L to R:  David Lambert, President of the National Association for Rural Mental Health, Michael Rosmann, Executive Director of AgriWellness, Inc., Anne Helene Skinstad, Prairielands Addiction Technology Transfer Center for former board member, and Jim Meek, AgriWellness, Inc. Board President at the May 29 – 30, 2003 conference, The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference”

Introduction

AgriWellness, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation founded in 2001 to improve the behavioral healthcare of the agricultural population, comprised of farmers, ranchers, farm workers and the associated farm business community and their families.  With headquarters located at Harlan, Iowa, AgriWellness, Inc. serves a seven-state region comprised of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

AgriWellness, Inc.

1210 7th Street, Suite C

Harlan, IA  51537

Phone:  (712) 235-6100

Fax:  (712) 235-6105

Email:  [email protected]

“AgriWellness promotes accessible behavioral health services for underserved and at-risk populations affected by the rural crisis in agricultural communities.”

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Board Officers

Jim Meek, President

Iowa State University Extension

Diane Patton, Vice President
Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa

Arlie Sholes, Treasurer
Nebraska Rural Response Hotline

Margaret Van Ginkel, Secretary
ISU Extension, Iowa Concern Hotline

Kathy Schmitt, At-Large Member
Wisconsin Farm Center

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Board of Directors

Mary Amundson
Center for Rural Health,
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

 Dennis Berens
Nebraska Office of Rural Health

 Ron Brand
Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs

Charlie Griffin
School of Family Studies and Human Services, KSU

Linda Hessman
Dodge City, KS

Bev Loy
Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board

Marilyn Mecham
Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska

Marcene Moran
Behavioral Health Consultation, Sioux Falls, SD

Lynda Muller
Easter Seals South Dakota

Linda Penisten
Sioux Falls, SD

Clair Prody
Lakeland Mental Health Center, Inc., Fergus Falls, MN

Kathy Schmitt
Wisconsin Farm Center

Ronald Swanson
Galt, IA

Chris Tilden
Kansas Department of Health

Bonnie Turner
Rural Response Coalition, Fargo, North Dakota

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Executive Summary

In 2003 AgriWellness, Inc. matured into a more diversified and stable organization to improve the behavioral healthcare of agricultural producers.  Check out our list of accomplishments and our list of publications, professional presentations and other works completed during the past year.  You’ll see that AgriWellness is having an impact throughout the United States and beyond our borders. 

Farm prices increased for many commodities in 2003, which enabled many farm families to pay some bills and make some much needed improvements after five successive years of increasing debt.  Improvements in the farm economy have not helped all agricultural producers, however, because drought, storms, inconsistencies in commodity prices and many other factors hampered the well-being of many in the agricultural population.  Stress continues to take its toll on the human spirit!  The number of farm and ranch families lacking health insurance increased last year, making our mission of “promoting accessible behavioral health services for underserved and at-risk populations affected by the rural crisis in agricultural communities” all the more important. 

Our work is attracting attention.  The National Geographic Television Network asked us to help document social and psychological changes occurring in the agricultural community.  Six additional states have indicated interest in joining the Sowing the Seeds of Hope program.  Next year looks even better in terms of financial support for our work, thanks to many funders who have joined in our efforts.   

The AgriWellness Board of Directors, its officers, employees, sponsors and project partners are pleased to provide this annual report and we hope to inspire you to join us in building a more secure and healthy agricultural population.

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Accomplishments of 2003

·        Begun in 1999, the Sowing the Seeds of Hope (SSoH) project was designed and initiated by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health and Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association and supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health Policy and Bureau of Primary Health Care.  In addition to assistance from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, support for SSoH activities in 2003 was provided by congressional appropriations administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and by state funds, several private foundations and contributions.  AgriWellness assumed administrative responsibility for SSoH work in 2002.

