We recognize the immense challenges ahead, from the widespread damage to crops and infrastructure caused by Hurricane Helene, to the imminent threats posed by Hurricane Milton. These storms disrupt critical supply chains, damage homes, and threaten the safety of those whose work supports our nation’s food systems and natural resources. The personal toll on your families and communities is heavy, and we are committed to standing with you during this time of need. We are working closely with the Florida Extension Disaster Education Network (FL EDEN) and National EDEN to provide resources and support to communities most impacted. Learn more about your state’s EDEN contact.

At SCCAHS, the safety and health of our agricultural workforce are paramount. We will continue to offer support and resources, conduct research, and forge partnerships to ensure that recovery efforts prioritize safe working conditions as you rebuild and restore the vital services you provide.

To those affected and those still preparing for the impacts of Hurricane Milton, know that you are not alone. We are here to support your resilience, and together, we will overcome these challenges to create a safer, stronger future. We have linked a variety of resources below but please reach out if you have specific needs and we will do our best to connect you with the right resources.

Stay resilient. Stay safe.

The post Statement of Support: Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton Recovery Efforts first appeared on Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety.

Kicking off the agenda was Mark Holmes, Director & Professor at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina. Holmes delved into the intricate web of challenges and opportunities in rural healthcare, setting the stage for a series of insightful discussions.

John Diaz, Associate Professor of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida, highlighted the critical issue of rural healthcare access for agricultural workers, particularly migrant farmworkers. His presentation underscored the importance of bridging the gap between healthcare services and those working in agriculture, a vital yet often overlooked demographic.

Lauri Baker, Associate Professor of Agricultural Education and Communication and Co-Founder of the Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement, also from the University of Florida, emphasized the role of agricultural communication and social science research in addressing rural healthcare disparities. By leveraging effective communication strategies, Baker emphasized the potential to enhance health outcomes and empower rural communities.

David Buys, Associate Professor at the Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, explored the synergies between Cooperative Extension and public health. Buys advocated for a collaborative approach that integrates these sectors to foster holistic solutions to rural healthcare challenges.

Hollie Cost, Vice President for University Outreach & Public Service at Auburn University, delved into the concept of reinventing rural reality as she share about Auburn University’s Rural Health Initiative. Cost’s presentation highlighted the transformative power of community engagement in cultivating health and vitality in rural areas and how her team is bring health solutions to rural Alabama with the help of the OnMed Care Station.

A policy communication panel discussion moderated by Lisa Lundy, Professor of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida, provided a platform for experts to exchange ideas and insights on policy implications for rural healthcare initiatives. The panel, featuring distinguished speakers including Katie Vanlandingham, Michael Dukes, and Ricky Telg, offered valuable perspectives on navigating the intersection of policy, health, and agriculture. Telg and Lundy also delivered a policy communication training where participants received a certification badge.

The State of the Science meeting also featured a poster session showcasing innovative research from early investigators from a variety of disciplines, including agricultural sciences, engineering, and public health.

Recognizing the outstanding contributions, awards were presented to the top posters.

Second runner up research poster – Systematic Analysis for Design of Instructional Videos for Self-Management of Low Back Pain in Horticulture | Kim Dunleavy, Jason Beneciuk, Janeen Blythe, Kelly Gurka, Boyi Hu, and Heidi Raduovich

First runner up research poster – Exploring Perception of Socioeconomic Status (SES) among Haitian Farmworker Youths: A Qualitative Examination of Determinants and Implications | Beatrice Fenelon Pierre, Tracy Irani, Jennifer Doty, Kate Fogarty, Sebastien Galindo, and LaToya O’Neal

Outstanding research poster – Bite Back: Navigating Social and Behavioral Frontiers in Tick-Bite Disease Prevention | Cheng-Xian Yang and Lauri M. Baker

The State of the Science meeting hosted by the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety served as a catalyst for meaningful discussions and collaborative efforts aimed at advancing rural healthcare. By harnessing the collective expertise of professionals and researchers, the event offered promising insights and solutions to address the healthcare needs of rural communities. As we look towards the future, it is imperative to continue fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation to create positive change in rural health and well-being.

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These most recent findings provide insights into how Extension professionals can be better prepared to address future public health crises.

To better understand additional needs of Extension professionals during the pandemic, the center conducted a follow-up survey from March 16 to April 23, 2021. They found that 56.5% of Extension professionals had received a COVID-19 vaccine and 21.7% planned to receive it soon. 

