Workplace theater can deliver a powerful health and safety message, couched in an entertaining format. This method of subtle, interactive health education is especially useful in rural farm communities, where individuals are sometimes resistant to explicit health and safety education.
This presentation will trace the development and implementation of Farm Alarm, a short play about farm health and safety developed by the University of Minnesota Extension Service's Agricultural Safety and Health Program.
Farm Alarm portrays the daily lives of two fictitious Minnesota farm families. Farm Alarm enables community health educators to present health and safety information in an enjoyable and often moving fashion. Community organizations collaborate to sponsor and present a Farm Alarm show. After each performance, the audience participates in a facilitated discussion of issues raised in the play, designed to prompt individual changes in health related behavior.
Discussion participants often include local members of the clergy, mental health professionals, extension educators and other rural professionals, who can help farmers and their families identify areas of stress and connect with local resources.
Presenters will describe the development of the Farm Alarm script, evaluation results, and plans for program replication.
Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to: 1. describe a project using live theater to teach principles of agricultural health and safety and stress management; 2. understand the successes of the "Farm Alarm" program in terms of individual behavior change and community coalition building
Keywords: Agricultural Work Safety, Community-Based Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Minnesota Extension Service
Theatre at Work, Saint Paul, Minensota
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Michele Schermann is an employee of the University of Minnesota Extension Service.