The local community of Ag workers may change over time -- mechanization, drought, or new industry may cause a drop in numbers, or more single males may move into a community that used to see more workers traveling in family groups-- but the need for Community and Migrant Health Centers to reduce barriers to care has never been greater.
We believe increasing access to care is vital to the overall health and well-being of the agricultural workforce
  • ​Promoting & maintaining good health*
  • Preventing & managing disease and chronic illness*
  • Achieving health equity*
  • To address significant social drivers of health (financial, housing, transportation, language)

​                 *Healthy People 2020
Sharing your story is important
Picture
When we launched the Ag Worker Access Campaign in May of 2015, we began using “Ask Me Why I Care!” in our promotional materials to remind ourselves, and others, of the importance of sharing our stories…stories of our work and interactions with Ag workers and their families, to help people understand who they are as individuals and humans, and to remember the vast contributions they make to our nation’s health and economy.  Whether it opens someone’s heart to care about a population they are unfamiliar with or reinvigorates someone’s commitment to this special population, sharing why we care makes a difference!  Please share your story today!  
"I care about agricultural workers health. Working in the fields is no joke. Access to healthcare is important!" -- M. Ramirez
"I care about Agricultural Workers because they work under extreme weather circumstances that at times can be life threatening. I care because everyone deserves quality healthcare for acute or chronic conditions as well as preventative measures. Healthcare should be available to all regardless of income, profession, race, and health status. I care because the Agricultural Workers I have met are some of the kindest, generous, most humbling people that I have ever met; and often experience hardships that many will never experience in a lifetime." -- M. Copper
"I care because I believe quality healthcare should be available to everyone."  -- J. Hickenlooper
"My parents were ag workers. Growing up as an ag worker has taught me to love and appreciate what others do. I was out in the fields working at the age of nine. I came from a family of 12. I was the youngest & the only who graduated from high school and has some college education. My siblings were all pulled out of school to work farm labor. I have had the privilege to achieve a job at YVFWC through hard work & dedication but most of my siblings continue to work farm labor. I know how difficult it is to live as an agriculture worker and that has given me the love & desire to help everyone who comes into our clinic - helping people out gives me happiness and satisfaction. I do it with a passion." -- R. Alvarado 
"Soy agricultora, se y conosco por experiencia todas las situactiones y vivencias de este tipo de vida. Reconosco el esfuerzo contidiano del trabajador agricola y si no lo fuera, sabria la nececidad de cuidar y protejer un agricultor que tiene la responsabilidad de poner en la mesa de cada persona la alimentacion y la salud." -- C. Veguilla
"To be able to work with helping families in need. Lots of families don't have the resources and need help. We were there once and I know it was very hard for us when we need the help, and not knowing that there is help just made it that much harder for our family. I come from a migrante family of 3, my mother and brother." -- F. Espinoza
"My father spent his entire life toiling in the agriculture fields of Washington.  Today his body is broken and aged beyond his years. The healthcare he receives today as a disabled farmworker is a way this country acknowledges his contribution to this great nation. Farmworkers guarantee we have food, that is affordable, on our tables. We owe it to them to care for their health in their old age." -- G. Huitron
"Ag workers are my neighbors and my friends. I see lack of access to healthcare, fair wages, and fair working conditions in my own community. These injustices pour over into every aspect of their lives and to our community as a whole." -- K. Ely
"I work with the homeless community in SF at a health center that focuses on latino health. We are always looking for trainings/information on how to better serve our clients/patients." -- R. Starkey
"In the early seventies, I marched with Cesar Chavez and the United Farmworkers battle to form their own Union. My experiences during this time and several years later when I had the opportunity of sitting with and conversing with Cesar Chavez have reminded me how important it is to fight for those less fortunate than myself." 
