Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

For programmatic questions:
SM.REE.NIFA.FRSAN@usda.gov

For administrative questions:
grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

For questions about awards:
awards@usda.gov

Grants.gov contact center:
800.518.4726
support@grants.gov
Self-service knowledge base

Through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) offers grants to carry out programs to assist in addressing stress and behavioral and mental health challenges, including suicide risk, among agricultural farmers, ranchers, fishers, workers, business owners, and non-industrial private forest owners and managers. NIFA is also seeking applications from qualified entities to administer the National Farmer Distress Helpline.

The FRSAN Program will fund 4 Regional Centers nationwide:

• Northeast Region FRSAN
  Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
• North Central Region FRSAN
  Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, District of Columbia
• Southern Region FRSAN
  Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
• Western Region FRSAN
  Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam

Regional Centers should:

• Develop strategic partnerships and collaborations with programs that can assist centers in providing professional agricultural behavioral health counseling and referral, and community-based, direct-service organizations
• Conduct outreach and provide training, including evidence-based prevention and intervention programs
• Deliver accurate, evidence-based information to agricultural communities
• Make referrals when appropriate
• Facilitate community-based support groups, including peer-to-peer support programs
• Maintain a regional website to disseminate information and materials

FRSAN Regional Centers must have the capacity to make state-level sub-awards, to include monitoring the performance of specific projects and active participation within the larger regional network. The applicant must develop a plan and timeline for delivering training and direct services to every state and territory in the targeted region.

The entity awarded the National Farmer Distress Helpline will operate a 24/7/365 crisis line dedicated to addressing the unique stressors and behavioral health needs of agricultural communities, including suicide prevention, mental health crises, substance use, and emotional distress.

Eligible applicants:

• Tribes
• State departments of agriculture
• State Cooperative Extension Service
• Qualified nonprofit organizations
• Entities providing appropriate services
• Partnerships carried out by 2 or more entities described above

Anticipated award amount: $1,000,000 per year
Project period: 48 months
Estimated number of awards: 4
Estimated total program funding: $9,583,300

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov.