To increase capacity, two staff members attended a 12 hour certification course on Mental Health First Aid hosted by the Yolo County Department of Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health. It focused on the causes and treatment for mood and anxiety disorders and provided a plan of action to aid those suspected to have a mental disorder.
CalAgrAbility receives inquiries from farmers about loans and lenders, so staff attended a community meeting with the California Rural Legal Assistance agency in rural Sutter County. The training was about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which oversees financial lenders and services. Familiarity with this issue allows staff to inform consumers to be able to choose the best options they can.
CalAg attended the Woodland Annual Tomato Festival; participating agencies included CalOSHA, Champions for Change, and Hearing Loss Association of America-Hear! Here! Some 200 people attended. CalAg also staffed a booth at the Ulezi Annual Health Fair in Sacramento County, which resulted in several networking opportunities with Legal Services of Northern California and Sacramento Life Center, who both requested the Taking the Reins (Arthritis) Training. Another connection which serves the program’s chronic disease objectives was with a representative of the Imani Healthy Breast Promotora Program. They are interested in joining CalAg at the migrant centers in breast cancer outreach efforts.
The team, including the Arthritis Foundation Partner, traveled to Sacramento and gave a rehabilitating farmers workshop at the RILC for ILC consumers and staff. This included a presentation by Ouida Selby, Arthritis Foundation Program Coordinator, who conducted a guided session of exercises for people with arthritis.
Continuing CalAg's Taking the Reins: Living and Working with Arthritis on Farms training workshops, staff traveled to migrant centers in Davis and Madison to deliver the Spanish language trainings. With the assistance of the Arthritis Foundation Partner, the program included several exercise sessions. Participants expressed amazement at how easy and effective the exercises are and were pleased to learn about the different types of arthritis and possible treatments.
Submitted by Martha Stiles