Get Healthy Utah News and Blog

Get Healthy Utah held its annual Stakeholder Retreat this October at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan. This year’s theme was “Connection: Building a Culture of Health.” Topics included the connection between physical and mental health, as well as the importance of societal connection for community wellbeing. Leaders from various sectors attended to learn more about their common goal: to improve the health of Utah communities. 

 A welcome from West Jordan's Mayor Dirk Burton and City Councilperson Pamela Bloom

Opening words from Get Healthy Utah Chair Greg Bell

Get Healthy Utah Highlights

Alysia Ducuara, Executive Director, presented on Get Healthy Utah’s successes during the 2022–23 fiscal year. Over the past year, Get Healthy Utah developed a new five-year strategic plan, focusing on four pillars: Convene, Educate, Amplify, and Advocate. Get Healthy Utah presented at nine conferences and events, partnered with the Utah Worksite Wellness Council to hold an event for Utah businesses, and designated nine new cities a Healthy Utah Community. Get Healthy Utah also pursued policy efforts, including promoting policy work for public health and piloting Health in All Policies in three Utah cities.

To view the presentation slide deck, click HERE.

Keynote Panel: Representative Steve Eliason, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, and Mayor Jeff Silvestrini

Each of the keynote panelists this year work tirelessly to improve mental health for communities. Representative Eliason, who has served in the Utah State Legislature for over a decade, shared insights from his work on mental health legislation. Dr. Holt-Lunstad shared about her work on the Surgeon General’s report about the epidemic of loneliness, and emphasized the importance of social connection to improve community mental health. Mayor Silvestrini talked about the changes Millcreek has made to improve residents’ mental wellbeing. For example, Millcreek created the Millcreek Promise Program and designed new places for gathering in the city.

Data Lightning Round

Three presenters shared about their work to collect data on the health and wellbeing of Utahns:

Utah Foundation: Community Health Reports

Shawn Teigen, President

The Utah Foundation produces objective, analytical research to support good policy choices in Utah. The Utah Foundation regularly surveys Utahns on their quality of life. In 2022, there was a sharp decrease in scores. Recently, the Utah Foundation started a Healthy Community series consisting of three reports. The first report focused on the importance of open spaces in creating healthy communities. Get Healthy Utah and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services partnered with the Foundation for the second report, “Advancing Safety and Wellness,” which focuses on how Utah policymakers can promote active living in their communities. You can view all of the reports at utahfoundation.org.

Utah State University Wellbeing Survey

Dr. Courtney Flint, Utah State University

Utah State University (USU) partners with city and town leaders across the state to conduct a free Wellbeing Survey. The survey assesses residents' wellbeing and attitudes about community issues, and helps to promote sound planning and decision-making among community leaders. The project has collected over 25,000 surveys from Utahns across more than 35 cities. The next round of surveys will be administered in 2024. For more information, visit the project’s website.

Built Environment for Healthy Aging

Dr. Andy Hong, University of Utah

Dr. Hong is Director of the Healthy Aging and Resilient Places (HARP) Lab at the University of Utah. HARP’s mission is to support research and other efforts that create healthy places to live across the lifespan. Policies can impact the entire population’s health. For example, the built environment can either hinder or promote active living for the aging. HARP has gathered examples of successful interventions that have supported health across the entire population, regardless of age. Visit harp.utah.edu to learn more.

Get Healthy Utah Awards

Get Healthy Utah presented two partnership awards at the 2023 Stakeholder Retreat. First, Dr. Courtney Flint accepted an award for her work with the Wellbeing Project. The Wellbeing Project provides vital information that supports our understanding of community wellness in Utah. Second, Get Healthy Utah recognized the Healthy West Valley Committee for being a shining example of an effective health coalition. First organized in 2018, the Healthy West Valley Committee brings together community partners, residents, and city staff members to advocate for wellness in West Valley City. It is a strong example of what a community health coalition can become.

Health in All Policies Panel

Kiana Dipko, Millcreek City

Alex Kidd, West Valley City 

Kevin Nguyen, West Valley City

Julia Glade, SLCO Health Dept 

Beginning in 2022, Get Healthy Utah partnered with three Utah cities—Manti, Millcreek, and West Valley City—to pilot projects promoting Health in All Policies. Health in All Policies is an integrated, collaborative approach to improve the health of a community by considering the health impacts of policies and actions being made across sectors. Some of Get Healthy Utah’s partners in the pilot projects joined a panel to discuss their experiences implementing Health in All Policies. They emphasized the importance of communicating with city leaders in plain language. It takes time for change to happen, but sitting down one-on-one with people can help them to see the importance of health in policymaking. The ability to customize and adapt approaches to specific cities is also important.

