Project Grant 20247002843314

AGRICULTURE IS AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BEDROCK OF THE UNITED STATES, YET FOR DECADES, FARMERS AND RANCHERS HAVEENDURED GROWING CHALLENGES THAT INCREASE THEIR LEVELS OF STRESS. THE SUICIDE RATES AMONG FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL MANAGERS IN 2012 AND 2015 WERE 44.9 AND 32.2 PER 100,000, RESPECTIVELY, WHILE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WAS 12.9 IN 2012 AND 13.7 IN 2015 (MURPHY ET AL., 2015, 2017). ALTHOUGH MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NORTHEAST PROVIDE SOME OF THESE SERVICES, UNTIL THE 2019 LAUNCH OF THE FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE NETWORK - NORTHEAST (FRSAN-NORTHEAST), THEY WERE NOT EFFECTIVELY WORKING TOGETHER AND WERE UNABLE TO EASILY CONNECT A FARMER CLIENT WITH THE ARRAY OF SERVICES NEEDED TO FULLY ADDRESS THEIR CRISIS.THE FRSAN-NORTHEAST PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF FARM STRESS ASSISTANCE IN THE NORTHEAST REGION BY ENHANCING AND EXPANDING AN EXISTING NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS. THE NETWORK WORKS TOGETHER TO BUILD AND EQUIP A NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND FINANCIAL HEALTH OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, WORKERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES INCLUDING RI, CT, ML, WV, NH, ME, MA, VT, PA, NY, DE, AND WASHINGTON DC. ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION AND A LEADERSHIP BOARD, FRSAN-NORTHEAST AIMSTO INCREASE USER-FRIENDLY RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR ALL FARMERS IN THE REGION.