What We Do

AGRIWELLNESS, INC.

what we do

AgriWellness, Inc. provides administrative services and technical assistance to the Sowing the Seeds of Hope (SSoH) projects in seven states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. Begun in 1999, the 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.

Core services offered in each state include the following:

Outreach to identify persons in need of services

Training and education of behavioral health care providers, community health workers, natural helpers, the faith community and others who serve the agricultural population

Education of community citizens about agricultural behavioral health issues

Information clearinghouses

Crisis hotlines for the agricultural population

Direct services through vouchers, contracts with approved providers and other means to ensure that all the agricultural population has access to necessary services

Prevention of more serious difficulties through early intervention

Coalition building with organizations, agencies and communities

Advocacy for behavioral health care of the underserved agricultural population

Social marketing through publications, press releases and other media activities

Retreats and support group activities for farm couples and families

In partnership with the State Public Policy Group, AgriWellness is working to establish a National Center for Rural/Agricultural Behavioral Health. The concept of a National Center has been endorsed by the National Rural Health Association and the National Association for Rural Mental Health. A National Center for Rural/Agricultural Behavioral Health is needed to bring particular focus to the unaddressed stress, mental health and addictions of the agricultural community. A National Center will:

Undertake research on critical behavioral health issues of the agricultural population

Serve as a repository and clearinghouse for information about agricultural behavioral health

Formation of policy concerning behavioral health service delivery in agricultural and rural communities
Conduct research on "how to make agriculture more psychologically healthy"
Teach and promote agricultural behavioral health as part of the preparation of professionals to work with the agricultural population

Develop agricultural behavioral health and safety practices which reduce health risks and stigma about behavioral health services among the agricultural population

Provide technical support and consultation to educational institutions, health service delivery programs, government planning agencies and organizations which assist the rural agricultural population and the professionals who serve them

Building hope and health in the rural agricultural community.