Engaging Communities Through Issues Forums

● A new University of Maryland Extension website provided resources related to managing farm stress. ● Delaware Cooperative Extension developed a Farm Stress Task Force that represents 10 state organizations. This team developed the “ Got Your Back ” website which offers information and resources on several farm stressors. ● A Linking Farm Vitality and Health self-assessment tool was developed that can be used with a short video entitled "How Healthy Is Your Farm?" These curriculum pieces were developed because of Delaware forum discussions and can be found on the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Agribusiness page. ● The Delaware Division of Libraries developed a "LibGuide" website that hosts farm and farm family health and finance related topics. ● During the 2019 Delaware Ag Week programming and Mid-Atlantic Women in Agriculture Conference, onsite health screenings were provided free of charge by two area hospitals. Over 100 individuals took advantage of this opportunity.

● A coalition of Delaware stakeholders piloted a succession-planning curriculum for youth to assist them in learning what succession/transition planning is, who needs to be involved, and the tools necessary to implement a plan. They subsequently received a small innovation grant ($1000) to develop a leader’s guide and kit for each high school to begin to introduce the idea of

succession and transition planning to high school youth. The Kit will include large stacking blocks that youth will use to “build a resilient” farm. ● Both Maryland and Delaware Cooperative Extension have partnered with key farm organizations to offer professional development for agriculture service providers and farm audiences on topics related to stress management, building resilience and signs and symptoms of suicide. Maryland received a Northeast Region SARE grant to conduct some of this work. Delaware Ag Week, 2020

Tales from Past 2021 Forum are still in process but at the time of this publication the following has occurred.

● By reviewing state 211 information, and by conducting interviews, locations of food pantries, food banks and other sources of food available to limited resources audiences have been catalogued. Using mapping software these locations will be available for searching by consumers and Snap-Ed populations. No such map previously existed. ● Mental health and wellbeing resources for Delaware and Maryland were identified and published/updated on respective websites. Both general and information specific to farm audiences were identified. QR Codes have been established for each site and

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