COVID-19 RAPID RESPONSE TOOLKIT FOR TRIBAL EXTENSION AGENTS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating existing challenges in tribal communities, including food insecurity, family health and safety, community development, and economic challenges. Over the last two months Tribal Extension, a lifeline of in-person community-based services to tribal farmers, ranchers, and resource managers, was forced to transition to virtual delivery of critical services with no additional resources, training or tools. Rapid response programs are urgently needed to help Tribal Extension agents gain access to tools, data, and training materials that will allow them to transition to COVID-19 compliant services for communities being hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Rapid Response Toolkit for Tribal Extension Agents ("COVID-19 Toolkit") Project is focused on support to Tribal Extension programs affiliated with 1862 Land-grant Universities through the Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) at the University of Arizona (UA) and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). We propose to create a virtual Tribal Extension platform comprised of a map-based clearinghouse of environmental data and agricultural toolkit for use by Tribal Extension agents. In addition, FRTEP agents in the field will be equipped with ruggedized computer tablets that will allow them to access the virtual platform in advance and during one-on-one technical consultations and small social-distanced group meetings with tribal farmers and ranchers. The COVID CARE Working Group will be established to share timely information and solve need-based problems for tribal farmers and ranchers and assist reservation communities with food access to lessen the hardships of COVID-19 throughout Indian Country.