By Jessica Williams
Less than a year after receiving a $2.35 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA), the Southern Region Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN South) is making significant strides in strengthening support systems for farmers, ranchers and agricultural communities across the South.
Led by faculty and Extension specialists from NC State Extension and the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, FRSAN South was established to enhance regional collaboration, increase access to resources and improve the capacity of organizations addressing farm stress and mental health challenges. The network serves 13 Southern states and two U.S. territories through a hub-and-spoke model that connects partners, resources and expertise.
Since launching, the project has focused on building the civic infrastructure needed to support a sustainable and impactful regional network.
Building the Network
One of the network’s first accomplishments was establishing a fully staffed hub team, including a project manager, communications coordinator, operations coordinator and evaluation specialist. This dedicated team has created the operational capacity necessary to coordinate activities, support partners and advance the network’s goals across the region.
Source : ncsu.edu