·        Our project partners in the SSoH region include:  Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, the Kansas Rural Family Helpline, the Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs, Inc., Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota, Easter Seals South Dakota and the Wisconsin Farm Center of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

·        Working together in 2003, AgriWellness and our project partners provided the following SSoH services:

§         Outreach to 6,720 individuals/families

§         Professional training to 777 providers

§         Reached 2,651 persons in community education events

§         Our crisis hotlines responded to more than 15,000 calls

§         1,235 farm residents received counseling services

§         Responded to 8,852 requests for information through our clearinghouses

§         Project leaders met with 2,298 persons to build coalitions of support

§         Delivered more than 3,000,000 pieces of literature

§         Conducted educational retreats reaching 103 different persons

§         Conducted ongoing support group meetings for 30 individuals

·        Funds which have assisted AgriWellness and the Sowing the Seeds of Hope partners in 2003 included the following: 

§         A contract with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to provide support for behavioral health services during a transition phase, while a network outreach grant was being considered;

§         A network outreach grant for $200,000 annually, renewable for two additional years;

§         With assistance from Senator Charles Grassley, the SSoH region received a $100,000 congressional appropriation for mental health services for the agricultural population;

·        With the State Public Policy Group, located in Des Moines, and the National Rural Health Association, sponsored a first-of-its-kind conference, The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference, attended by 119 persons from 19 states and three counties (Australia, Canada and the United States).  Additional sponsors were the Farm Foundation, the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, the Iowa State University Extension Service, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Pioneer International, Prairielands Addiction Technology Transfer Center, the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Association for Rural Mental Health.

·        Conference Achievements:

§         Explored and identified best mental health practices, addictions treatment and safety education with the agricultural population

§         Explored how best to integrate behavioral health services to primary care settings, faith-based services and other programs for the agricultural population

§         Conference attendees endorsed the need for a national center dedicated to improving behavioral health of the rural and agricultural population which undertakes research, training and offers technical assistance to providers, organizations, policy makers and agencies which have roles in the behavioral health of the agricultural population

·        Carried out a two-day strategic planning session in Council Bluffs, Iowa with project leaders from the seven states.

·        Received approval of a network outreach grant from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy for three years. 

·        Six other states have requested to join the SSoH region; consideration is being given to their requests.

·        Recognized Fred Moskol and Sarah Lewis of the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association for their work instigating the SSoH program at The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference. 

·        Recognized Larry and Linda Barber of Anita, Iowa for their willingness to speak out publicly about the needs for behavioral health supports for the agricultural population at The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference

·        In cooperation with the State Public Policy Group, conducted “At The Table” forums to gather information from the farm population and consumers of behavioral health services about barriers that hamper effective healthcare delivery.   

·        Contributed to several National Geographic Today programs on the National Geographic Television Network about the changing structure of agriculture and life on the farm and ranch. 

·        The Sowing the Seeds of Hope program was selected for inclusion in Rural Healthy People 2010:  A Companion Document to Health People 2010, a report prepared by the Southwest Rural Health Research Center, Texas A & M University and published by the School of Rural Public Health in 2003. 

·        The consortium made up of Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, the Iowa Concern Hotline, the Iowa State University Extension Program and AgriWellness, Inc. received the 2003 Iowa Community Health Prize, awarded by Iowa Health Systems and the Iowa Farm Bureau Foundation, which include a $6,000 cash award.   

·        AgriWellness administrative staff provided keynote addresses about work to the Wyoming Rural Health Conference, the Tri-State Cow/Calf Symposium and the Utah Rural Health Conference.   

·        AgriWellness staff conducted provider training at the University of Iowa, Clarkson College in Omaha, workshops at Denison, Oelwein and Mason City, Iowa, the University of South Dakota, the Knoxville Veterans Administration Hospital, a retreat for pastors in Nebraska which was sponsored by Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, the All Programs meeting sponsored by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy in Washington, DC and the Suicide Prevention Conference for Regions VII and VIII in Westminster, Colorado.   

·        AgriWellness staff made presentations at the Fifth International Symposium addressing health and life issues for rural people at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and helped host a daylong special session devoted to the relationship between thought and action in agricultural health and safety, organized by the Saskatchewan Farm Stress Unit. 

·        AgriWellness staff provided technical assistance to SSoH partners in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. 

·        AgriWellness committees include the following:  budget committee (Arlie Sholes, Marcene Moran and Charlie Griffin) and personnel committee (Margaret Van Ginkel, Linda Hessman and Bev Loy). 

·        A research advisory committee comprised of Mary Amundson, Mary Wakefield and Sharon Wilsnack of the University of North Dakota, Jim Meek of Iowa State University, Keith Mueller of University of Nebraska Medical Center and Michael Rosmann of AgriWellness, Inc. submitted a research proposal to the National Institute of Mental Health.  The research project proposes to evaluate farm crisis services. 

