LOCAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO HELP FARM PEOPLE ADJUST



ize that they are not alone and that farm business failure does not
mean personal or family failure. Those who lose their farms must
deal with lost pride and must reestablish new goals in life.

For families moving off the farm, there may be a need for short-
term assistance for food and shelter. Educational programs, job train-
ing and relocation assistance may be needed.

Local Resources. Major resources are the community groups and
agencies including churches, ministerial associations, mental health
agencies, social service agencies, job service, labor unions, chambers
of commerce, lender groups, local farm organizations, social organi-
zations, senior citizen groups and United States Department of Agri-
culture (USDA) agencies. Local government units may provide
mental health services, social services, welfare and workfare. Some
of these groups can be active in soliciting volunteers for various serv-
ices needed.

Universities, community colleges and vocational schools are re-
sources for job training. Private firms might provide on-the- job train-
ing and employment.

Family members and friends can help identify signs of depression,
but they may need training. Youth groups, such as 4-H and informal
peer groups, can provide emotional support to the youth in the fami-
lies under stress. Local groups such as marketing clubs, computer
clubs or management clubs might provide emotional support as well
as providing an opportunity to improve skills. Farmers who have ex-
ited from farming might serve as resource persons; however, one dis-
cussant had encountered some resistance when attempting to have a
farmer talking to farmers.

There may be opportunity to develop video tapes on pertinent top-
ics for use by local groups, extension homemaker clubs or for individ-
ual use.

Initiating Extension Efforts. Extension administrators need to le-
gitimize and provide incentives for shifting field and state staff time
from other program efforts to programs that help farm families make
adjustments. Some present programs might be repackaged to reduce
staff time.

Local extension advisory committees should be encouraged to rec-
ognize the need for the family support programs and be involved in
setting extension program priorities. Field staff should be trained to
recognize their roles as coordinators of programs and be able to rec-
ognize symptoms of stress but not to do family stress counseling.
Finally, the local extension field staff can play key roles in coordinat-
ing local resources, agencies and support efforts for farm families
under financial and emotional stress.

121



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