CalAgrAbility staff members continue to assist the Hearing Loss Association of America Yolo County Chapter, serving as board members and authors of the farm injury guide for the prevention of hearing loss. The guide is in the final states of editing to be translated to Spanish and disseminated throughout the region, especially among tomato workers.
Six "Get Moving" arthritis prevention exercise classes were conducted at Clinic Tepati at the University of California Medical Center in Sacramento. Each session was presented in Spanish to an average class size of 15 consumers. In addition, the Taking the Reins: Living and Working Independently with Arthritis on Farms Workshop was help in the north area of the state in Chico.
As part of the project's chronic disease focus, CalAg also participated in the U.S. Border Health Commission workshop, an opportunity for American Heart Month (February). This emphasized improving heart health with community health workers, promoter s, and health educators to support National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Disparities Initiative.
Three staff members have been CPR certified this month as part of the Get Moving program. Staff also coordinated arthritis and farming workshops with the California Center for Disease Control Chronic Disease Unit located in the Capitol.
CalAgrAbility has a high percentage of consumers suffering the effects of diabetes. CalAg is now coordinating with the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) in obtaining resources to begin a farming and diabetes program.
Another new partner is Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, the only year-round premier accredited therapeutic riding program in the North Bay Area. The state of the art facility provides life-changing therapy that is clinically proven to be effective ; riding/caring for horses is a tool for healing individuals of all ages with physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits.
Submitted by Martha Stiles