Tagged With "farm stress"
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Drought can lead to more than the summertime blues in farmers
Press Release f or Immediate Release: September 17, 2021 Contact: Jenn Patterson, MLitt, GPCAH Center Coordinator Jennifer-j-patterson@uiowa.edu , 319-335-4207 Drought can led to more than the summertime blues in farmers It comes as no surprise to Midwesterners that farmers are vulnerable to extreme weather events, but have you considered additional ways to combat occupational stress when it comes to drought planning for yourself and your ag community? Jesse Berman, Assistant Professor at...
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Important Resources for Family Resiliency: The Red Cross Service to Armed Forces Workshops
Written by: Lucas Blankenship, Master of Public Administration Student West Virginia University and MFLN Military Caregiving Concentration. As a member of a military family myself, I remember all too well the stress and strain that deployment and reintegration can have on military members, their families, and those close to them. Often, we think of how we can help those in the military community. How can we serve those who serve? One way is accessing services, resources, and programs offered...
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Tips and Tools for Content Creators
Extension educators are content creators. Whether they prepare PowerPoint slides for a webinar, write a blog or social media post, prepare for an interview, or assemble a newsletter, they are constantly striving to create content that is current, relevant, and actionable. At a recent online conference, the Plutus™ Impact Summit, the following eight tips for personal finance content creation were shared: Address “Pain Points” and Goals – Help people by addressing topics that are causing them...
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Healthy Relationships Matter for Military Families
Healthy relationship skills can make a big difference for the strength and resilience of military families. Military Family Service Providers and Extension Educators are a unique position to be able to provide research-based skills for couples and co-parents that will help them strengthen their relationships. Learn about an upcoming 5-part webinar series that will provide you with information, tools, and resources to help military families nurture and maintain a healthy relationship.
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Extension Educators play an important role in helping families and communities recover from the pandemic
by Karen Shirer, Ph.D. A colleague recently shared a CDC report that highlighted a startling and tragic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families. Researchers found that approximately one in 500 children experienced the death of a primary caregiver due to COVID-19. The authors stated: “ for every four deaths from COVID-19 , one child is left without a parent and/or grandparent who provided the child’s home and basic needs, including love, security, and daily care.” This study examined only...
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Ways to Help Military Families This Holiday Season
Title Picture Attribute: US Air Force [Timmy Payne admires his work on his family Christmas by Airman 1st Class Jessica H. Evans, Dec. 5th, 2015, CC0] The holidays are a time when getting together with friends and families is always important. Reconnecting with the ones we love can be rejuvenating and highlights what’s important to us. However, for military service members and their families, the holidays can be tough and it’s not always possible for service members to be home with family...
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A Good Night’s Rest is Best
Written By: Andrew Crocker, M.S., Senior Extension Program Specialist, Gerontology and Health, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Way way back in the 1980s (HA!) the dairy industry had a marketing slogan that went, in part, “…it does the body good.” There are probably a lot of things that we can insert into that phrase, right? Vegetables. Seat belts. Exercise. Sleep? We often do not think a lot about sleep – until we cannot do it – but we will spend about a third of our lives asleep,...
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Central State University Participates in Agricultural Industry Roundtable with National and State of Ohio Representatives
Agriculture is vital to the State of Ohio and is the number one industry contributing more than $100 billion to the state’s economy and for that reason, representatives from across the nation and the State of Ohio met with Central State University and The Ohio State University to discuss issues affecting farming and agriculture in Ohio. The Ag Roundtable took place on Friday, December 10, 2021, at The Ohio State University and featured representatives from the US Department of Agriculture,...
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30% NY Initiative: Opportunities, Barriers, and Pathways to Success
The 30% NY Initiative: Opportunities, Barriers, and Pathways to Success report is a product of Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY and Cornell Cooperative Extension Allegany County. The report analyzes procurement data from 53 of the 57 school food authorities (SFAs) that qualified for the 30% NY Initiative during the 2019- 20 school year. In addition to analyzing procurement data, we surveyed successful SFAs to understand how they altered their diversions and use of entitlement funds...