“We wanted to find out what people were saying about vaccinations so that we can address concerns that people have about getting the vaccine,” said Glenn Israel, professor in the UF/IFAS department of agricultural education and communication, who was part of the SCCAHS research team that collected data for the survey series. 

Extension professionals who had already received the vaccine attributed their decision to age, health history and opinions of friends and family members. However, concern over possible side effects was frequently mentioned. 

SCCAHS developed the survey series to understand vaccine acceptance among Extension professionals. The survey series included 404 responses from county professionals,  state specialists, administrators and other Extension professionals in Florida.

SCCAHS has created a vaccine communication toolkit to help agricultural organizations communicate about the COVID-19 vaccine. The toolkit, available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Vietnamese, is available on the center’s website.

This is not the first time that the center has provided programs based on survey results. An earlier survey conducted between May 18 and June 16, 2020, found about 90% of responding Extension professionals were observing stress or emotional symptoms in their clientele. 

The center responded by sponsoring a series of free Mental Health First Aid training programs for Extension professionals and agricultural employers in the Southeast. The programs were created to help Extension professionals address their communities’ mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and in future emergencies. 

“Extension’s response to our Mental Health First Aid trainings was astounding,” said Angie Lindsey, assistant professor in the UF/IFAS department of family, youth and community sciences. “Every available spot in all four training sessions was filled.” 

Located at the University of Florida, the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) explores health and safety issues of agricultural communities and professionals in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. 

The post SCCAHS uses survey data to understand Extension needs during public health crisis first appeared on Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety.

The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) conducted research to identify the needs of Extension professionals in the Southeast region as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Research findings indicated that extension professionals in the Southeast are well-informed regarding COVID-19 and receive trusted information from healthcare providers and Extension administrators, making these Extension professionals well-prepared to share information with clientele. 

Extension professionals serve key roles in their communities and, as such, have observed the impact of the pandemic on their clientele, with many exhibiting symptoms of stress or emotional distress. 

Even though Extension professionals report some difficulty balancing personal and professional needs and balancing working remotely and family needs, they also report feeling prepared and supported in the workplace.

This survey was completed by 831 Extension professionals in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and the Virgin Islands. These extension professionals included county agents, state specialists, multi-county agents, RSAs, SSAs, regional specialists, administrators, support staff, and miscellaneous others. 

Learn more by downloading the latest SCCAHS issue guide:

The information in this issue guide was adapted from the key findings of survey research conducted by:

Dr. Sebastian Galindo – Research associate professor of program development and evaluation in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida

Dr. Glenn Israel – Professor of program development and evaluation in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida

Dr. David Diehl – Associate professor of family, youth and community sciences

Cassandra Ward – Evaluation Coordinator, Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety

July Nelson – Graduate student in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida

Haaris Saqib – Graduate student in the Master’s in Sustainable Development ProgramTamiko Gaines – Graduate student in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida

The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Health and Safety Initiative. SCCAHS explores and addresses the occupational safety and health needs of people working in agriculture, fishing, and forestry in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

The post Issue Guide: The Needs of Extension in the Southeast Region During the COVID-19 Pandemic first appeared on Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety.

Federal agencies fund research centers on a variety of topics, and an evaluation component is normally required. The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) is working to define the vital role evaluation serves for federally-funded centers, including the SCCAHS which is a center that houses six multidisciplinary research projects, 10 pilot projects and serves a multi-state region. 

The role of an evaluation program is usually to emphasize accountability, especially in the case of federal agencies that need to demonstrate that the activities facilitated by their programs are meeting stakeholder interests and that their programs are achieving desired impacts.

“The purpose of this project was to describe the important role that an evaluation program can have in a complex center that has many moving parts,” said Sebastian Galindo, research associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida and director of the Evaluation Core at SCCAHS.

A developmental evaluation framework was used to respond to the complex environment surrounding agricultural health and safety in the Southeast. This approach aimed to (1) engage external stakeholders in guiding the center’s research and outreach trajectories; (2) support center research teams in a co-creation process to develop logic models and tailored indicators; and (3) provide timely feedback within the center to address communications gaps identified by the evaluation program.

This study outlines the approach taken by the SCCAHS’s evaluation program to synthesize the different projects within the center by connecting project-level goals to the overarching center goals, facilitating collaborations and encouraging communication with internal and external stakeholders, and incorporating stakeholder needs and insights into center projects.

“We wanted to communicate the importance of evaluation, and give others a new perspective of evaluation,” Galindo said. “A good evaluation program can play a key function in any program.”

