Extension programs must often adapt to meet the needs of those they serve. Purdue University\u27s Breaking New Ground (BNG) Resource Center, while focused mainly on the assistive technology needs of agricultural workers with disabilities, realized that the caregivers of these individuals could also benefit from instruction and educational resources. This article describes the development of BNG\u27s caregiver initiative and shares lessons learned from several years of workshop coordination

Field, William

Jones, Paul

English

Clemson University: TigerPrints

The Journal of Extension Volume 43 Number 3 Article 22 6-1-2005 Caregiving in the Heartland: Outreach Through Adaptation and Collaboration Paul Jones Purdue University, jonesp@purdue.edu William Field Purdue University, field@purdue.edu This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Jones, P., & Field, W. (2005). Caregiving in the Heartland: Outreach Through Adaptation and Collaboration. The Journal of Extension, 43(3), Article 22. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol43/iss3/22 This Ideas at Work is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Journal of Extension by an authorized editor of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact kokeefe@clemson.edu. 	 JOEHOME JOURNAL GUIDELINES ABOUT	JOE CONTACT NATIONAL	JOB	BANKCurrent	Issues Back	IssuesJune	2005	//	Volume	43	//	Number	3	//	Ideas	at	Work	//	3IAW4Caregiving	in	the	Heartland:	Outreach	Through	Adaptation	andCollaborationAbstractExtension	programs	must	often	adapt	to	meet	the	needs	of	those	they	serve.	PurdueUniversity's	Breaking	New	Ground	(BNG)	Resource	Center,	while	focused	mainly	on	the	assistivetechnology	needs	of	agricultural	workers	with	disabilities,	realized	that	the	caregivers	of	theseindividuals	could	also	benefit	from	instruction	and	educational	resources.	This	article	describesthe	development	of	BNG's	caregiver	initiative	and	shares	lessons	learned	from	several	years	ofworkshop	coordination.	IntroductionSince	1979,	the	mission	of	Purdue	University's	Breaking	New	Ground	(BNG)	Resource	Center	hasbeen	to	assist	farmers	and	ranchers	with	physical	disabilities.	The	program's	services	often	takethe	form	of	technical	information	on	such	topics	as	equipment	modification	and	farmsteadaccessibility.	Additionally,	since	1998,	BNG	has	provided	leadership	for	the	planning	andconducting	of	a	series	of	workshops	for	caregivers	of	people	with	disabilities.	The	14	sessions	havedrawn	nearly	900	attendees,	many	from	rural	communities.At	first	glance,	it	may	seem	incongruous	for	a	program	located	in	an	agricultural	engineeringdepartment	to	address	caregiving	issues,	because	these	matters	are	normally	the	domain	of	thoseinvolved	in	social	work,	family	life	education,	or	nursing.	However,	BNG's	outreach	to	caregivershas	been	a	logical	expansion	of	its	core	services	to	agricultural	workers	with	disabilities.Adapting	to	Meet	NeedsThough	focused	primarily	on	assistive	technology	issues	during	the	early	years	of	the	program,	theBNG	staff	realized	that	it	is	not	only	the	person	with	the	disability	who	struggles	to	adjust	tolifestyle	changes--there	is	usually	a	caregiver,	frequently	a	family	member,	who	also	needsassistance.	For	example,	following	a	disabling	injury	or	illness,	spouses	are	key	players	in	therehabilitation	process,	but	are	often	thrust	into	caregiving	responsibilities	with	no	forewarning	ortraining.Therefore,	to	assist	caregivers	in	transitioning	to	their	new	roles,	BNG	in	1997	developed	ToEverything	There	is	a	Season,	a	resource	kit	for	rural	caregivers	consisting	of	a	video	andworkbook	for	caregivers,	plus	a	leader's	guide	for	professionals	interested	in	conducting	workshopsfor	caregivers.	In	developing	the	resources,	BNG	staff	members	referred	to	existing	caregivingmaterials	and	consulted	directly	with	caregivers	and	experts	in	Purdue's	Department	of	ChildDevelopment	and	Family	Studies.	