Get Healthy Utah News and Blog

Get Healthy Utah held its Annual Event this September at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan. This year’s theme was “Fueling Healthy Communities,” with a focus on access to healthy food. Leaders from various sectors attended to learn more about their common goal: to improve the health of Utah communities. 

Get Healthy Utah Highlights

Alysia Ducuara, Executive Director, presented on Get Healthy Utah’s successes during the 2024–25 fiscal year. This year, Get Healthy Utah unveiled a new mission statement: Making Utah a healthier place to live. To achieve that mission, Get Healthy Utah has now designated over sixty Healthy Utah Communities. Get Healthy Utah spearheaded active living demonstration projects in three communities, with the Active People, Healthy Utah partner group. Alysia wrapped up her presentation by addressing the theme of the conference, Fueling Healthy Communities. Healthy food access is about making sure that everyone can eat nutrient-dense food and has always been a key part of Get Healthy Utah’s mission. All sectors play a role in improving healthy food access.

Keynote: Fueling a Resilient Mind & Body, Catherine Van Tassell

Catherine Van Tassell, of GBS Benefits, spoke on “Fueling a Resilient Mind & Body: Nutrition & Mental Health for Everyday Wellbeing.” She discussed how nutrition and diet are inextricably linked to mental health. For businesses and other stakeholders (as well as individuals) interested in addressing mental health, nutrition should be top of mind. Nutritional psychiatrists, for example, counsel patients on how better eating may be another tool in helping to ease depression and anxiety and may lead to better mental health. Catherine closed with some practical tips about how to eat more whole, fresh foods.

Morning Breakout Sessions

Fueling Food Through Community Planning

Sara Patterson, Red Acre Farms; Morgan Hadden, Get Healthy Utah; Anne Dunaway, Marriott-Slaterville

This breakout session focused on how the way that communities are set up, zoned, and planned affects how residents have access to fresh, healthy food. Sara Patterson, of Red Acre Farm, talked about how she built a two-acre community-supported agriculture farm. Now, that farm provides healthy, whole foods for local families weekly throughout the year. Morgan Hadden, of Get Healthy Utah, talked about planning strategies to improve access to healthy food. One strategy that Get Healthy Utah is planning to pilot over the next year is a healthy food access walking audit, which provides on-the-ground insights about barriers to healthy food. Finally, Anne Dunaway talked about the work she has done as a small urban farmer to partner with her local government.

Fueling Healthy Aging

Nels Holmgren, DHHS; Darren Hotton, AARP Utah; Paul Leggett, Salt Lake County

With Utah’s aging population rapidly growing, we need to build communities that support everyone to live a healthy lifestyle. Nels Holmgren from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services talked about the new statewide aging plan known as the WISE initiative and includes four pillars of aging well. Darren Hotton of AARP Utah discussed their Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, a program that empowers communities to support the elderly. Paul Legget, Division Director of Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services, discussed how the largest county in Utah works with their partners to support healthy aging, highlighting the importance of senior nutrition.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Fueling Health Through Movement

McKell Christensen, URPA; Emily Fisher, Youth Sports Alliance; Caroline Weiler, Every Kid Outdoors

In the afternoon, this breakout session discussed how nutrition and healthy food access fuel physical activity and recreation. McKell Christensen of the Utah Recreation and Parks Association discussed their initiatives to encourage healthy snacking in youth sports and education about fueling play. Emily Fisher from the Youth Sports Alliance talked about how her organization is working to make sports accessible to all youth. Finally, Caroline Weiler shared about the Every Kid Outdoors Adventure Challenge, which connects families, communities, and schools with opportunities to get outside and active.

Fueling Communities Through Local Food

Mayor Julie Fullmer, Vineyard; Maria Schwarz, Salt Lake City; Cara Murray, USU Extension

The other breakout session in the afternoon focused on how cities and towns can improve access to local, healthy foods. Mayor Julie Fullmer from Vineyard talked about how her city has worked on several policy efforts to improve local food access, from community gardens and seed exchanges to attracting a new grocery store. Maria Schwarz discussed her work in the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department to develop, support, and sustain a thriving local food system, including their microgrant program. Finally, Cara Murray shared how USU Extension has been working in rural Utah communities to implement food access solutions.