-- W. Ivers
"I am recently removed from this particular work experience and deeply appreciate this opportunity to serve my community." -- A. Gonzales
"I grew up as a migrant when my parents would travel from Texas to Wyoming then Illinois then Wisconsin.  I went to migrant headstart all the way to migrant school.  We were called winter Texans because we would leave in early May and come back home in the late fall.  My parents were part of the Migrant Council in Laredo.  That is when Saturday classes and evening classes were started to help the migrant families get ahead in Education.  Many, many memories come to my mind when I talk about what my parents used to do in order to survive.  I’m never ashamed to say I was a migrant or say how proud I am of my parents.  Now I work for Community Health Partnership of IL and I am able to relate to migrant families.  I am able to help them just like when migrant reps used to visit us. I’m very happy to say that because of the experience as a child I am who I am today." -- R. Garcia
"Because – farmworkers are underserved!!" -- J.A. Calderon
"Everything about these workers’ health is related to their work as their health determines their ability to continue to work (in this country) and work has the potential to affect their health." -- M. Tew
"I worked all my life as an administrative assistant, supported my children & raised them, and after 30 years took 5 years of to care for my father.  After his death I wanted to go back to work & saw an ad in the paper for a FW Outreach Worker.  I read the duties & qualifications & thought, "Okay, I'll try this!" So I took a chance & Valley-Wide took a chance on me.  I was introduced to a passion that has never waived.  This wonderful group of people are hardworking, kind, generous, wonderful and I truly care about them. They have opened my eyes & heart to a lifestyle I was unaware of.  Bobbi Ryder said today, "It is never too early to introduce people to....(this cause)."  I say "It is never too late!"-- C. Masias
"To be able to give back or being able to help our ag workers is amazing. They do and give so much every day they are out in fields working! It brings great pleasure to be able to return something back to our ag workers." -- A.D. Martinez
"Coming from an Ag family. We never had access to any type of Community Health Clinic. Knowing what it is like to live as a migrant I want to make sure that all Ag workers know that we have all these resources for them." -- R. Mejia
"I love having access to fresh fruits and veggies for myself and for my family. It provides health and wellness for us and it is only fair that those who provide health and wellness to us receive health & wellness services that they so need." -- C. DelRosario
"I care because everyone deserved to have affordable health care. I feel that the mission of Family Health Centers is crucial for our low income patients who would otherwise not be able to have medical care. I became a patient in 1988 and the care was great as i had not seen a doctor in many years due to low income and poor wages." -- J. Carrasco
"My organization represents Hope for those in need. With our programs and resources we make people's life easier and try to change lives around. Just because we care for them, regardless their status or where they come from. We work with Pride, we work with Love. That's why ReGenesis Health Care is different and I am part of it." -- E. Picado
"I am the second of 9 children. My parents were migrant farmworkers who settled in TriCities - I have worked in many of the crops within our area and have a lot of respect for people that work in the fields. I remember how hard the work is and how we struggled to make ends meet with lack of income during the off seasons... I also remember having to leave school to work as soon as asparagus season started." -- Y. Madrigal 
"Ag workers are my family, friends. They are my neighbors. My fridge and table would be sad & empty without their awesome work - We are ALL HUMAN BEINGS - We deserve to be treated as such, equally." -- Y. Lopez-Valencia
"If you have anyone you love who has been diagnosed with diabetes, cancer, or any chronic illness, you know the cost and the choices you have to make to maintain a quality of life. It is a  human right to have access to the healthcare which may determine if you live or die. As a climate that is geared to provide health equity & social justice let's start with the heart of our country, the workers that maintain our agriculture." -- S. Riley
"Work providing Health Ed to MSFW, dedicated to meeting all health prevention & educational needs." -- A. Chacon
"My mom was an ag worker in Mexico. She moved state to state to work the fields to help support her family. Working in this field is rewarding when I know our patients get the medical they need and deserve." -- E. Ruvalcaba
"My family all worked in the fields and I was a migrant child to the age of 13. I remember when we had to do home health care due to not affording to go to doctor, we did not have the access or money. Teas were very helpful." -- T. Gomez
"Increasing access to care means strengthening fundamental human rights provision.  Access to healthcare is a human right – something we all deserve!  I love hearing and being a part of successful healthcare encounters.  Increasing access is simply the right thing – The only Thing – to do." -- K. Dolen 
"As children of migrant workers, my brother and I grew up without any form of health care.  I remember being denied joining school sports due to the lack of health care access.  My parents also feared any injuries we couldn’t afford to treat.  This went on as I grew up and I myself became an Ag Worker.  I remember a medical mobile unit coming out to the fields to provide us with free health care.  I then made it my life goal to provide such care to my fellow ag workers.  I currently work in a medical mobil unit in Colorado as a CMA in hopes to increase access to health care for our ag workers.  Because I care, I’m continuing my education and becoming a nurse to better serve this population." -- M. Gonzales Moncada  
