BACKGROUND: BACKGROUND: In 2014, CSTE and CDC announced a Project Development Grant for Influenza Education among Youth in Agriculture. The funding supports pilot projects designed to educate youth participating in agricultural organizations about zoonotic diseases with public health impact. As of 2016, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) was funded for two grant cycles. MDHHS collaborated with the Michigan State University Extension (MSUE), which educates youth, through Michigan 4-H. Michigan 4-H offers a variety of programs to help youth ages 5-19 learn critical life skills. It is the largest youth development organization in the state, providing programs designed to provide experiential learning opportunities. There are over 180,000 youth engaged in 58,000+ animal science experiences through Michigan 4-H.
METHODS: METHODS: MDHHS and MSUE have developed six lesson plan units, including supplies, for Michigan 4-H. Topics include “Basics of Biosecurity”, “Diseases That Animals and Human Share: The Words You Need to Know”, “What is a Pathogen?”, “Influenza-Mutation Nation”, “One Health-Health for One, One Health for All”, “Careers-Bridging Human and Animal Health”. Several print resources were developed and distributed, including a Michigan version of the 4-H “Friends” magazine edition “Be a Zoonotic Disease Detective”, a “Be Healthy Around Animals” poster, a “Biosecurity 1-2-3” poster, and a MSUE/MDHHS One Health display banner. MDHHS provided sessions on influenza to adult 4-H leaders at their annual meeting and hosted a session during 4-H Exploration Days titled “Be a Disease Detective”. Finally, MSUE hosted interactive presentations about Zoonotic Disease Prevention and distributed Pathogen Prevention Packets to 4-H groups throughout the state in the summer of 2016.
RESULTS: RESULTS: Six curriculum units (including supplies) – 4,000 units; Friends Magazine: 57,000; Be Healthy Around Animals posters (two versions): 300; Biosecurity 1-2-3 poster: 100; One Health display banners: 14, one for each 4-H region; Zoonotic Disease Prevention presentations: 36 events in 14 regions; Pathogen Prevention Kits: 2,000 units; MDHHS Influenza education units: 50 adult 4-H leaders, 33 4-H youth
CONCLUSIONS: CONCLUSIONS: In Michigan, this funding has facilitated a fruitful collaboration between public health and MSUE that has resulted in improved education and awareness about zoonotic diseases among youth in agriculture, potentially reaching over 180,000 youth. These relationships were also instrumental in the State’s response to an outbreak of H3N2 influenza in swine and people at agricultural fairs in the summer of 2016. Through these established relationships, public health was able to more quickly distribute information about influenza to 4-H adult leaders and youth exhibiting swine.