Receive presentation on the 2024 Yolo County Farmworker Health Assessment Findings and proposed next steps. (No general fund impact) (Nolan) (Est. Time: 10 min)

Receive presentation on the 2024 Yolo County Farmworker Health Assessment Findings and proposed next steps.

Yolo County is home to a flourishing agriculture industry with both local and global reach. Farmworkers are essential to the success of the agriculture industry in Yolo County and the nourishment of many through local and global food supplies. Recent estimates indicate that approximately 7,000 farmworkers live and work in Yolo County. Farmworkers are both critical to sustaining the growth and the demands of the agriculture industry and are an important part of our county’s community and culture. The 2024 Farmworker Assessment (Assessment) aims to highlight the social, economic, health, and environmental conditions affecting Yolo County farmworkers. The Assessment identified unique needs and challenges of the local farmworker community which may limit their ability to thrive in the very place in which they work and live.

This Assessment is a tool for action. Sharing the Assessment findings with Yolo County leaders and partners is a first step toward improving the conditions and circumstances of farmworkers so they can create healthy, successful lives for themselves and their families in Yolo County and farm work can continue to be a viable career choice for future generations. The Assessment findings reveal challenges with complex root causes that cannot be solved by one group or one organization, but rather require collaboration, resources, and commitment.  The Health Equity team in the HHSA Public Health branch is committed to being a leader in the collective effort to develop sustainable solutions to improve farmworker health and wellbeing.  

The Farmworker Assessment was led by the Health Equity team in the HHSA Public Health Branch, but collaboration with HHSA’s Service Center Branch Agriculture Program Coordinator was essential in engaging farmworkers in the survey and focus groups. Findings of the report have been presented to the Yolo County Health Council and the Farmworker community. Additionally, the Assessment report has been shared with the Western Center for Agriculture Health and Safety, Yolo County's Agriculture Department, Yolo County Housing Authorities, and the agriculture industry at large to share findings and also invite possible collaboration to address challenges revealed in the Assessment. Future plans to share findings with other groups whose work impacts farmworkers are being planned for 2025.