"I care because I feel that everybody deserves to have healthcare and respect." -- M. Adcox
​"I strongly believe agricultural workers are the most indispensable people in this planet. Not only do they bring food to our table, but work long hours a day and sometimes in the highest/lowest temperatures. Much love and respect to all of our farm workers!" -- E. Bonilla
"I care because agricultural workers and families enrich our lives, each and every day, through their generosity, their life experience, and their hopefulness, which in turn inspires us to continue the work that we do." -- S. Bauer
"I believe everyone should have access to care. I think ag workers are important & need the ability to access care." -- T. Topkins
"I care because I too was a migrant worker and know the importance of access to care because we need healthy workers to produce.  Increasing access mean families are protected against illnesses.  When the family is well everybody benefits." -- J. Taylor  
"I care & help migrants – farmworkers 
Help them to keep healthy" -- R. Locascio
"Everyone should have access to healthcare.  Our Ag Workers should definitely be healthy, since they handle a lot of our food." -- M. Macias 
"Working with the Medicaid population and educating them on coverage & reaching out to give them access to health care.  Making easy for ag workers. Gives me living worth." -- J. Y'Barbo
"I care because hardworking families like migrant farmworkers deserve easy access to health care, healthy people equals a healthy country!" -- M. Morgan
"I care because I am reminded everyday when I sit down to eat how the hard work of agricultural workers contributes to my own good health."  -- S. Partida
"I care because our Ag Workers deserve the same quality of health care as anyone and they must be treated with the same dignity and respect we expect from others.  After all, if it were not for them, we may not have food on the table." -- J. Gallegos
"Ag Workers feed the nation; all consumers benefit from the 'fruits' of their labor" -- B. Ryder
"Healthcare should not be only for the white upper middle class.  Farmworkers feed the world with healthy fruits & vegetables & the world should take care of this wonderful, caring, giving & special population, in all areas, especially healthcare!" -- A. Jasmin
"I care about agricultural workers having access to healthcare because it would allow them to continue to work with out the fear of being punished or judged." -- S. Pinales
"As a young child seeing my grandparents come in from working in the fields with their aches/pains doing home remedies to allow them to heal and be well to go to work the next day to provide for the family really opened my mind, my heart, my eyes to see if there is any help for my family.  They sacrificed so much, to receive so little was very heart breaking." -- K. Ortiz 
"I am a product of a migrant family. And now I work as an Out Reach Specialist for Community Health Development, Inc. in Uvalde. My experience as a migrant family taught me many family values, the importance to continue my education and continue working hard. I now have an opportunity to continue educating others, to believe in themselves." -- J. Villarreal
​"I was once a migrant worker and have been in those shoes." -- J. Castilla
​"I was once there! - where these farmworker are at.  But didn’t know about all of these resources.  So me being in the position I am in, into be able to help the ag-workers, is my pleasure.  Want them to have, or to be healthy, so that they can be productive and in good health." -- S. Ronquillo
"We farmers need healthy farmworkers!  Heat, cold, long hours, physically demanding work is the norm!  Along with the physical demands, there are psychological demands which are different from those of the non-farming communities & workers.  Better identification = better access = overall better health." -- K. Watt
"I care about farmworkers care because I was a farmworker myself with parents that did not speak English and would not get the health care they needed because they thought they would get deported for asking such questions.  I want everyone to be educated on this and the importance of healthcare." -- M. Maldonado
"Access to food, peoples health, integrity of those working for our access to food." -- D. Clark
"As a son of farmworker mother and having grown up in a agricultural labor camp, health & wellbeing of farmworkers and their families is a personal passion.  As a future doctor, I hope to contribute to the heath & wellbeing of my community." -- A. Fabian  
"My grandparents and parents were migrant workers and on their behalf I give care to Ag Workers, by storing their bikes when they go back to their homes.  I give Ag Workers positive experience so they have enjoyable time while they are here.  My friends always help me out by giving care items for Ag Workers." -- M. Hufnagel
"I care because Farm Workers are the hardest working people in our great nation.  They have put food on our tables for almost 100 years and have never been treated as equals in our society that boasts of equality.  It is time they are treated with dignity and equality they so deserve." -- R. Modaffari
"​I care because agricultural workers are my friends and neighbors.  When I help them access care, I make our community a better place to live." -- K. Comando
​"I care because I don't want anyone to experience the lack of access to medical care that my father experienced in his Bracero days and because I believe that one person without access to care is too many." -- H. Bogue
For questions or more info on Campaign, contact us at AgWorkerAccess@ncfh.org

    Tell us why you care/Share your story