Farmworker Health Program
CHCFC is a proud partner in The Connecticut River Valley Farmworker Health Program (CRVFHP), which is a valley-wide project of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers that pays for some primary health care services to qualified migratory and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) and their families.
We provide transportation, translation, and assistance with health coverage in addition to evening hours on Mondays at our Greenfield Site so that all of our services are accessible to the area’s migrant and seasonal agricultural workers.
More About CRVFHP
CRVFHP is offered through participating health centers and other health care providers in Connecticut and Massachusetts. As a partner agency of the CRVFHP we support an outreach component staffed by a Community Health Worker who offers language and culture connection to the agricultural worker population and their dependent family members. He provides health education and disease prevention services to improve the quality of life of the agricultural worker and family members. When necessary, our outreach team provides transportation to medical and dental appointments and makes referrals to other social and health services.
Agricultural workers in the Connecticut River Valley suffer from many of the same health ailments as the national agricultural worker population. Nationally, agricultural workers may suffer from high rates of diabetes, chronic hypertension and dental disease. Occupational exposures to pesticides are a risk factor for many illnesses. Common conditions include musculoskeletal problems, dermatitis and rashes, headaches, and eye problems, though our services support care with a ‘whole health’ picture in mind which includes several social determinants or social factors that have an effect on longer term health outcomes.