For the City Times

MARSHFIELD – The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety is accepting proposals for grants up to $25,000 to support small-scale projects and pilot studies that address emerging issues related to the impact of COVID-19, and/or other emerging issues related to the prevention of childhood agricultural disease and injury.

Applicants may request up to $25,000 for research studies and up to $15,000 for non-research projects. Deadline for letters of intent is Oct. 1. Application deadline is Nov. 1.

The call-for-proposals focuses on documenting, intervening, and otherwise exploring emerging health and safety issues among children in and around agricultural settings.

“COVID-19 is a primary example of an emerging issue affecting children in the agricultural environment,” a National Children’s Center release stated.

“The pandemic has left an indelible mark on our society and continues to affect our lives, and agriculture is not an exception,” said Barbara Lee, Ph.D., director of the National Children’s Center. “However, the impacts of the pandemic are likely unique in how they affect youth living and working on farms as well as the children of farmers and farmworkers.”

Proposals should address/include: impact on special/vulnerable populations; public/organizational policies that safeguard youth in agriculture; and leverage of existing National Children’s Center resources – AgInjuryNews, Youth Work Guidelines, Agritourism safety materials, Child Ag Safety & Health Workshops  –  and/or networks.

“The grants are part of the National Children’s Center Emerging Issues Program, which supports emerging health and safety concerns of children working on, living in, or visiting agricultural environments. Community-based organizations, public or private institutions, units of local or state government, or tribal government in the United States are eligible to apply. Projects not specific to children and agriculture will not be funded,” the release added.

For information, visit www.marshfieldresearch.org/nccrahs/emerging-issues-grants or call 1-800-662-6900.