Proceedings of the 1998 Migrant Farmworker Stream Forums: Annual Midwest Farmworker Stream Forum (8th, San Antonio, Texas, November 5-8, 1998); Annual East Coast Migrant Stream Forum (11th, Springfield, Massachusetts, November 13-15, 1998); Annual Western Migrant Stream Forum (8th, Sacramento, California, January 29-31, 1999).

Researchers, advocates, and clinicians met at the three 1998 migrant stream forums to develop strategies for farmworker health research. The introductory section of this proceedings discusses this year's focus--building research partnerships to improve migrant health--and describes planning and implementation of the forums' research track. Sessions offered mini-lectures on specific types of research and training to participants unfamiliar with research methods. Research needs/gaps, potential collaborators, and venues for research dissemination were identified during topical working groups on migrant children, health access, occupational health, environmental health, and mental health. Working group reports addressed specific needs of migrant farmworkers, the probability that research could make a difference, the interest in identifying additional collaborators, and the inherent problem in doing this type of research. Barriers to research for farmworkers include their status as a hidden population, farmworker mistrust, professional interdisciplinary differences, and limited existing literature. Recommended research strategies and suggested research topics are listed. All three forums were successful in including new participants in the academic community, increasing interest in farmworker research among health care providers, organizing a listserv for researchers and providers, beginning work on research standards, and including college students in the research tracks. Reports on each forum include an overview, a list of planning committee members, and session abstracts. Participant lists comprise about half of this document. (SV)