Supporting Farmworkers' Mental Health Act

3/13/2024, 11:18 PM

Supporting Farmworkers' Mental Health Act

This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and modifies the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) Program. (The FRSAN Program funds projects that aim to maintain a network connecting individuals engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations to stress assistance programs.)

Specifically, the bill makes individuals engaged in farm work eligible for assistance under the FRSAN Program.

The bill also expands the types of programs eligible for FRSAN grants to include those that deliver peer-to-peer mental health support to individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, farm work, and other agriculture-related occupations. 

Bill 118 s 2898, also known as the Supporting Farmworkers' Mental Health Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of addressing the mental health needs of farmworkers across the country. The bill recognizes the unique challenges faced by farmworkers, who often work long hours in physically demanding conditions and may experience isolation and lack of access to mental health resources.

The key provisions of the bill include the establishment of a grant program to fund mental health services for farmworkers, including counseling, therapy, and support groups. The bill also calls for the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health resources for farmworkers, recognizing the diverse backgrounds and languages spoken within the agricultural community.

Additionally, the bill seeks to increase awareness and education around mental health issues among farmworkers and agricultural employers. This includes training programs for employers on how to recognize signs of mental health distress in their workers and how to connect them with appropriate resources. Overall, the Supporting Farmworkers' Mental Health Act aims to improve the mental well-being of farmworkers and ensure they have access to the support they need to cope with the unique stressors of their profession. The bill has garnered bipartisan support in Congress and is seen as a positive step towards addressing the mental health needs of this important workforce.
Congress
118
Number
S - 2898
Introduced on
2023-09-21
# Amendments
0
Sponsors
+5
Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

9/21/2023
Text
PDF
XML

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Supporting Farmworkers' Mental Health Act

This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and modifies the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) Program. (The FRSAN Program funds projects that aim to maintain a network connecting individuals engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations to stress assistance programs.)

Specifically, the bill makes individuals engaged in farm work eligible for assistance under the FRSAN Program.

The bill also expands the types of programs eligible for FRSAN grants to include those that deliver peer-to-peer mental health support to individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, farm work, and other agriculture-related occupations. 

Bill 118 s 2898, also known as the Supporting Farmworkers' Mental Health Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of addressing the mental health needs of farmworkers across the country. The bill recognizes the unique challenges faced by farmworkers, who often work long hours in physically demanding conditions and may experience isolation and lack of access to mental health resources.

The key provisions of the bill include the establishment of a grant program to fund mental health services for farmworkers, including counseling, therapy, and support groups. The bill also calls for the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health resources for farmworkers, recognizing the diverse backgrounds and languages spoken within the agricultural community.

Additionally, the bill seeks to increase awareness and education around mental health issues among farmworkers and agricultural employers. This includes training programs for employers on how to recognize signs of mental health distress in their workers and how to connect them with appropriate resources. Overall, the Supporting Farmworkers' Mental Health Act aims to improve the mental well-being of farmworkers and ensure they have access to the support they need to cope with the unique stressors of their profession. The bill has garnered bipartisan support in Congress and is seen as a positive step towards addressing the mental health needs of this important workforce.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to authorize the use of certain grants to deliver peer-to-peer mental health support to individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, farm work, and other occupations relating to agriculture.
Policy Areas
Agriculture and Food

Comments

Related

Bill Update Alert:  Supporting Farmworker Mental Health Act

Recent Activity

Latest Summary11/4/2024

Supporting Farmworkers' Mental Health Act

This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and modifies the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) Program. (The FRSAN Program funds projects that aim to maintain a network conn...

Latest Action9/21/2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4657)