CalAgrAbility staff have been on the road again! The staff were asked to present at the National AgrAbility Rehab Workshop in Corvallis, OR, which was well-attended. Staff also had an exercise in driving in blizzard conditions. In addition, CalAgrAbility was invited to conduct two rehab workshops for the Client Assistance Program (CAP) Advocates in northern and southern California sponsored by the CA Foundation Independent Living Centers and the AT Network in Berkeley and Riverside.
Reaching male farmworkers has always been a challenge, so a local nonprofit and CalAgrAbility, local farmers, and other agencies conducted a safety event just for males, QUE VIVA LA VIDA. Over 100 attended. Its purpose was to promote social wellness and social functioning within farmworker families by gathering the primary wage earner – men – and engaging them in dialogue that promotes new thinking patterns. It is unique because it is sponsored and promoted by their employing farms. It is different because the outcome expectation is to educate around improved family harmony, community and school involvement, and healthy life patterns.
NRCS partners highlighted CalAgrAbility in the current USDA e-News CA Edition Volume 3 along with the Farmer Veteran Coalition. For a peek, go to groups.ucanr.org/farmgt/files/83882.pdf.
The 2011 Western Migrant Stream Forum was held in Oakland, CA, and CalAg staffed a booth and attended workshops. This was a great networking opportunity, as CalAgrAbility subsequently received several workshops requests from other agencies.
Along with the Pacific Region Arthritis Foundation (AF), CalAgrAbility is preparing for arthritis events coming up in April and May centered around walking and activity fairs in Sacramento and the Central Valley. AF partners and CalAg are also building collaborations throughout the state as the Central Coast AF is coordinating outreach activities with CalAgrAbility to rural and farm populations.