The	materials	focused	on	such	topics	as	the	impact	of	disability,caring	for	caregiver,	commitment	to	marriage,	and	healthy	communication.	This	effort	wasPaul	JonesManager,	Breaking	New	Ground	Resource	Centerjonesp@purdue.eduWilliam	FieldProfessor	and	Extension	Safety	Specialistfield@purdue.eduPurdue	UniversityWest	Lafayette,	Indianatargeted	toward	farm	and	ranch	women	because	severe	farm-related	injuries	predominantly	affectmale	workers.Workshop	DevelopmentIn	addition	to	distributing	the	To	Everything	There	Is	a	Season	materials	to	professionals	in	morethan	18	states	through	the	USDA/CSREES	AgrAbility	Program,	BNG	secured	funding	from	theIndiana	State	Department	of	Health	(ISDH)	in	1998	to	conduct	a	workshop	for	caregivers	based	onthe	resource	kit.	In	1999,	funding	was	again	acquired	from	ISDH	to	plan	a	series	of	caregiverworkshops	to	be	held	at	various	sites	around	Indiana.	These	Caregiving	in	the	Heartland	workshopsgrew	from	two	in	2000,	to	three	in	2001,	to	four	each	in	2002	and	2003.Each	workshop	lasted	for	approximately	6	hours	and	was	comprised	of	plenary	and	concurrentsessions.	Some	of	the	topics	commonly	addressed	included	financial	planning,	stressmanagement,	navigating	the	social	service	system,	transportation	issues,	and	caregiving	forspecial	populations,	such	as	those	with	Alzheimer's	disease	and	arthritis.	Humor	was	also	anessential	component	of	the	sessions,	because	planners	recognized	the	importance	of	making	theworkshops	a	day	of	respite	for	the	attendees.The	thrust	of	Caregiving	in	the	Heartland	shifted	somewhat	in	2004.	Instead	of	multiple	regionalworkshops,	a	single	train-the-trainer	workshop	was	conducted	for	professionals	and	volunteersworking	with	caregivers.	Sessions	focused	on	equipping	professionals	to	serve	as	resourcespecialists	for	caregivers	and	conduct	caregiver	workshops	in	their	own	communities.As	part	of	the	2004	caregiving	outreach	effort,	BNG	also	developed	http://www.ruralcare.info,	aWeb	site	for	rural	caregivers.	The	site	includes	a	variety	of	resources,	including	electronic	versionsof	BNG's	To	Everything	There	is	a	Season	materials	for	caregivers,	and	numerous	links	to	otherorganizations	that	can	benefit	caregivers.The	Importance	of	CollaborationIn	facilitating	the	planning	process,	BNG	staff	members	strived	to	partner	with	as	many	interestedorganizations	as	possible.	Some	of	the	main	players	over	the	years	have	included	the	state'scenters	for	independent	living,	the	Arthritis	Foundation,	Attain	(the	state's	assistive	technologyproject),	and	regional	Area	Agencies	on	Aging.	In	addition,	representatives	from	10	of	the	state'scounty	Extension	offices	participated	in	the	planning	process	through	the	years.While	BNG	staff	members	led	the	overall	organizational	effort,	each	workshop	also	had	a	localplanning	committee	responsible	for	tasks	such	as	making	on-site	arrangements	and	securing	localspeakers.	The	BNG	staff	recognized	the	need	to	allow	freedom	to	local	planners,	thereby	enablingthem	to	feel	that	they	were	essential	stakeholders	in	the	effort.More	than	50	organizations	have	participated	in	planning	or	sponsoring	the	workshops.	Thenetworking	and	collaborative	relationships	developed	through	the	workshop	planning	process	havebeen	some	of	the	most	positive	outcomes	of	the	effort.	These	relationships	have	also	led	toincreased	collaboration	on	other	projects	not	directly	related	to	caregiving	and	significantopportunities	for	the	exchange	of	resources	and	information.Lessons	LearnedCertain	patterns	emerged	during	the	years	of	workshop	coordination.1.	 The	most	important	task,	and	most	difficult,	was	effectively	promoting	the	workshops	andgetting	participants	to	actually	show	up.	Success	in	this	area	usually	involved	local	committeemembers	making	personal	contacts	with	individuals,	organizations,	and	the	news	media	intheir	communities.2.	 