California

California AgrAbility staff conducted outreach to migrant workers in the California Delta near the Sacramento River. Every year during July, workers migrate to the area for pear harvesting. Staff spoke with workers about common disabling injuries that occur in the orchards, chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, and how AgrAbility supports some of the workers from these sites. Staff also administered the Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Program baseline worker survey. Other agencies conducting outreach with California AgrAbility included Migrant Education and the Mexican Consulate.

California AgrAbility staff joined the RISE Collaborative Meeting as it returned to its in-person gatherings. Staff joined the meeting to promote a series of upcoming gardening and wellbeing community events in Yolo County. During the roundtable, staff shared about AgrAbility services and Device Lending Library. During the ice-breaker activities, staff met representatives from the International Rescue Committee, an organization that recently hired an outreach worker for agricultural populations to educate on labor trafficking in the ag business. Another organization present was Turning Point, a mental health facility that also provides case management services for patients and their families.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, UC Davis California AgrAbility, CSU Fresno, and the CalHOPE campaign are teamed up to offer the second of three virtual sessions on "Farmer and Farmworker Mental Health and Stress." In an effort to address the rising rate of suicide, California AgrAbility staff presented QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training to provide attendees the tools to recognize the warning signs of suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to lifesaving services. During the training, program staff provided insight to the unique challenges farmers, farmworkers, and ranchers experience, and walked participants through the steps of implementing QPR training.

Submitted by Angelina Padilla