Vernal

Vernal City was part of the original Healthy Utah Community designation pilot cohort. In Fall 2020, their coalition developed a strategic plan focused on community health. They supported efforts that encouraged families to be healthy together by walking, eating together, and participating in the Passport to Summer program. The coalition encouraged and monitored physical activity in the community by improving trails and supporting the walking program, Step-It-Up Vernal.

*Logan, Spanish Fork, Vernal, and West Valley City were part of a pilot program sponsored by Intermountain Healthcare and the Utah League of Cities and Towns. The strategies completed in these pilot communities may not reflect the current Healthy Utah Community criteria.

STRATEGIES SELECTED

GOAL 1 Complete a strategic planning process focused on community health.

GOAL 2 Create efforts that support family health.

GOAL 3 Create efforts that support economic health.

GOAL 4 Create efforts that support educational health.

 2023 Redesignation:

To be redesignated, Vernal continued to put their health coalition to good use. Their successes have included constructing new pickleball courts, adding new improvements and developments to existing trails, and creating Vernal Rocks--a summer program that helps families get outside exploring.

HEALTH STRATEGIES

Active Living

• Conduct a messaging campaign to promote physical activity in your community
• Develop a new walking/biking trail or add to an existing one

Access to Healthy Food

• Establish a farmers market that accepts SNAP benefits
• Establish a community garden
• Promote enrollment in SNAP, WIC, school meal program, and other food access programs

Mental Health

• Provide free Naloxone training and rescue kits to community members
• Host a reoccurring community event that promotes social connection among a vulnerable demographic
• Increase awareness of mental health hotlines or local resources available in your community