RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Institute's most significant accomplishments have been our interactive and innovative training programs as well as the creation of new trainings to meet the capacity building needs identified by our member organizations. We have created a training on utilizing the Popular Education Methodology to develop common strategies around organizing as well as our newest training on an OSHA-sponsored health and safety training for mushroom packaging workers. We have recently revised and updated our training for health providers to improve care to farmworkers exposed to pesticides. This is very timely given the national initiative on improving health professionals' recognition, treatment and reporting of pesticide-related illnesses, as well as recent media attention in Florida about the possible connection between farmworkers' exposure to pesticides and birth defects.

During the summer of 2004, the Institute created a 16-minute documentary on farmworker health and its relation to consumer health in regards to the agricultural use of pesticides. This video also makes the connection between farmworkers and other communities of color in the environmental justice movement. This video can be used as a tool to educate consumers and other environmental groups about farmworkers' health and safety and how it is intricately connected to the well being of the larger community and environment.

Farmworker Health and Safety Institute Accomplishments (pdf form)