National Center for Farmworker Health: 2012 Midwest Stream Forum Highlights

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National Center for Farmworker Health

22nd Annual Midwest Stream Farmworker Health Forum Highlights

The 22^nd Annual Midwest Stream Farmworker Health Forum held in San Antonio, TX was a smashing success! Thank you to all of the 189 attendees who contributed to such an amazing conference. There was a palpable energy to the event and the 26 different sessions offered something for everyone. The speakers came from near and far to present on very interesting topics, such as immigration, board member training, cultural wisdom, telehealth, mental health and healing, building collaborations, PCMH, and emergency planning, amongst many others. In addition to the incredible session topics offered, the Midwest Stream Farmworker Health Forum celebrated 50 years of Migrant Health. There was an inspiring panel presentation discussing the work of many migrant health pioneers, where more than a few tears were shed. There was a call to action to recruit and motivate new champions into the migrant health movement (so we hope you are all busy doing just that!) In the opening plenary, there was a timely discussion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and updates from our national and federal partner, HRSA and NACHC. In another opportunity to learn, there were 16 exhibitors offering a variety of current and suitable information to the attendees. People enjoyed mixing and mingling in the foyer area with exhibitors and historical archives.

In addition to learning, the Midwest Stream Farmworker Health Forum offered plenty of chances to have a good time in San Antonio as well! At the welcome reception, we had an awesome mariachi performance by the Irving Middle School mariachi band. These talented students brought smiles to everyone’s faces. And at the Friday night Dinner and Dance, fellow migrant health colleagues were cutting a rug on the dance floor until the wee hours of the evening. The conference ended with 2 dynamic presentations. “Immigration In a Time of Change” started us off on Saturday and “Good Energy for the Future: El Buen Aire!” closed us out in an energizing and spiritual way.

We sincerely thank all of you who were in attendance for making this year’s Midwest Stream Forum one to remember! We encourage you to join us again next year!

	Roberto Dansie presenting his energizing and spiritual closing session called “ Good Energy for the Future: El Buen Aire!” Roberto is a world-renown Mayan and ancient wisdom scholar.
During one of our many interesting participant sessions, Roger Rosenthal presented attendees with the details of immigration and how these issues affect our clients and patients.
	The Morning Plenary, “Revisiting the Past and Exploring the Future: Stories from the Field”, was a crowd favorite. During this event, we celebrated 50 years of success in migrant health. This plenary spotlighted the inspiring and motivational stories from your migrant health colleagues. Shown here are Bobbi Ryder, Jesus Tijerina, Hilda Davila, Dr. David Collins, and Harry Foster.
Lastly, some of our migrant health contemporaries engaged in active discussion in the exhibitor foyer. Many participants took advantage of the 16 different exhibitors we had in attendance.

	NCFH employee, Monica Fossi, presenting during the FRESCO intensive session at the Midwest Stream Farmworker Health Forum. Promotoras from all around the region attended this session.
Esther Diaz, from the Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators, discusses information with a forum attendee. The Midwest Stream Farmworker Health Forum had 16 exhibitors for attendees to interact with during breaks.
	Julio Dicent Taillepierre, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, discusses certain aspects of the social determinants of health during his session entitled “What’s in a Name? Addressing Population Health Issues at State and Local Levels”.