To view the presentation slide decks, other resources, and more, visit linktr.ee/gethealthyutah2023. 

Devynne Andrews, JD

Devynne Andrews is the Communications Coordinator for Get Healthy Utah.

Recently, the Get Healthy Utah staff attended an advance screening of UnCharitable, a documentary about the double standards we tend to apply to nonprofits. The main subject of the film, Dan Pallotta, argues that the public expects nonprofits to tackle huge issues (ending hunger, helping veterans, and so forth). At the same time, though, we expect nonprofits to operate unlike any other businesses.

If a CEO tried to create the next Amazon, we would expect them to hire the best talent possible, likely at top dollar. From the beginning, a good chunk of the budget would go to marketing. And key priority would be innovation, even when risky. 

Meanwhile, nonprofit workers typically have lower salaries. Donors classify marketing and fundraising as dreaded “overhead” costs. And nonprofits are expected to be innovative without risking donor funding.

The documentary shares stories from multiple innovative nonprofit leaders. A few of them are part of a sad pattern: the leader would spend money building the nonprofit’s capacity (through salaries and marketing). As a result, fundraising amounts would increase dramatically. But these leaders were then ousted because of perceptions of “wasteful spending.”

I never expected to work for a nonprofit. I attended a top tier law school, clerked for a federal judge, and joined a large law firm. That was the plan. Then, within a few months of starting at the firm, my mental and physical health started to deteriorate. Only six months in, and pregnant with my second child, I decided to quit.

After I spent some time recovering, I felt a need to use my talents and skills, but no desire to practice law again. Instead, I wanted to find somewhere that I could–as cheesy as it sounds–make a difference. Specifically, I wanted to work for an organization that tried to improve policies affecting children’s health. As an attorney, I have a deep respect for the broad impact of good laws and policies.

My search led me to Get Healthy Utah. Our mission is to improve healthy eating, active living, and mental wellbeing in Utah at the system level. We convene leaders across sectors and advocate for policies to improve community health. I joined as a part-time employee, making $15 an hour.

Meanwhile, many of my law school peers are currently making $300,000 or more. I could only leave my job because my husband has a good job, and I didn’t have school debt. Still, if you don’t consider my health, this was a pretty irrational career move. For many people, the choice is simple: why would you take an 80 percent pay cut to work for a nonprofit? Wouldn’t it be easier to just donate a good chunk of your salary, sit on a nonprofit board or two, and have financial security?

I think Pallotta is right. We should allow nonprofits to be effective businesses. Executive directors should be able spend money to improve staff, marketing, and innovation. 

Otherwise, nonprofits have to rely on people’s willingness to give up money and prestige to make the world a better place. They have to compete with for-profit businesses that are not similarly restrained. Get Healthy Utah, for example, is working to counteract the efforts of, among others, the car and candy industries. How do you think our marketing or lobbying budgets compare?

Pallotta suggests that, instead of focusing on overhead ratios, we ask nonprofit workers about their big dreams, and how they would make them reality.

Here’s my dream. I dream that my kids grow up in a world where it’s easier to be healthy than unhealthy. At school, they eat a wide variety of fresh, wholesome foods. Their days are full of moving, playing, and connecting with their community. I imagine them growing old with a low risk of developing chronic disease. And I want every kid in Utah to live in that same world. 

That’s why we work with leaders across sectors to develop health-promoting policies. As more people work to build a culture of health, I believe that my dream world is possible.

Get Healthy Utah, in conjunction with the Utah League of Cities and Towns, is pleased to announce the newest Healthy Utah Community designees. Four cities and towns qualified this fall: Coalville, Holladay, Hooper, and Monroe. We are also pleased to announce our first redesignees! Spanish Fork, Vernal, and West Valley City each qualified to be redesignated as Healthy Utah Communities.

Coalville

Coalville City has been working hard to create a healthy community! To improve active living, Coalville has focused on schools. The Summit County Health Department provides Safe Routes to School Beat the Street assemblies to K-3 and 4-6 grades at the elementary school, while the city has fostered partnerships with local schools to promote Safe Routes to School.

Coalville City has improved access to healthy food by partnering with the Utah Community Action Services Food Pantry. Along with the Summit County Health Department, the city has provided resources, support, and volunteers. The Summit County Health Department also offers QPR training and gun locks in Coalville through the Health Promotion and Behavioral Health Prevention departments. Moving forward, the Healthy Coalville Coalition plans to implement a strategy to improve active living by improving conditions for pedestrians and bikers. 