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Movement and Mental Health
As the pandemic continues, the rates of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression steadily continue to climb. During times of quarantine, while working virtually, or when managing a new schedule, it is easy to forget about adding movement to your day. Sedentary activities like watching tv, video gaming and computer work are dominating our current society while mental health is on the decline. One approach to lowering bouts of anxiety and depression, improving mood, and gaining...
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Relationship Challenges and Counseling for Military Couples
Military couples are very resilient and roll with the changes. They face many challenges that civilian couples rarely deal with, like multiple moves, deployments, and various other transitions. Challenges might also take the form of physical injury or invisible wounds of war, like traumatic brain injury, and PTSD. Sometimes spouses and children must take on caregiver roles as well. Even though there are similar issues that many military couples face, every relationship is different. And many...
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Time for a Relationship Checkup!
by Karen Shirer, Ph.D. Each year we plan to visit our health care provider and dentist for annual checkups in order to catch problems before they become major health issues. As an Extension educator, you often encourage your participants to get preventative health checkups and screenings for health concerns. But how often do we or our participants do a check-up of our intimate relationship health? The Relationship Checkup: Support for Military Couples , a recent webinar by the Military...
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Job Opening: Soil Health Extension Educator
INTRODUCTION The University of Connecticut (UConn) Department of Extension is seeking applicants for a full-time (11 month) non-tenure track Assistant/Associate Extension Educator. The successful applicant will assess, develop and deliver impactful extension programs on soil health, regenerative agriculture, and conservation practices. These programs will build an Extension program focused on creating more climate and economically resilient agricultural systems through improved knowledge of...
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Practicing Mindfulness, Meditation, and Self-Care to Combat Stress for Military Families
Stress and stressful situations are issues that everyone must deal with and affects individuals and families in a multitude of different ways. This is even more true for military service members and their families. On top of daily, normal stressors, military families must deal with the stress of deployments, transitions, frequent moving, and the possibility of injury or death for the military service member in military combat. Military families need outlets and ways to cope with stressful...
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A Philosophy for Working on Wicked Problems
A wicked problem is a term used in policy analysis to describe an environmental situation where no matter what policy actions are taken there are still going to be unacceptable losses. Examples of wicked problems can be found in climate change, endangered species, invasive species and environmental justice issues. In order to deal with the psychological stress of threat and uncertainty associated with wicked problems many people are tempted to take a strong position, such as moral outrage.
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Keeping the (Social) Work Growing this Month and Onward
The services provided by social workers are crucial to creating and cultivating individual and family wellness. During this time of insurmountable stressors at home and abroad, social workers are pillars in providing vital mental health and behavioral health services. Services that can aid family members in navigating daily anxiety, worry, and trauma. National Social Work Month March was Social Work Month, and the 2022 theme is The Time is Right for Social Work. Over the past three years,...
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What I learned from a 5-day challenge...
These days it seems everyone is doing some kind of "challenge". Truthfully, these make me pretty skeptical and after they try to sell something to you for the first 20-minutes I'm out. This time I stuck with it! Just finished reading " Soundtracks " by Jon Acuff and was curious to learn more about his work. BAM! His Overcoming Overthinking Challenge appeared on his feed and I signed up. Here are the nuggets from each session... Opening The 2 most powerful word in the English language are "me...
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An Important Tool for Strengthening Couples’ Relationships in the Wake of COVID-19
by Karen Shirer, Ph.D. In Brief Relationship education (RE) for individuals, couples and families can provide critical support in recovering relationship health after disruptive events like the COVID-19 pandemic. A new podcast series on RE focuses on three important RE programs and resources — the NERMEM , Healthy Relationship and Marriage Training and Elevate for Couples . Dr. Ted Futris shares examples for applying the model’s components to your work with individuals and families in...