·        AgriWellness provided technical assistance to Clarkson College in Omaha, Nebraska to develop Hispanic health education tracks in their nursing program and allied health careers.  Funds for this work were received from the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health to investigate the health concerns of Hispanic residents of rural Nebraska and western Iowa and to determine interests of Hispanic residents in health careers. 

·        On behalf of the SSoH region, AgriWellness has submitted nine grants, mainly to federal agencies, to request funds to provide behavioral health supports for the agricultural population in the region.

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Publications, Presentations and Other Works

Publications

Griffin, C., & Bosch, K. (2003).  Weathering tough times:  Responding to drought related needs of farm and ranch families.   Paper presented at The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference, Kansas City, MO.

Moran, M. R. (2003).  Couple’s retreat:  Alternative rural mental health prevention care.  Paper presented at The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference, Kansas City, MO.

Nathan, P., Skinstad, A. H., Schut, A., & McNeese, R. (2003).  Substance abuse in rural America:  A growing epidemic?  Workshop presented at The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference, Kansas City, MO.

Rosmann, M. R. (2003).  Agricultural behavioral health in critical need.  In B. Duerst (Ed.), Partners in Agricultural Health.  Madison, WI:  The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health.

Rosmann, M. R. (June 21, 2003).  Farmers need better behavioral health care.  Guest editorial.  Iowa Farmer Today, 2.

Rosmann, M. R. (October, 2003).  Behavioral health supports for the agricultural population.  Rural Roads, 1(2), 10-12.

Rosmann, M. R. (October, 2003).  Behavioral health access for farm and ranch families.  Paper presented at Fifth International Symposium:  Future of Rural Peoples, Rural Economy, Healthy People, Environment, Rural Communities, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (proceedings in press). 

Rosmann, M.R. (October, 2003).  Meeting the challenges of suicide prevention in rural and frontier areas.  Paper presented at the Region VII and VIII Suicide Prevention Conference, Westminster, CO.

Rosmann, M. R., & Stallones, L. (Fall, 2003).  Farm pesticides and depression.  Rural Clinician Quarterly, Fall, 2003.

Schmitt, K. (2003).  Using coalitions to improve access to affordable rural health care.  Paper presented at The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference, Kansas City, MO.

Van Ginkel, M., DeWitz, J., Griffin, C., Mecham, M., & Schmitt, K. (2003).  Making a farm connection through the hotline.  Workshop presented at The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference, Kansas City, MO.

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Our Staff

Michael R. Rosmann, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and farmer, is the executive director.  Dr. Rosmann has a history of many years of dedication to improving behavioral health care supports for the rural agricultural population.  In 2002 he was honored for his work by the National Association for Rural Mental Health with its Victor I. Howery Award, given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to rural mental health. 

Deborah J. Marxen is the office manager and the administrative assistant for AgriWellness, Inc.  Always projecting a cordial and professional demeanor, she is usually the friendly voice that telephone callers hear when contacting the AgriWellness office in Harlan.  Deb is also responsible for the bookkeeping of the organization.  Deb is fully aware of the sacrifices faced by agriculturists and very supportive of work that AgriWellness undertakes to improve the livelihood of the farm population.

Linda A. Schiltz is a part-time secretary who also helps keep the office running.  A farm resident, a farm wife and a farm mother, Linda understands the challenges faced by the agricultural population.

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AgriWellness Financial Position

The AgriWellness financial position improved in 2003, thanks to grants from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, a U.S. Senate appropriation and many funders for our conference, The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference. 

Income

Expenses

Muxfeldt & Associates, CPA, PC completed an independent audit of AgriWellness, Inc. in 2003 which found all accounts in conformity. 

Contributions to AgriWellness, Inc. include the following:

·        $3,193 in-kind supplies and equipment by Michael Rosmann.

·        $50 by an anonymous donor.

Fred Moskol and Sarah Lewis receiving awards for their instrumental roles in creating the Sowing the Seeds of Hope program.  Jim Meek, AgriWellness Board President, presented their awards at the conference, The Clock is Ticking for Rural America:  A Behavioral Health and Safety Conference.

Sometimes rain comes too abundantly, as this photo of Iowa farmland shows.

View Annual Report 2002