In this episode of Cultivating Health Connections, we delve into the innovative strategies employed by Finger Lakes Community Health and Blue Grass Community Health to enhance healthcare access for agricultural workers and their families. The NCFH 2024 IAC Promising Practice Award winners promising practices that have transformed care delivery in their communities. Join us as we explore the intersection of healthcare and agricultural communities, highlighting initiatives that prioritize inclusivity and improve health outcomes for those who feed our nation.

See our webpage:
https://www.ncfh.org/ncfh-blog

Listen in to this new episode featuring NCFH’s 2023 selected Artist of the Year, Arcadio Viveros. He shared with us his inspiration for the “Virgen Campesina” art piece, which was unveiled at the annual National Conference for Agricultural Worker Health hosted by the National Association of Community Health. This Commemorative Artwork supports the NCFH Scholarship Program through art sales and assists health center staff in their workforce development and to pursue their educational goals in healthcare. Chime in to hear Arcadio’s story describing his connection to the farmworker population and involvement in the Migrant Health Movement. Be inspired to activate change, like he did, and become a Farmworker Champion today!

Read more about our Commemorative Artwork here and purchase Art from the Heart on our website.

See our webpage:
https://www.ncfh.org/ncfh-blog

Welcome to NCFH's Podcast and 1st episode!
This episode is a discussion of agricultural employers and their important role in promoting the health and well-being of farmworkers and their families. We specifically explore the concept of Total Worker Health, which is an occupational health and safety framework from the CDC that is not usually applied to the agriculture industry. We bring together three agricultural employers, a medical doctor who's also a Total Worker Health expert, and the head of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, to discuss how the time and energy needed to make sure farmworkers have proper health care access brings benefits to both the employer and the employees.
https://www.ncfh.org/ncfh-blog

Read more on Total Worker Health:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/twh/totalhealth.html

A specific note for listeners: at the 34:40 point, one of the speakers makes a claim about COVID-19 test positivity rates between H-2A workers and between the general U.S. population between February and May of 2021. The average positivity rate of H-2A workers who were preparing to come into the United States during that time was indeed 1.3%, according to a study conducted by the CDC with nearly 1,200 H-2A workers. However, the positivity rate of the U.S. population was slightly lower than claimed, fluctuating between 5.9% and 2.2% during the same time period.

Sources:

1. CDC study of H2A workers https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37639043/
2. Positivity rates for US population: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklyhospitaladmissions_testpositivity_00

See our webpage:
https://www.ncfh.org/ncfh-blog