Learn more by downloading the latest SCCAHS issue guide:

The information in this issue guide was adapted from the following journal article:

Mitchell, R.C., Israel, G.D., Diehl, D.C., & Galindo- Gonzalez, S. (2020). From plan to action: Adapting evaluation to serve the developmental needs of a newly-funded multidisciplinary research center. Evaluation and Program Planning, 78, 101729. PMID: 31698318 DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2019.101729

The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Health and Safety Initiative. SCCAHS explores and addresses the occupational safety and health needs of people working in agriculture, fishing, and forestry in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

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The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) is providing needed support and resources to Florida’s farmworkers and fisheries workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joan Flocks, associate in law at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law and director of Emerging Issues at SCCAHS, took action to help educate and test Florida farmworkers for COVID-19. This effort was made possible through partnerships with UF’s Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI) and the Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF). 

Agricultural workers who work, travel and live in confined conditions are at an increased risk of being exposed to and contracting COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

In early May, Flocks and a team of EPI researchers traveled to Apopka, Florida, to test local Haitian, Hispanic and African American community members for COVID-19. Sixty people, including nursery workers and FWAF staff and their families, were tested for the virus. 

“I think this effort has heightened our awareness of how vulnerable these worker populations can be during a crisis,” Flocks said. “This will hopefully allow our ag center and other ag centers to be better prepared for something like this in the future.”

Flocks and her team are collaborating with organizations around the state to provide funding for outreach and education efforts. Funding has been used to purchase masks, thermometers and hand sanitizer for farmworkers, while educating them and their families about COVID-19. 

Andy Kane, associate professor in UF’s College of Public Health and Health Professions and SCCAHS deputy director, has also partnered with EPI to educate and test vulnerable populations in Cedar Key, Florida. 

SCCAHS has been engaged with the Cedar Key community for years through research projects, industry support and extension. This recent testing effort involved more than 80 volunteers and provided an opportunity for 504 Cedar Key residents to be tested for COVID-19.

“This was an opportunity where the center was able to provide extension to a community based on a unique emerging issue,” Kane said. “As a center, we had the capacity to respond to the community’s concerns.”

The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Health and Safety Initiative. SCCAHS explores and addresses the occupational safety and health needs of people working in agriculture, fishing and forestry in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

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SCCAHS researchers recently conducted a study that aimed to train crew leaders to use the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Heat Safety Tool app and evaluate the utility of the app from a crew leader perspective, and to characterize heat safety knowledge, preventive practices, and perceptions of HRI risk among Hispanic farmworkers in the Southeast.

“Florida farmworkers work in hot and humid conditions, but do not have access to training in how to prevent heat-related illnesses (HRI),” said John Luque, associate professor of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). “This study found that farmworkers are interested in checking on local heat index conditions using the OSHA Heat Safety Tool App, which also provides heat safety guidance for staying hydrated on the job.”

For this study, 6 crew leaders completed a 2-hour OSHA heat illness prevention training, including evaluation of a heat safety mobile app. Between August and October 2018, 101 Hispanic farmworkers participated in a survey about heat safety. Survey participants responded to questions about HRI prevention, HRI knowledge, and sociodemographics.

Learn more by downloading the latest SCCAHS issue guide:

The information in this issue guide was adapted from the following journal article:

Luque, J.S., Becker, A., Bossak, B. H., Grzywacz, J. G., Tovar-Aguilar, J. A., & Guo, Yian (2019). Knowledge and practices to avoid heat-related illness among hispanic farmworkers along the Florida-Georgia line. Journal of Agromedicine. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2019.1670312.

The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Health and Safety Initiative. SCCAHS explores and addresses the occupational safety and health needs of people working in agriculture, fishing, and forestry in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

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FWAF was among eight individuals and organizations to receive this prestigious award in December 2019, recognizing the association’s leadership in the field through safety training, collaboration, promotion, education or research. The association will be recognized for its safety and health efforts at the North American Agricultural Safety Summit, March 19-20 in Las Vegas.

FWAF works closely with the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS), which is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Health and Safety Initiative.

Paul Monaghan, associate professor of agricultural education and communication at the University of Florida and SCCAHS researcher, nominated the association for the award. 

“I nominated the Farmworker Association of Florida for this award because of its dedication to the health and safety of agricultural employees for over three decades,” Monaghan said. “It has conducted research, advocated for laws and implemented training programs on pesticide safety, eye injury reduction and heat-related illness prevention.”

FWAF is a statewide, grassroots, community-based, non-profit, farmworker membership organization that works for social and environmental justice for farmworkers. The 10,000-plus member organization works in vegetable, citrus and foliage industries. FWAF trains farm employees about workplace safety. 