While	it	is	important	to	give	the	local	committee	autonomy,	this	must	be	balanced	withdirection	from	and	communication	with	the	workshop	series	facilitators	(i.e.,	BNG).	Localplanning	organizations	may	choose	session	topics	or	speakers	that	fit	with	their	missions	butdo	not	dovetail	well	with	the	overall	theme	of	the	workshops,	and	periodic	follow-upcommunication	helps	ensure	that	essential	planning	tasks	are	completed	appropriately.3.	 It	is	important	that	local	committees	understand	that	a	significant	amount	of	work	on	theirpart	is	required	to	make	the	workshops	successful.	Three	workshops	had	to	be	cancelled,often	related	to	a	lack	of	investment	on	the	part	of	local	committees.4.	 Some	organizations,	such	as	churches,	are	willing	to	provide	meeting	space	free	of	charge,thereby	keeping	overhead	costs	low	and	enabling	funds	to	be	channeled	to	resourcematerials	or	other	expenses,	such	as	speakers'	fees	and	scholarships.5.	 Part	of	the	workshops'	success	was	due	to	the	humor,	relaxed	atmosphere,	and	other	factorsthat	contributed	to	a	sense	of	respite.	Some	caregivers	may	also	need	standard	respite	carein	order	to	even	attend	the	workshops,	and	local	organizations,	such	as	Area	Agencies	onAging,	may	be	able	to	assist	with	this.6.	 While	BNG's	focus	is	primarily	rural	audiences,	it	was	important	to	address	issues	relevant	toboth	rural	and	urban	caregivers,	thereby	increasing	the	number	of	people	who	could	benefitfrom	the	workshops.7.	 Because	the	workshops	are	held	in	rural	communities,	rural	caregivers	are	given	greateraccess	to	information	and	resources	often	restricted	to	urban	areas.EvaluationThe	original	purpose	of	BNG's	caregiver	initiative	was	to	encourage	and	equip	caregivers,especially	those	is	rural	areas.	While	it	is	difficult	to	measure	impact	for	such	a	broad	objective,several	positive	outcomes	can	be	reported.	Participants	at	the	workshops	have	consistently	ratedthe	sessions	at	8.5	or	higher	on	a	scale	of	1-10	in	regard	to	overall	effectiveness.	Hundreds	ofcaregivers	and	professionals	have	received	direct	training,	and	thousands	of	print	and	audiovisualresources	have	been	distributed.	In	addition,	BNG's	caregiving	efforts	received	the	2000	State-Level	Distinguished	Community	Service	Rural	Health	Award	from	the	Indiana	Rural	HealthAssociation,	the	2004	Purdue	Cooperative	Extension	Specialists	Association	Team	Award,	and	werepart	of	a	successful	application	for	the	2001	National	Safety	Council	Award	for	the	Improvement	ofthe	Quality	of	Life	for	People	with	Disabilities.ConclusionExtension	programs	must	be	open	to	adapting	to	meet	client	needs	while	maintaining	their	coremission.	BNG	recognized	the	needs	of	rural	caregivers	and	expanded	its	services	to	assist	them.	Indoing	so,	the	program	found	it	essential	to	collaborate	with	programs	that	were	already	working	inthe	field.	This	allowed	for	the	leveraging	of	intellectual	and	financial	resources	that	has	resulted	insignificant	information	gains	for	Extension	consumers.Copyright	©	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Articles	appearing	in	the	Journal	become	the	property	of	theJournal.	 Single	 copies	 of	 articles	may	 be	 reproduced	 in	 electronic	 or	 print	 form	 for	 use	 in	 educational	 or	 trainingactivities.	Inclusion	of	articles	in	other	publications,	electronic	sources,	or	systematic	large-scale	distribution	may	bedone	only	with	prior	electronic	or	written	permission	of	the	Journal	Editorial	Office,	joe-ed@joe.org.If	you	have	difficulties	viewing	or	printing	this	page,	please	contact	JOE	Technical	Support©	Copyright	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Copyright	Policy

Caregiving in the Heartland: Outreach Through Adaptation and Collaboration

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Caregiving in the Heartland: Outreach Through Adaptation and Collaboration

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