Holladay

Holladay has been busy implementing strategies to promote health for its residents. Among other strategies, Holladay improved the Big Cottonwood Trail with a bike repair station, water station, and restrooms. The city supports food pantries at its high schools through donations and sponsoring food drives. The city also promoted mental wellbeing by hosting a free QPR class for community members.

Holladay has big plans to continue building a healthy community! The city plans to launch a comprehensive mental health page on the city website, with resources for residents. The city plans to continue improving and promoting the Big Cottonwood Trail. Finally, Holladay also plans to complete a formal strategic planning process, using the Communities that Care framework, to address community health needs. Way to go, Holladay!

Hooper

Hooper has been working on big things this year! The City organized a diverse coalition with members from the sheriff’s department, a school nurse, the local health department, elected officials, city staff, and a community member. Everyone is focused on “Keeping Hooper Healthy”! 

The city earned a grant to help build pickle ball courts and a basketball court, offering residents fun ways to get outside and active. Hooper also organizes a monthly “Tomato Jam.” Local musicians, of all ages and abilities, get together to share their musical talents. Members of the community are invited to watch, and light refreshments are served. What a fun way to promote connection through the arts!

Hooper also decided to go above and beyond for their plans moving forward. They plan to implement three new strategies: developing a new trail connection; hosting healthy cooking classes; and providing drug education and resources to the community.

Monroe

Monroe has implemented some fun new strategies to promote healthy lifestyles for its residents! The city offers low cost community sports programs, and is working to install pickleball courts locally. To improve access to healthy food, Monroe has started offering a bimonthly farmers market and food truck rally.

Monroe’s main focus has been on improving mental health. The city installed a second medication drop box, and handed out free gun locks to citizens. Monroe also beautified an area for outdoor recreation, which promotes both active living and mental wellbeing. And moving forward, the city plans to promote mental health awareness through local law enforcement and the local high school. 

Redesignated Cities and Towns: Spanish Fork, Vernal, and West Valley City

We are so pleased to recognize our first cohort of redesignated cities! Each of these cities has done great work over the past three years to continue building healthy communities. 

Spanish Fork, after years of conversations and advocacy, formed a garden committee. In April 2022, the city opened a new community garden to the public! The city also modeled worksite wellness for its own employees. The city held a two-week worksite wellness challenge that centered around positive food habits, emotional health and physical activity. 

Over the past three years, Vernal’s health coalition has been busy! Their successes have included new pickleball courts, new improvements and developments for trails, and Vernal Rocks, a summer program that helps families get outside exploring. It is great to see an active health coalition making a difference in the community!

The Healthy West Valley Committee has also been actively working on many projects. They completed a community health assessment to understand the health needs of West Valley residents. They supported creation of the West Valley Farmers Market, offered health webinars, supported a new community garden, and helped host a new Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. It’s great to see West Valley City making great strides in implementing health strategies!

Dr. Amy Locke

Amy Locke is the Chief Wellness Officer for the University of Utah Health, executive director of the University of Utah Health Resiliency Center, Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology.  Her research, educational, and clinical interests center around professional well-being, health behavior change, and prevention of disease through lifestyle.

As a family physician trained in both lifestyle and integrative medicine, I get many questions about how to improve health and optimize well-being. Many people often wonder how they can take charge of their own health. They often know that nutrition and physical activity are important for health. And even though many treat it as a luxury, most can recognize how sleep impacts their day. When pressed, people can also usually recognize how connection with others and with meaning and purpose in their life also play a role in how they feel.

I consider these the four foundations of health: food, movement, sleep and connection. The part of the foundations of health that is most commonly overlooked is connection to the self, or self-awareness. It is self-awareness that helps people recognize how health behaviors impact how they feel day to day.

When you ask people who are successful at eating a healthy diet, having an active lifestyle, sleeping enough most nights, regularly connecting with a strong support system, and/or seeking out meaning and purpose in their life, they often point to preventing disease or other longer term goals. But when you push them, they are usually able to explain how they feel better day to day. They are more likely to notice things like how effective they are with their job or how they are kinder to their kids and family. They notice more energy, that they think more clearly, they manage stress better depending on how they eat, sleep, move and connect.

Self-awareness is critical to making and sticking with health behavior changes. It turns out that not getting diabetes or other diseases in the future is a poor motivator when it comes to the choices in front of us right now. So the next time you eat a really healthy meal, go for a walk in the neighborhood, get a full night’s sleep or spend some quality time with friends, pay attention to how you feel in the moment. You might be surprised at the short term benefits.