Charlie Griffin honored for rural mental health work

Thursday, October 11th, 2007

Charlie L. Griffin has received the Victor I. Howery Memorial Award given each
year by the National Association for Rural Mental Health to an individual who has
made contributions to the rural mental health field.

Griffin, a research assistant professor of Family Studies and Human Services, has been working with transitions in the agricultural sector and rural mental health outreach since 1985.

He is project director for Programs for Workplace Solutions and the Kansas Rural Family Helpline that provides confidential emotional support, information and referrals for rural families struggling with unmet emotional, medical, financial or legal need.

Additionally, Griffin is a partner in the 7-state “Sowing Seeds of Hope” coalition promoting accessible behavioral health services in agricultural communities.

Other work includes USDA Risk Management Agency Partnership projects entitled Helping Farm Families Make Sound Business Decisions, Family Farm Business Planning and Women Managing the Farm.

“These partnerships provide educational opportunities for Kansas farm and ranch families and advisers and consultants who work with those families,” Griffin explained.

In 2005, he and Briana Nelson Goff, associate dean and an associate professor in FSHS, developed the Kansas All-Hazards Behavioral Health program supporting disaster behavior health preparedness in Kansas.

Griffin assisted in the development of Kansas’ agricultural mediation program and has provided assistance to organizations, boards of directors, and communities with conflict resolution. His background is in marriage and family therapy, crisis intervention and rural mental health.

He teaches courses in conflict management and conflict resolution.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 11th, 2007 and is filed under Dean's Blog.