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Leading Through Stressful Times Session 1: Dr Courtney Owens
Leading Through Stressful Times Session 1 Register Here June 8th 2022, 2:00 - 3:15 ET The Extension Foundation’s Impact Collaborative program is hosting a leadership series available to member institutions . Join our Leadership team for this 3-session series on June 8th, July 6th, and August 10th for conversations with special guests to get wisdom on turning volatility into vision, uncertainty into understanding, complexity into clarity, and ambiguity into agility! Extension Foundation is...
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2 Resources!
Awareness is the first step leading to personal growth. The folks at Crucial Learning have provided some great free resources to help you do just that. Influence is leadership. Discover the methods you use to lead and help others through change with the Influencer assessment! It would be hard to believe anyone left an organization because they received too much communication. Our words are a powerful force for good when used in the direction of truth and love. For every crucial conversation...
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Summer Self-Care Webinar Series
The Community Seminar Series: Summer Self-Care What topics are covered in the series? Summer is busy, and it's easy to forget to take care of ourselves while we try to juggle what everyone else needs. Researchers from University of Illinois can help guide your summer health choices. Find a session that's perfect for you, or participate in all of them. Summer Self-Care is a collaboration between University of Illinois Extension and the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute as part of...
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Youth Livestock & Poultry Biosecurity Learning Modules Updated
Updates to a youth biosecurity learning modules series were released in 2022, and incorporate improvements to interactive elements and accessibility. The modules are appropriate for students in grades 6 to 12, FFA and 4-H participants, college students studying animal science, and other agriculturally related youth groups.
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Mental Health Matters| Mental Health Resources for Underrepresented Populations
Underrepresented groups in the United States face unique struggles regarding mental illness. This includes the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities like indigenous groups and people of color. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Other underrepresented groups also include members of the LGBTQ+ community. And it is these populations that are recognized during the month of July for National Minority Mental Health Month. National...
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Pillars of Successful Transition - Models to help Service Members and their Families Prepare for the Military to Civilian Transition
What Extension programs do you have related to these topics that could support service members as they transition to civilian life?
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Pillars of Successful Transition - Models to help Service Members and their Families Prepare for the Military to Civilian Transition
By Jenny Rea, Ph.D. While many separating Service members successfully adapt to civilian life, 40 to 75% describe some difficulties managing this major transition (Castro & Kintzle, 2017; Zoli, Maury, & Fay, 2015). For instance, within the first year of transitioning to civilian life, Veterans face increased challenges with homelessness, family integration, employment, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse, all of which can increase the risk for suicide ( VA,...
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The Military Family as a Cultural Identity - Supporting Families in Transition
Soldier with children | IStock
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Re: Extension's Role in Addressing Social Isolation.
Such an important conversation! Social connection is a part of the definition of mental wellbeing, and is so critical for our work across Extension. View a short video on the difference between mental illness and mental health and another about stress and isolation on the University of Minnesota Extension website.
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Creativity and Imagination
Was reminded of this story Dr. Ken Robinson told in one of his TedTalks... It's the story of a little girl who was in an art lesson. She was drawing. She was six, and at the back of the classroom. The teacher said she hardly ever paid attention but in this lesson, she did. The teacher was curious. She walked over to her, and asked, "What are you drawing?" The girl said, "I'm drawing a picture of God." The teacher stated, "But nobody knows what God looks like." The girl replied, "They will in...
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Practicing Gratitude and Building Better Thoughts
For service providers and clients alike, life is a winding road of good things here and bad things there. Actively working toward wiring your brain to acknowledge the good and appreciating those good things can help individuals shape personal strengths and build protections. Creating protective factors which can help cultivate positive mental health and generate an asset-based outlook that reaches all aspects of life. November is National Gratitude Month Gratitude is the practice of being...
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Celebrating National Rural Health Day 2022
On National Rural Health Day, we celebrate with the #CDC the #PowerofRural, and the many programs and professionals striving to protect rural communities' health through Extension programming and resources! The Extension Foundation is proud to support the critical work many programs are doing to bring health resources, tools and education to rural communities. Below are projects supported by the Extension Foundation that show the impact Cooperative Extension is making in rural communities...