Closing Keynote Panel: Fueling Change on a System Level

Caroline Hargraves, UDAF; Jeanette Padilla, Food Justice Coalition; Shannon Jones, University of Utah

Our closing keynote panel wrapped up the day by talking about the system-level changes and challenges that Utah faces. Caroline Hargraves from the Utah Department of Agriculture talked about how farmers and other agricultural workers are crucial in a healthy food system, and shared ways that her department is working to support healthy food access. Jeanette Padilla, founder of the Food Justice Coalition, shared a little of her personal experience with food insecurity, and talked about how policy changes can make healthy food inaccessible to those already struggling. Finally, Shannon Jones, from the University of Utah, discussed how system-level changes can improve outcomes for everyone.

Sponsors and Exhibitors

A big thank you to all our sponsors and exhibitors who made this Annual Event possible! We appreciate those who spoke and tabled at our event, providing healthy snacks and great resources. We're proud to partner with organizations who share our mission of making Utah a healthier place to live.

To view the presentation slide decks, other resources, and more, visit linktr.ee/gethealthyutah2025. 

From August 2023 to December 2024, West Valley City’s Healthy West Valley Committee took part in the Active People, Healthy Utah Demonstration Project. This project, funded jointly by Get Healthy Utah, the One Utah Health Collaborative, the Utah Department of Transportation, and the Wasatch Front Regional Council, connected three Utah communities with active living experts to promote physical activity and healthier lifestyles. In West Valley City, the committee focused on improving access to and awareness of the Jordan River Trail and Decker Lake loop on the east side of the city.

One of the key goals was to make the area more appealing for residents to get outside and be active. With this in mind, the committee installed picnic tables, pickleball courts, and improved the ADA accessibility of Decker Lake to make the area more welcoming and user-friendly. These small but impactful upgrades support residents of all ages and abilities in spending more time outdoors.

To raise awareness and engage the community, the committee launched the “West Valley City Birds and Bikes” summer campaign. Activities included a summer-long scavenger hunt, a sticker collection challenge, and family-friendly events that encouraged people to get active outdoors. 

During the demonstration project, West Valley City also received a $7,500 grant from Nature and Human Health – Utah. These funds will be used to install nature signs along the Decker Lake Trail. Designed in partnership with the Tracy Aviary, the signs will provide information about the migratory birds that visit Decker Lake and the local species that call it home. 

At the conclusion of the project, the Healthy West Valley Committee successfully improved the Decker Lake infrastructure to promote health and well-being through connection with nature and movement. Interested in learning more? You can read West Valley City’s final report HERE.

Get Healthy Utah, in conjunction with the Utah League of Cities and Towns, is pleased to announce the newest Healthy Utah Community designees. Five cities and towns qualified this spring: Koosharem, Parowan, Springville, Taylorsville, and West Jordan.

Seven cities were redesignated: Blanding, Centerville, Draper, Manti, Nephi, Springdale, and Woods Cross. You can read about what each of these cities did at https://gethealthyutah.org/healthy-utah-community/designated-communities.

Koosharem

The Town of Koosharem is dedicated to meeting the needs of their small community and works to enhance the lives and health of their community members both young and old. They promote active living in young people with their free volleyball camp for girls aged 5-13 and plan to offer additional camps and clinics for additional sports, genders, and ages. They increase access to healthy eating through their free canning, freeze-drying, and bread-making classes for community members. Koosharem also offered three 6-month mental health resiliency classes to help community members overcome mental health challenges.  

Parowan

Parowan City serves the community by providing activities and programs that bring families together to support healthy, fun interactions. Their four parks and community pool provide gathering places for families and communities, and their citizens and Parowan Prevention Coalition are very active in supporting an active and healthy lifestyle. From their youth sports leagues and four new pickleball courts to their twice-monthly food bank handouts and safe medication disposal site, Parowan is dedicated to year-round health of all community members.

Springville

Springville City is committed to community health and well-being and offers a variety of services to meet the needs of community members. Their Fitness Fair and Silver Sneakers classes provide options to live active lifestyles, they try to ensure access to healthy foods by offering a summer lunch program for kids with the Utah Food Bank, and they offer Teen Mental Health Classes and free QPR trainings through the local library. The Healthy Springville Coalition is actively involved in representing community needs and providing Springville citizens with a healthy place to live.

