Healthy Community Initiatives
Health is a community affair. One of the most vibrant trends in the nation today is one where community people take responsibility to solve their own problems. One of the first steps in the development of a Healthy Community located in Salt Lake County is facilitation by SLVHD staff. This early process is to assist a group in identifying their unique assets and strengths. These assets will help work towards finding solutions to problems. Community residents have shown the ability to identify strengths relating to their social, health, economic, political and physical environments that outsiders and professionals many times do not see.
The SLVHD recognizes and respects each community’s abilities and uniqueness, and is currently involved with 12 Healthy Communities Initiatives within the county. As the SLVHD Healthy Communities continues to form strong community collaborations and community friends, we continue our commitment to assist communities in developing long-term goals to improve their quality of life and become sustainable and healthy communities.
SLVHD'S ROLE IN HEALTHY COMMUNITIES:
- Assisting a community in focusing on their strengths.
- Providing program services, information, and education to all members of a community.
- Addressing broader health issues to include cultural, spiritual, emotional, environmental and physical factors.
- Building trust between members of the community, professionals and institutions.
- Advocating health access and culturally competent services for all.
ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES SUPPORTED BY SLVHD:
- Facilitated the assets mapping process in 12 Healthy Communities Initiatives.
- West Jordan Healthy Community received a $20,000.00 grant from Utah Highway Safety for “ Say It-Do It-Buckle Up Campaign in which the SLVHD Injury Prevention Program will assist them in reaching their objectives.
- West Valley City’s action plan for 2002 will be a citywide Anti-Tobacco Campaign in which the SLVHD Tobacco Program will play a significant role.
- The cultural competency program held a diversity presentation for Murray residents and agency representatives.
- The SLVHD Communicable Disease Program will present infectious disease training to Midvale Vecino a Vecino Outreach Program and volunteers.
- Glendale/Poplar Grove Healthy Communities has started an oral health
initiative targeting children in Daycare Centers in Glendale. - Assisted in taking a successful summer reading program with Midvale Healthy Communities and duplicated it in Murray, Taylorsville, and Central City initiatives.
- Facilitated in raising over $50,000 in grants for Healthy Communities efforts last year.
- Provides an avenue for all SLVHD programs to directly reach community residents.
- Ilene England, Health Educator, 468-2754
Email: IEngland@slco.org - Darrin Sluga, Community Development Director, 468-2729
Email: DSluga@slco.org
Health Community Locations:
- Central City
- Copperview Elementary
- Glendale/Poplar Grove
- Kearns
- Murray
- Magna
- Midvale
- Rose Park
- Sandy
- Taylorsville
- West Jordan
- West Valley