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Smart Holiday Spending and Debt Repayment
In December, many Extension educators field questions about holiday shopping and subsequent debt repayment. Check out these tips to share with clients.
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2022 Program Center Stage
The Extension Foundation 's Program Center Stage series had a great first year , highlighting programs that are doing impactful work across the system . Throughout the year , the series featured Southern University Ag Center Emergency Prep ared ness Response & Recovery , J UN T OS 4-H, New Technologies for Ag Extension ( N TA E ), Extension Collabor ation on Immun ization Education ( EX C ITE ), North Star Legacy Communities , Utah ’ s Remote Work Online Initiative Program , P estic ide...
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The Impact of Deployment on the Parents of Service Members
In summary, most research on the impact of deployment excludes parents of service members and focuses on spouses and military children.
Parents of service members experience military life differently but experience similar emotions as spouses and children. Parental support and closeness has been linked to the mental health and well-being of their adult children. Practical strategies and resources for Extension Educators and service providers are provided to help support the parents of our mil
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Helping Service Members Overcome Stress and Anxiety Challenges
It’s a new year and many of us are getting back into the swing of things after the recent holiday break. Everyone is getting back to work prioritizing their to-do lists for the upcoming year. Many military service members and their families are doing the same. There are many great benefits to serving in the military, for service members and their families as well. Career and educational opportunities as well as fulfilling a sense of purpose. However, as with any great opportunity, there also...
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New Publication: How to Use Digital Dashboards to Improve Program Implementation and Evaluation
How to Use Digital Dashboards to Improve Program Implementation and Evaluation is available on the Extension Foundation’s bookshelf. This case study was written by Amy Patillo, Matthew Pezold, and Karen Funkenbusch from the University of Missouri. It outlines a strategy used by the University of Missouri (MU) Extension to manage and evaluate complex mental and behavioral health initiatives for farmers and rural communities. It highlights the processes and tools used to help a large,...
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"Bridging the GAPS: Approaches to Treating Water On Farms" Curriculum Available as Flipping Book
“Bridging the GAPS: Approaches to Treating Water on Farms” - a curriculum designed to help producers understand and address the regulatory requirements for ag water treatment in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) - has been reissued in a flipping book format by the Extension Foundation. Preventing foodborne illness and protecting public health are critically important to producers. Sanitary irrigation water is also mandated by the USDA; producers are required to monitor, treat, and...
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Resilient Agriculture: Weather Ready publication available on flipping book
Resilient Agriculture: Weather Ready Farms has been reissued as a flipping book by the Extension Foundation. The publication was created by a team of Extension professionals to help the agricultural industry become more resilient to weather extremes, climate variability, and climate change. Based on the Weather Ready Farms model developed by Nebraska Extension, the publication focuses primarily on field crop farms and producers in the Great Plains and Midwest regions of the United States.
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Uplifting the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Youth
An estimated 5% of the 1.76 million youth in military families identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer. Surveyed LGBTQ youth with a parent currently serving in the military that experienced high levels of family support reported lower mental health challenges and suicide risk ( Trevor Project, 2022 ). When youth feel safe at home, their mental wellness is significantly improved. Fostering healthy family relationships translates into protective factors for younger and older...
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Central State University Extension Charters the Dayton Urban Riding Center as the first official 4-H Charter since becoming a Land-Grant Institution in 2014
On Friday, February 3rd, Central State Extension charter’s first official 4-H program with Dayton Urban Riding Center located in Dayton, Ohio According to the National Bureau of Economic Research Between 1890 and 1899, African American jockeys won the Kentucky Derby six times, but by the early 1900s, they were history. In July of 2020 riding clubs like Compton Cowboys and Houston’s Nonstop Riders, shed the spotlight on this disparity when they rode their horses during a protest march. “The...
