Local Perspectives on Improving Health and Wellbeing for Farmworker Families in Northern Sonoma County: Alma Bowen

Alma Bowen is the founder and executive director of Nuestra Comunidad, a Sonoma County–based nonprofit focused on disaster preparedness, 911 emergency services education, and health and wellness for the entire community with an emphasis on underserved populations—including the elderly, the Latinx community and veterans. Alma is also the Preparedness Committee Chair with Sonoma County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), a collaborative of local organizations dedicated to helping the community prepare for and respond to disasters.

How would you describe the general situation with respect to health and wellbeing for farmworker families in northern Sonoma County?

Sonoma County farmworker families face a range of distinctive challenges that significantly impact their health and overall wellbeing. It is crucial to recognize the importance of trusted messengers and organizations within a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing the health and wellbeing of these families. Through our interactions with program participants, we have come to understand that farmworker families are often engaged in physically demanding occupations that expose them to various environmental factors, including extreme temperatures, pesticides, and other occupational hazards. Failing to establish and effectively implement appropriate safety measures and regulations can greatly contribute to health risks and occupational illnesses.

Additionally, farmworker families frequently express concerns about accessing healthcare and related services. Obstacles such as limited availability of healthcare facilities, financial constraints, language barriers, and immigration status can hinder their ability to obtain timely and adequate medical care. We also know that a lack of health insurance coverage or limited awareness of available resources can further exacerbate these challenges.

Repeatedly, we have seen that the socioeconomic conditions experienced by farmworker families, such as low wages and limited employment benefits, significantly impact their overall wellbeing. Financial instability, inadequate housing conditions, and limited access to nutritious food have a direct bearing on the health and quality of life for these families.

In order to tackle these challenges, I believe that we must create a comprehensive network that acts as a safety net, encompassing a wide range of organizations, advocacy groups, and government agencies. This network would be specifically designed to address the unique needs of farmworker families. It is my strong belief that establishing a strong coalition of partners committed to ensuring safer working conditions, improving healthcare access, and offering customized education and support programs is crucial for promoting the health and overall wellbeing of this community. By harnessing the expertise and trust of these organizations, we can effectively confront the difficulties faced by farmworker families, empowering them to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.

The Healthcare Foundation’s mission is motivated by a vision of eliminating health inequities in northern Sonoma County. In recent months and years, Sonoma County farmworkers and their families have faced increased precarity and the repeated disruption of their lives as a result of forces beyond their control, from the pandemic to the impacts of climate change, with the attendant physical and mental health impacts and challenges this entails. The goal of health equity requires that we address the obstacles and challenges to their health and wellbeing. As part of the Healthcare Foundation’s effort to focus on farmworker health, we are turning to our community partners and other local stakeholders to better understand the need, the obstacles, and most importantly, the practical steps that can be taken to improve health and wellbeing for our region’s agricultural workers. We continue to collect information, engage in dialogue, and work cooperatively toward community-based solutions that can protect and enhance the wellbeing of farmworkers and their families.

Other Perspectives:

• Dr. Daniela Domínguez, Assistant Professor at USF and CEO of On the Margins (2 min read)
• Jocelyn Boreta, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Botanical Bus (2 min read)
• Sue Labbe, Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Medical Center (2 min read)
• Corazón Healdsburg’s Promotora Staff (2 min read)
• Jade Weymouth, Executive Director of La Familia Sana (2 min read)
• Bertha Diaz, Community Health Worker / Promotora and Financial Services Specialist at Alexander Valley Healthcare (1 min read)