NATIONAL AGRABILITY PROJECT
NATIONAL AGRABILITY PROJECT (NAP)
CSREES, AgrAbility History, NAP, Project Objectives
NAP Team Members, Partnerships
Ronald T. Schuler
New Staff Orientation
National AgrAbility Workshop
November 16, 2004
Outline
CSREES – what is CSREES and why it important (Ivan Graf)
AgrAbility History – when and how did AgrAbility start
Project Objectives -what are they and why are they important
Staff Members and Their Responsibilities- who do
you call or e-mail when you have questions
Partnerships - principles to insure a successful state team
A Brief History of AgrAbility
• Arose from a grass roots effort championed
by Easter Seals
• Easter Seals shopped the concept to several
federal departments before selecting USDA
• Modeled after pioneering efforts in Iowa
(Easter Seals) and Vermont (University)
• Grown from 8 awards in 1991 to 24 awards
totaling about $4.0 M in 2004
What Does CSREES Do?
• Program leadership to identify, develop, and manage
programs to support university-based and other
institutional research, education, and extension.
– Connect projects and government
– Collect data to justify creating programs
• Fair, effective, and efficient administration of Federal
assistance implementing research, education, and
extension awards and agreements.
– Aim to satisfy both Legislative and Executive Branches
– Collect data to justify continuing programs
More About CSREES . . .
• Staff of about 360 USDA employees and
about 30 contractors
• Managed $1.13 B in appropriations in FY
2004
• Extension appropriations totaled
approximately $454 M in FY 2004
• Includes formula, special grants, and
competitive grant programs
What is the Cooperative
Extension System (CES)?
• Partnership of :
– 3,000 counties with over 9,000 local educators
– Land-Grant Institutions
• Fifty-six 1862 Institutions
• Eighteen historically black 1890 Institutions
• Thirty-one Native American 1994 Institutions
– USDA- Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)
CES MISSION
The Cooperative Extension System
helps people improve their lives and communities
through an educational process that uses scientific
knowledge focused on issues critical to the
economic, agricultural, societal, health/safety, and
environmental progress of all Americans.
How does AgrAbility Relate to
Coop. Extension’s Mission?
???
• “Helps people improve their lives. . .”
– Focuses on needs of persons with disabilities
employed in agriculture
• “Through an educational process. . .”
– Assist persons with disabilities become more
active in their farming lifestyle
– Teach service providers who routinely
interact with persons with disabilities
• “. . . That uses scientific knowledge . . .”
– Ergonomics, electronics, mechanics, etc.
What Does CSREES Do for
AgrAbility Projects?
Promotes, assists and helps
• Promotes your accomplishments across
the USDA and the university system
• Assists during project transitions
• Helps projects make choices based on
the agency’s administrative requirements
and Congress’ mandate to the program
What is the Farm Bill and Why
is It Important to AgrAbility?
•
Farm Bills have:
– Authorized partnership between land-grant’s
and non-profit disability organizations
– Established funding recommendations
– Provided guidance on eligible programs
• Farm Bills include:
– FACT (1990); FAIR (1996)
– AREERA (1998); FSRIA (2002)
• Appropriations provide for AgrAbility
under Smith-Lever 3(d), Farm Safety
Funds
FACT 1990: Program Objectives:
•
•
•
•
•
Provide education and assistance to
accommodate disability in farming
Educate service providers who
support AgrAbility clients
Provide on-farm technical advice
Involve others in early identification
Mobilize volunteer resources
Farm Bill Provisions - Continued
• FACT (1990)
– Maximum Award Amount = $150,000
– National Project to provide technical assistance, training,
and information dissemination to support local projects
– Program authorized for 1991-1996
• FAIR (1996) – Extends program to 1997
• AREERA (1998)
– Extends program to 2002
– Limits National Project grant to 15% of program
appropriation
• FSRIA (2002)
– Extends program to 2007
– Requests that new applicants receive full consideration
AgrAbility Funds Do Support:
(Objectives for new four year plans for projects starting in 2005)
•
Education - AgrAbility’s long-term investment
strategy
– Focuses on accommodating disabilities and
avoiding secondary injuries
– Directed to health, farm, and government service
providers
•
Networking - Depends on education and will
eventually make AgrAbility sustainable
– Encourages the sharing of information among, and
the provision of services, value, and/or funds from
individuals or organizations not employed by
AgrAbility
– Includes customers, peer supporters, volunteer
groups, university student groups, stakeholders
and public and private funding organizations
AgrAbility Funds Do Support:
•
Assistance - Satisfies customers’ immediate
needs inadequately addressed by health,
farm, and government service providers.