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Earth Day Climate Resources for Extension Professionals
Extension Foundation works to provide valuable educational and assistance to help producers become more familiar with and use new technologies related to climate to increase climate literacy. Learn more about our @USDA_NIFA-supported outreach and education programs about #climatechange. See our resources below: https://extension.org/portfolio-item/extension-climate-extreme-weather-programming-successes-challenges-opportunities-report/ ...
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"No" isn't negative
"No! Don't touch the hot stove." "No! Don't text and drive." In these examples, "no" is actually positive to alert us from burning ourselves and not driving while distracted. In other situations, primarily in our professional lives, we perceive saying "no" will be viewed as negative. This leads to saying "yes" to much more than we can accomplish and the mistaken idea that if we're busy it means we're valued more. Does always being busy with more equal accomplishing more? Here's a scenario...
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Rural Health Education Lecture Series part 2 April 25th 11am CST
Community Health Engagement and Outreach invites you to join a bimonthly lecture series featuring renowned experts in the topic of resilience. Service providers, educators, and community members will engage in practical content related to stress, coping, and health equity. As part of a Rural Health Safety Education (RHSE) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), we strive to increase capacity for research- and evidence-based substance misuse prevention and resilience...
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GET MORE GRATITUDE!
What is gratitude ? It's a sense of wonder, thankfulness & appreciation for life . Gratitude helps increase optimism for life. It promotes positive thinking. It helps us cope with daily stress & traumatic events. Appreciating things in our life and focusing on the positive can help us move forward with purpose. Gratitude can also strengthen our relationships. People who feel gratitude towards others feel closer to them and report overall better relationships, even if they don't...
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The Impact of Food Insecurity on Mental Health
When families experience food insecurity, hunger may be only one result. An often-overlooked factor of insufficient access to food is the detrimental impact on mental health. Adults with low food security are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and heightened stress [1]. Socio-economic background, race, culture, and location all play a role in the development of one’s psychological well-being. Historically marginalized groups are already at a disproportionate disadvantage to being...
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Spotlight on Youth Mental Well-Being in Military Families
Edited by: Anna Peterson Written by: Karen Shirer, Ph.D. The popular media continues to draw attention to the national mental well-being crisis among children and youth, including those in military families. The CBS television station affiliate in Minnesota, WCCO-4, recently aired a three-part series on the pandemic’s impact on youth mental health . The reporter, Esme Murphy, interviewed the following national experts on youth development regarding the crisis: Doctor Sarah Jerstad, the...
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Rural Health Education Lecture Series part 3 June 27th 11am CST
Community Health Engagement and Outreach invites you to join a bimonthly lecture series featuring renowned experts in the topic of resilience. Service providers, educators, and community members will engage in practical content related to stress, coping, and health equity. As part of a Rural Health Safety Education (RHSE) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), we strive to increase capacity for research- and evidence-based substance misuse prevention and resilience...
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Social Determinants of Health for Military Families in Transition
By: Jenny Rea, Ph.D. , Edited by Anna Peterson Arizona is home to 500,000+ service members, veterans, and their families. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Arizona Coalition for Military Families’ 13th Annual Statewide Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona. This annual event is Arizona’s only conference that brings together the military, government, and community. The symposium focuses on strengthening services and support for Arizona’s military-connected population. As Extension...
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Toxic Leadership
What is toxic leadership? Using coercive, controlling, or manipulative tactics prioritizes personal gain over meaningful goals undermining collaborative achievements. When our actions hurt those we are charged with caring for, it can damage relationships and the whole organization. Common Characteristics Micromanagement Excessive control and monitoring of others leave little space for autonomy or independence. It inhibits creativity and imagination. Intimidation Using threats, humiliation,...
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What keeps senior leaders up at night?
Our family had the pleasure of being stationed in Tokyo, Japan while my wife and I were in the U.S. Air Force. While Japan and the other countries we visited were amazing, it was a particularly complicated time in the Pacific region. Most notably, North Korea's leader was threatening war. Additionally, many career fields in the Air Force lacked the people to sustain the operational pace required to maintain peace and stability in the region. Because of these situations, several military...