A struggling farm economy, at the same time as COVID and other production, social, and cultural challenges, has been difficult and even destructive for farm families. And these challenges don’t just affect the well-being of farm and ranch owners; they also impact family members. Children and adolescents may be living in tense situations, feeling isolated, and have little ability to make sense of what is going on around them. Caring adults in the community can make a big difference.
In this series of four interactive 45-minute sessions, you’ll develop insights and skills to help you recognize, understand, and support farm youth experiencing stress.
Who should attend? Teachers, coaches, school counselors, school administrators, 4-H leaders, scout leaders, FFA advisers, pastors, social workers, mental health professionals, health care providers, and others who work with farm youth.
Time: 8:30-9:15 a.m. each day
Schedule:
- Monday, December 7 – Factors and expression: why are farm youth stressed, and how does stress manifest itself?
- Tuesday, December 8 – How stress impacts adolescents’ emotional and cognitive development
- Wednesday, December 9 – Building intentional relationships with farm youth
- Thursday, December 10 – Building community initiatives to support farm youth
Continuing education credits (CEUs): Participants who complete the course can request a certificate of attendance to use for self-certification.
Accessibility: Individuals who have a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event please contact Stephen Moser at 651-201-6012 or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 711.
About the Presenter:
Monica Kramer McConkey, LPC has 25 years of experience in the behavioral health field as a child and adolescent counselor, program supervisor, administrator. She grew up on a farm in Northwest Minnesota and has intimate understanding of the dynamics that contribute to farm stress and its impact on farm families. Monica’s therapy practice serves farmers and farm families in Minnesota free of charge through a program funded by the Minnesota Legislature. She is a frequent speaker/presenter on topics related to farming and mental health at meetings and conferences and provides consulting services to agricultural organizations and other mental health professionals.
This workshop is supported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2018-38640-28416 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ENC18-170. The MDA and USDA are equal opportunity employers and service providers. The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this workshop do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
