to Participate in this Course

This course is offered free of charge. However, registration for each session is required. Instructions to access the course will be sent via your registration confirmation email. IMPORTANT: You will also be required to pre-register in Zoom.
Sessions A and B will be delivered live via Zoom. Session C will consist of online modules that you may complete at your own pace.
If you are taking this course as part of a requirement or certificate program with the UNMC College of Public Health, please note that you must register with the College to receive your course credit.
To receive continuing education credits, you must complete all session/course requirements by Aug. 12, 2022.

Target Audience
This course is intended for professionals who work with or have an interest in agricultural health and safety including physicians, nurses, emergency medical responders, physician assistants, health educators, advanced practice nurses, ag extension, migrant health clinicians, physical therapists, insurance specialists, veterinarians, safety professionals, and students.

Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the participant should be better able to:

Evaluate the core elements of agricultural medicine.
Integrate the anticipation, recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of occupational and environmental illnesses and injuries within rural and agricultural communities.
Qualify to become an AgriSafe Provider in order to develop sustainable agricultural occupational health and safety delivery programs within their region.

To receive continuing education credit, you must:
Sessions A and B:

Attend selected session via Zoom in its entirety and view all online supplement modules.
Successfully complete the online post-test for each selected session — open-book, 70% accuracy.
Complete the evaluation survey for the selected session.

The deadline to complete the course requirements including post-tests and evaluations is Aug. 12, 2022.
Session C:

View all four online presentations in their entirety.
Successfully complete the online post-test — open-book, 70% accuracy.
Complete the evaluation survey.

The deadline to complete this session is Aug. 12, 2022.

Continuing Education Credits
In support of improving patient care, University of Nebraska Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™, ANCC credits, and Emergency Medical Services Continuing Education.
Register Here
Questions?

If you have questions about the content of this course, please contact Ellen Duysen, MPH, COHC via email or call at 402-552-3394.
If you need assistance with online registration, please call our Registration Office at 402-559-5929.
For all other questions, please contact Jackie Farley via email.

AgriStress Helpline: 24/7 Crisis Line Built for Farmers and Ranchers
2022-07-19 12:00 - 12:30
Farmers and ranchers in multiple states can now access a crisis service helpline 24/7 staffed by trained professionals. View this 30-minute overview of the newly formed AgriStress Helpline for Farmers and Ranchers. The AgriStress Helpline is an evidence-based suicide prevention lifeline designed for agricultural communities.
Participants will learn how:

This innovative crisis model serves a critical unmet need.
The model was designed by credentialed professionals trained to respond appropriately to the agricultural community, through a program developed by experts in mental health, agriculture production, mediation, and financial analysis.
The crisis line utilizes a “care navigation” process where the helpline responders: triage for safety and provide de-escalation using a crisis intervention model; provide emotional support and coping techniques; and, when necessary, direct callers to the appropriate resources for their situation.
The expansion to new states and eventually a national helpline is both economical and feasible.

Watch Here
We are adding new states all the time! If you are interested in the most up to date information on the helpline, check out the AgriStress Helpline page.

Webinar: Culture is Our Wellness [La Cultura Cura]
2022-08-18 12:00 - 13:00
Culture is our Wellness [La Cultura Cura]
Summary: The science of medicine has been part of every culture around the world. However, the contemporary allopathic medical model represents only part of our understanding of health, healing, and wellbeing, and not failing to mention, it is not always accessible to marginalized communities. This webinar introduces the practice of Curanderismo as an ethno-indigenous form of health and healing originating in Mesoamerica and practiced among many Latinx communities. The presenters will discuss their work with traditional medicine and present the specializations of Curanderismo, which can be used by people of all cultural backgrounds and various health providers with their patients.
The presenters will begin with a brief opening ceremony, provide their personal narratives of traditional healing, a historical grounding of Curanderismo, present the specializations of the traditional medicine, and discuss current efforts to integrate traditional and allopathic medicine.
Objectives: At the end of this presentation attendees will be able to…

Describe a general knowledge base of Curanderismo.
Identify the specializations of traditional healing practices.
Appraise the role of traditional healing in their work.

Intended Audience: Healthcare, safety, occupational, and agricultural professionals, and anyone with an interest in learning how these health practices impact health beliefs and wellbeing for populations that value this specialization in healing.
Presenters:
Caroline E. Ortiz, MS, MPH, RN, NC-BC, Associate Professor – Holistic Nursing Program, Pacific College of Health and Science
Growing up bicultural and bilingual along the U. S.-Mexico border in the Texas Rio Grande Valley, Caroline encountered a myriad of perspectives on health. As the daughter of a nurse, she took her medicine and followed the doctor’s orders. As the granddaughter of a Mexican woman, she drank her herbal teas, submitted to body sweepings with an egg, and followed the recommendations of the local curandera. Now with over 25 years of nursing experience, Caroline’s work, which has been shared locally, nationally, and internationally, centers on promoting individual and community health through holistic approaches. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in Holistic Nursing at Pacific College of Health and Science and a doctoral student at Villanova University. Caroline is apprenticing in curanderismo, the traditional Mesoamerican medicine from Mexico, and researching the use of traditional medicine by Mexican American women living in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. This path has brought her back to where she started… navigating life with a foot in two worlds.

Thomas A. Chávez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor/Research Faculty, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Community Behavioral Health
Dr. Thomas A. Chávez is a counseling psychologist and currently a faculty member at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center/School of Medicine. He has taught courses in counseling with an emphasis on cultural proficiency. His scholarship focuses on improving the health and well-being of Latinx communities through culturally centered interventions. In part, his mission is to integrate traditional medicine to promote holistic health. As such, he has grown up with the practices of traditional healing and has over ten years of practice in the specialization of traditional massage and ventosas (fire cupping) and facilitating sweat lodges.

Watch Now

Webinar: Crashes Involving Agricultural Vehicles in the Southwest Region
2022-09-19 12:00 - 13:00
Crashes Involving Agricultural Vehicles in the Southwest Region
Summary: Motor vehicle crashes are among the top reasons that workers are injured in agriculture. From an occupational safety and health perspective, rural roadways present unique challenges to stakeholders engaged in crash and injury prevention. This session provides an overview of the key issues relevant to rural roadway safety within the context of agricultural vehicles and logging trucks and proven methods for reducing rural roadway crashes and their severity. In addition, the magnitude of the crash problem and trends will be presented for the Southwest Region (i.e., AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX) using data from the Southwest Agricultural Crash Surveillance System (SW AgCRASH).
Intended Audience: health and safety professionals, farmers, ranchers, ag workers, healthcare providers, and others interested in rural roadway safety
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to…
– Describe the frequency of crashes involving agricultural vehicles in the Southwest Regional over time.
– Identify the top factors contributing to roadway crashes involving agricultural vehicles in the Southwest Region.
– Identity potential countermeasures or ways to reduce crashes involving agricultural vehicles or their severity.
Watch Now

Webinar: Putting Time and Distance Between Someone at Risk of Suicide and Lethal Means: An Overview of the CALM Workshop
2022-09-20 12:00 - 13:00
Putting Time and Distance Between Someone at Risk of Suicide and Lethal Means: An Overview of the CALM Workshop
Summary: Suicide is a leading cause of death in many communities and impacts hundreds of people. Creating mechanisms to put time and distance between someone struggling with a mental health concern and lethal means is an important part of creating hope and healing.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to…
– Suicide risk and protective factors in rural, ranching, and farming communities
– Why safe storage protocols matter in suicide safety planning
– Overview of the Counseling on Access to Lethal Means approach
Watch Now
