EVENTS

Research intern Grace Anne Dela Cruz, now extension assistant, presented the data findings of the Agricultural Producer Stress Survey at NIH/NIDDK's Virtual Symposium as part of her participation in the program. 

Research intern Grace Anne Dela Cruz, now extension assistant, presented the data findings of the Agricultural Producer Stress Survey at the IOA-LSAMP conference as part of her participation in the National Institutes of Health/NIDDK's Short-Term Research Experience Program to Unlock Potential (STEP-UP) 2022 cohort. 

Our team hosted a conference in collaboration with the College of Micronesia (COM-FSM). Local and national partners, such as Guam Behavioral Health & Wellness Center (GBHWC) and the Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP), came to share their resources and information about their respective programs. The conference covered various health and wellness topics like coping mechanisms, resiliency building, nutrition and cooking, and how to use writing for wellness and reflection. 

Our team traveled to Pohnpei, FSM to host this training for local agriculture workers and staff at the College of Micronesia (COM-FSM). The UOG Farmer Focus team has two employees who are certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructors under the National Council of Mental Wellbeing. The goal of this training was to equip individuals who work closely with local farmers with key skills and resources necessary for addressing various mental health challenges and situations. All training participants received certification following the conclusion of the course. 

To touch on some of the topics of interest indicated by our local community, such as nutrition and stress management, we hosted another wellness workshop. The first half of this workshop was dedicated to discussing coping strategies, specifically in situations that local farmers are susceptible to, such as natural disasters, work-related injuries, and farm accidents. The second half focused on proper meat selection and preparation, covering how to differentiate between different cuts of pork and beef along with where they are sourced on the animal, how to assess the quality of the meat you are purchasing based on its marbling and maturity, and how to properly cook meat to prevent foodborne illness and infections. 

Our project partnered with UOG's Family and Consumer Sciences branch to host sessions at the Guahan Academy Charter School during their after-school program. The students were taught how to take care of an indoor plant and the benefits that come with maintaining one. This series of workshops allowed us to expand our reach beyond our typical farmer demographic and find ways to better support our general island community. 

Extension personnel were given an opportunity to be trained in Mental Health First Aid to supplement their outreach efforts and to strengthen their skills in handling potential crisis situations.