What is it about?
A national conference on agricultural behavioral health and safety.

Purpose

• Explore and identify best mental health practices, addictions treatments and safety education with the agricultural population, research and provider training.
  
• Explore integration of behavioral health services (i.e., mental health, addictions and other social services) and programs aimed at preventing health risks for the agricultural population into primary care settings, faith-based services and other programs for the agricultural population.
  
• The conference will determine the need and feasibility for a National Center for Agricultural Behavioral Health which undertakes research, training and offers technical assistance to providers, organizations, policy makers and agencies which have roles in the behavioral health care of the agricultural population.

Sponsors
AgriWellness, Inc., on behalf of the Sowing the Seeds of Hope partners in seven states (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin), along with the State Public Policy Group, with headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa and the National Rural Health Association, with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri.

Additional Sponsors
Farm Foundation
Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health
Iowa State University Extension Service
Office of Rural Health Policy
Pioneer International
Prairielands Addiction Technology Transfer Center
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Association for Rural Mental Health

Acknowledgements
The conference planning committee is pleased to make these proceedings available. Special thanks are due to the State Public Policy Group for producing this website. Thank you also to the National Rural Health Association, who along with the State Public Policy Group and AgriWellness, Inc. were the main sponsors of the conference. We are grateful to the additional sponsors who recognized the importance of this event. This was the first conference of its kind. Participants came from 19 states, Canada and Australia. Conference participants requested that we meet regularly, so plans are already underway for the next conference. If you have questions and/or comments, please contact AgriWellness, Inc. at: [email protected].

Michael R. Rosmann, Ph.D.
Conference Chair