“Our organization is distinguished from other organizations due to our large focus on the health and safety of farmworkers,” said Jeannie Economos, FWAF coordinator for pesticide safety and environmental health. “We are very grateful to be recognized and honored for this work that we have been doing for a long time.”

SCCAHS explores and addresses the occupational safety and health needs of people working in agriculture, fishing and forestry in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. 

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Researchers from the University of Florida recently conducted a study to describe agricultural health and safety issues discussed in Florida news media during the year 2016. In this study, agricultural health and safety messages were evaluated by analyzing frames. A frame is the way in which media is presented with the goal of encouraging certain interpretations. This study discussed the prominence of the following frames: conflict, human interest, responsibility, and economic consequences. 

“The way information about agricultural health and safety is framed impacts the way citizens come to understand the issues,” said associate professor of agricultural education and communication at the University of Florida, Lisa Lundy. “It’s important for us to understand how media are discussing these issues.” 

97 articles were evaluated in this study, with human interest being the most prominent frame. Framing is important in agricultural health and safety messages because it influences the way in which a message is perceived and retained. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the messages, discussing the benefits and implications of different framing methods. Research on framing provides agricultural communicators with insight into the most effective ways to formulate a message.

Learn more by downloading the latest SCCAHS issue guide:

The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Health and Safety Initiative. SCCAHS explores and addresses the occupational safety and health needs of people working in agriculture, fishing, and forestry in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

The post Issue Guide: Analyzing Media Coverage of Agricultural Health and Safety Issues first appeared on Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety.

Sometimes, when a farmer or rancher’s livelihood is at stake, he or she may face the same mental health setbacks as those who work white-collar jobs or live in urban areas. But those in agricultural careers often work in rural areas. So, when they get stressed, their strife is exacerbated by the fact that mental health assistance may be an hour or two drive away.

To address these issues, the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) met in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Sept. 27. There, researchers from around the country shared their latest findings of how stress and mental health issues are impacting agricultural workers, including those in farming, fishing and forestry.

UF/IFAS faculty members Tracy Irani and Angie Lindsey attended the conference. Irani hosted the forum, and Lindsey presented her findings after a year of helping people train those in the agriculture industry on how to deal with stress brought on by catastrophic storms, such as Hurricane Irma.

“We are members of the outreach core of the SCCAHS, and we bring expert research together to present findings on stress and resilience,” said Irani, professor and chair of the UF/IFAS department of family, youth and community sciences.

“We’re trying to look at what are some of the prevailing health and safety issues in agriculture are and then we will try to address those via research, teaching and Extension,” Irani said. “We hope we can help those who have been affected by an issue such as stress to develop a more positive outcome. That includes getting communities to come together to help each other out. We need to educate people on what they can do.”

At the SCCAHS meeting, researchers from across the country tried to identify strategies and policies to:

• Identify the mental health issues faced by farmworkers, farm operators, farm owners and others in rural areas.
• Address the social and environmental associations with mental health in rural communities.

At the forum, researchers presented findings on  agriculture and community resiliency. In this case, “resilience” means a person’s ability to cope with, and overcome, negative factors that could lead to mental health issues, Irani said.

Those who work in agriculture face considerable stress, including financial uncertainty, family and relationship issues, social isolation, disaster, accidental injury and acute and chronic diseases that can affect their mental health, experts at the conference said.

Lindsey, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of family, youth and community sciences is also an affiliate faculty member of SCCAHS.

Among her many responsibilities, Lindsey serves the point person for the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), a national organization of Extension educators who work to prepare communities for disasters.

After hurricanes Irma and Michael took a mental toll on many Floridians, including farmers, Lindsey spent much of the past year helping Extension faculty and staff, first responders and teachers, among others, help teach those coping skills to those who work in agriculture-related fields. The goal is to help them deal with the stress brought on by natural disasters.

While she taught those on the front lines how to help farmers after storms, Lindsey said it’s critical to keep the conversation going year-round. That way people can learn the coping skills they need before hurricanes and tropical storms strike.

“We have to address it early on, while the skies are still blue,” said Lindsey.

While the meeting has concluded, the research and conversations continue, Irani said. Toward that end, she expects evidence-based findings to be disseminated through the UF/IFAS Electronic Information Data Service (EDIS).

“We hope to learn a lot more in the next few years about how to help those who work in agriculture, and then we’d like to help them get the mental-health assistance they deserve,” Irani said.

By Brad Buck | University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

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