H E A L TH AN D WE L L - B E I NG
Many areas of Extension programming are designed to work with individuals to improve their well-being. Family and Consumer Science programming has focused on health topics that include nutrition, physical activity, chronic disease management such as diabetes education, health management, health insurance literacy, and, increasingly, wellness. Farm, pesticide, and vehicle safety are examples of programs offered by Agriculture personnel. Collaborative projects between Agriculture and Family and Consumer Science educators recently have focused on farm stress management. These programs are important and can show impact. Adapting these programs to integrate risk and resilience approaches would benefit farm audiences. The link between farm vitality and health is essential. Without a healthy farming population, the farm’s success will deteriorate. The rise in stress and suicide demonstrates the relationship. Accessibility and affordability of health care and mental health care are important aspects of farm risk management. Building resilience factors and understanding will help reduce the stigma associated with taking care of oneself, improve the connection to resources, and improve accessibility for farm audiences. The tools below can help farm audiences and community members recognize the importance of health- related issues and encourage the development of strategies to address these issues at a community level. These tools and activities can easily be integrated into program planning and implementation. They can be found at https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/personal-economic- development/agribusiness/ Tools are provided in three categories: 1) Assessment tools; 2) Tools for farmers and farm family audiences and; 3) Tools for Professionals and Key Stakeholders.
Assessment Tool:
“How Healthy is Your Farm?” Linking Farm Vitality and Family Health and Wealth
This 13-question Likert scale self-assessment tool that helps farm audiences: 1) see the linkages between their health and the financial vitality of the farm; and 2) determine what areas might need improvement through their self-ranking. Developed by the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and University of Maryland Extension, the self-assessment tool is available at https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/personal-economic- development/agribusiness/
Tools for farmers and Farm Fami ly Audiences
This 75-minute presentation at the April 2020, National Extension Risk Management Conference provides an overview of farm and farm family risk and resilience. It introduces many of the tools included in this guide. Presenters included Maria Pippidis, University of Delaware and Bonnie Braun and Jesse Ketterman, University of Maryland Extension. https://agrisk.umn.edu/Library/Record/creating_thriving_farms_tools_you_can_use_wit
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