MODELS FOR PRACTICE
FOCUS
AREA: MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL DISORDERS
Program Name: Sowing the Seeds of Hope
Location:
Healthy People 2010 Objective: 18-7, 18-9
Web Address: http://www.agriwellness.org
Sowing the Seeds of Hope:
Responding to the Mental Health Needs of Farm Families is a collaborative
effort of project leaders in seven predominantly rural states:
Blueprint: Sowing the Seeds of Hope
provides behavioral health assistance in participating states to those involved
in the agricultural business and their families. The project in the seven
states addresses the underserved rural agricultural population without regard
to age, income, availability of insurance, racial/ethnic group, or location.
The
program provides services to individuals and families who do not have health
insurance or adequate behavioral health coverage, and others who are unable to
pay for necessary care. Often, these individuals and families experience an
accumulation of stresses that result in the breakdown of coping mechanisms.
Common associated behavioral health problems include interpersonal distress,
depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and loss of hope. Negative stigma about
mental health services, geographic barriers, and a perception that providers do
not understand their agricultural issues often deters some families from
seeking necessary assistance. Additionally, there is a scarcity of qualified
professional service providers in rural areas, necessitating the training and
utilization of informal networks of support, such as clergy, Extension staff,
trained natural helpers who reside in the farm community, and primary care
providers (e.g., physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants).
Sowing the Seeds of Hope was
designed and initiated in 1999 by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health and
Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association. It was supported by grants from the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health Policy and
Bureau of Primary Health Care. Administrative support for Sowing the Seeds of
Hope is now coordinated by AgriWellness, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
corporation that assists project leaders in the seven states, provides proposal
and grant writing, and explores funding opportunities.
Many individuals and organizations serve
voluntarily in their specific states to carry out portions of the work. A
central aim of each state project is the formation of a coalition of individuals
(both paid staff members and volunteers), agencies, and organizations to
maximize information about access and cost of services, options for additional
funding, and continuation of the state projects.
Project leaders identified 11 core services for
the underserved rural agricultural community:
·
outreach;
·
training and education of traditional and
non-traditional behavioral health care providers;
·
education of the community on
agricultural behavioral health issues;
·
information clearinghouses;
·
crisis hotlines;
·
direct services through vouchers,
contracts with approved providers, and other means to ensure access to
necessary services;
·
prevention of more serious difficulties
through early intervention;
·
coalition building with organizations,
agencies, and communities;
·
advocacy for behavioral health of the
underserved;
·
social marketing through publications,
press releases, and other media activities; and
·
retreats and support group activities for
farm couples and families.
Making a Difference:
To evaluate the
core activities of the program, the following evaluation measures are used:
Since the outcome criteria were not established
until
More than 14,000 farm residents were reached in
420+ outreach events. More than 400 providers were documented as having
received professional training in 40+ documented training programs. At least
5,850 farm residents received community education. The crisis hotlines in the
seven states reported more than 20,000 callers during the first two years of
the project. At least 3,811 farm residents received direct services, which were
partially or completely funded by Sowing the Seeds of Hope. Project personnel
were successful in generating an additional $3,150,000 of federal, state, and
private funds to augment $1,035,000 received from the Federal Office of Rural
Health Policy, $90,000 from the Federal Bureau of Primary Health Care, and
$28,000 from the Land O’ Lakes Foundation. At least 556 persons participated in
95 support group meetings or farm couple/farm family retreats.
Beginnings: The Sowing the Seeds of
Hope project was developed to respond to the mental health needs of farm
families in the seven-state region. Behavioral health threats increase among
the rural agricultural population during eras of economic stress. The suicide
rate among farmers rose three to four times the national average during
episodes of financial distress in several of the states in the Sowing the Seeds
of Hope region.
The program began in May 1999 and was fully
implemented in September 2000. The first three years of funding were considered
the pilot phase. The Sowing the Seeds of Hope project leaders are now ready at
the next level¾implementing the basic services on an ongoing
basis.
Challenges and Solutions: Insufficient funding is the
greatest challenge to the projects in each state. Although project leaders in
each state have been very successful leveraging additional state, private, and
federal resources to augment their projects, the needs of the population
surpass available resources. The program is working very actively with federal,
state, and private organizations to both secure additional funds and to
maximize pursuit of the program’s objectives.
Michael R. Rosmann, Ph.D.,
Executive Director, AgriWellness, Inc.
1210 7th Street,
Suite C
Phone: (712) 235-6100
Fax: (712) 235-6105
E-mail:
info@agriwellness.org