– Focuses on individualized consultative services
that increase the likelihood that AgrAbility Project
customers and their farm operations experience
success
– Involves AgrAbility customers and others working
at the same farms
•
Marketing - Makes key audiences aware of
AgrAbility and its initiatives.
– Concentrates on awareness to the exclusion of
information required to provide education,
assistance, or facilitate networking
– Includes everyone
AgrAbility Funds May Not:
• Pay for assistive technology or farm site
modifications
• Use federal funds to solicit other federal
funds
• Pay tuition or student fees
• Pay overhead or indirect costs
• Conduct research (work must remain
within accepted bounds of Extension)
New Staff Points to Remember
• CSREES General Terms and Conditions found
in FY2005 Request for Applications
– http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/05_agrab
ility.html
• Projects must re-apply every year
– Letter to PI’s from Brad Rein dated October 6, 2004
• Use the National AgrAbility Project for:
–
–
–
–
Expertise
Training
Data collection and analysis
Information dissemination
New Staff Points to Remember
• Keep your directors, colleagues, and
CSREES informed of any significant
recognition your project receives
• Inform me if you have a change in or
reorganization of project staff
• Partner even on report writing and
submit them on time
CSREES Key Staff
Vacant - Program
Specialist
Brad Rein – National
Program Supervisor
– 202-401-0151
– brein@csrees.usda.gov
Kim Knoblock – Admin.
Support
– 202-401-4587
– kknoblock@csrees.usda.gov
National AgrAbility Project
A
Partnership
Between
Easter Seals and University of Wisconsin-Extension
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
* CSREES-Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
USDA-CSREES Responsibilities:
Administer the Program
Specific responsibilities
Direct the request for proposals
Oversee review process
Insure funded projects follow rules
* CSREES-Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Project Leader Responsibilities:
Provides Overall management
and reporting activities of the project
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Project Manager Responsibilities:
Coordinates National Training Workshop,
area training and new staff orientation
Supervises technical assistance and
information dissemination
Directs the preparation of the annual
and final reports
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Assistive Tech. Specialist Responsibilities:
Provide technical support on assistive
technology with a special focus
on secondary injuries
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
ES Project Director Responsibilities:
Provide leadership for ES partner
Coordinate education for frontline
rehabilitation and healthcare
professionals and networking
for volunteer program
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Agr. Technologist Responsibilities:
Provide training and technical
assistance on agricultural
machinery, quipment, and
buildings with assistive technology
Manage web site
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Rehabilitation Spec. Responsibilities:
Provides training and technical assistance
with respect to:
assistive technology
government programs
other rehabilitation issues
cultural diversity
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Evaluation Specialist Responsibility:
Directs the evaluation activities of
the program
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market & Com. Spec.
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Program Assistant Responsibilities:
Provide clerical support and word proc.
Answer toll free phone-serve as receptionist
Complete data entry and desktop publishing
Manage mailings
Maintain Cooperative Extension files
National AgrAbility Organizational Chart
USDA-CSREES*
Brad Rein, National Program Leader
Vacant, Program Specialist
Ron Schuler(UW)
Project Leader
Cheryl Skjolaas(UW)
Project Manager
Therese Willkomm
Assistive Tech. Spec.
Mark Novak(UW)
Agr. Technologist
Mary Beck(UW)
Rehabilitation Spec.
Leah Nell Adams(UW)
Evaluation Spec.
Sherry Liantonio(UW)
Program Assistant
Doug Carmon(ES)
Project Director
Deborah Danuser(ES)
Market. & Com. Spec.
Marketing and Communication Specialist
Responsibilities:
Responds to information requests
Disseminates project-related info. to staff
Coordinates the marketing plan
Produce Monthly Newsletter and Quarterly
Principles of Partnership
•Help state project staff excel
•Provide high quality, outcome oriented training, tech.
assist. and information dissemination
•Leverage opportunities and promote innovation
•Lead and promote AgrAbility goals
•Provide full access to all information and resources
•Build capacity of state project staff
Final Point-Partner
Treat your partner the
way you would like
them to treat you
Concluding remarks
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CSREES
National Project Objectives
Staff Member and Their Responsibilities
Principles of Partnership
THE END