Taylorsville

The City of Taylorsville has made great strides in ensuring every resident has access to healthy food, opportunities to be active, and resources to support mental health. They provide youth sports programs, a popular community 5k, new trail systems, an active farmers market, a food bank to help those in need, beautification of local parks, and a variety of community educational events. 

West Jordan

West Jordan City and their active health coalition are dedicated to creating opportunities for community members to live healthy and active lives. Focusing on holistic health, West Jordan offers seminars, events, and resources for residents to have a positive health experience. Offerings include many walking events on the Jordan River Trail, a produce swap at the monthly Community Market, support for the JSD Principal Pantry, mental health trainings for the police department, and daily lunch at the West Jordan Senior Center.

On February 5, 2025, the Utah Business of Health Event, organized by Get Healthy Utah, The Utah Worksite Wellness Council, and Utah Community Builders, took place at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. The event, themed "Well Connected," brought together 70 business and health leaders from across Utah to explore the impact of social connections on employee and community well-being. Highlights included expert panels and roundtable discussions on enhancing professional and personal networks, team engagement, burnout prevention, and leadership development. The event emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to improve the health and quality of life for all Utahns.

Sponsors

EvolvedMD integrates mental health services into primary care, addressing limited access, provider shortages, and fragmented care. Their approach enhances patient outcomes, reduces costs, and supports both patients and providers with significantly better results in depression and anxiety.

Health Movement, founded by Rich Miller, introduced the a universal health tracking platform. This innovative platform offers free solutions for data collection, analysis, and reporting, enhancing accessibility for various organizations.

Expert Panel

The Utah Wellbeing Project, presented by Dr. Courtney Flint, examines the factors contributing to a good life across Utah's communities. The project's research indicates that wellbeing includes physical and mental health, social connections, and living standards. Key findings reveal that while domains like safety, family, and connection with nature are highly rated, areas such as education, social connections, and transportation need improvement. Community connection and activities like walking and biking correlate with higher wellbeing. Concerns vary, with some desiring faster economic development for more opportunities, while others worry about traffic and loss of small-town feel. Top concerns statewide include water supply, air quality, and affordable housing. Overall, businesses can play an important role in enhancing community wellbeing

The University of Utah Resiliency Center, under the direction of Dr. Amy Locke, is dedicated to promoting optimal health and well-being using a holistic, people-centered strategy. The center tackles burnout and moral distress, fostering a culture of community, connection, and purpose through initiatives like resilience-building programs and Code Lavender for crisis support. It uses a three-tiered support system and offers resources like wellbeing toolkits, aiming to empower individuals and improve the overall work environment. This approach seeks to address stress injuries and improve joy in work by focusing on the needs of individuals, teams, and leadership within the organization.

Nicole Carpenter's presentation on strengths-based leadership emphasizes that effective leaders leverage their authentic selves and build teams with complementary skills. The core idea is to focus on individuals' strengths rather than weaknesses to boost productivity and create a positive work environment. By understanding team strengths and navigating dynamics effectively, leaders can foster collaboration and improve communication. A strengths-based approach aims to maximize potential and improve overall performance, as highlighted by the ElevateHER Challenge, which promotes women in leadership and equitable practices.

Round Table Discussions

During the 2025 Utah Business of Health Roundtables, participants engaged in dynamic discussions, rotating through tables guided by knowledgeable moderators. They shared insights, explored current practices, and discussed resources. The event created an environment of learning and collaboration, leaving participants inspired and equipped with practical strategies to implement in their workplaces. The roundtable groups included:

• Utah Wellbeing Survey
• Resiliency Center Programs
• Gallup Strengths-Based Leadership
• Division of Outdoor Recreation
• Health Movement
• One Kind Act a Day
• General Well Connected Table

Conclusion

Participants left feeling motivated to promote employee mental health and were equipped with the resources and strategies to make a difference. We are grateful to everyone who attended and to the amazing partners, sponsors, and speakers who made this event possible!