Grant Sonata, a representative of the Tooele County Health Department, presented the department’s annual report at the Council of Governments meeting on Sept. 18, 2025, highlighting prevention programs, maternal-child services and senior programming.

Sonata told the council the department trained 1,903 people in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide-prevention techniques and reported a 10% increase in WIC (Women, Infants and Children) clients. "These are simple skills — listen first," Sonata said, describing the QPR approach and its role in community awareness and referral.

The report emphasized early-childhood screening and home visiting: Sonata said the department completed 37 developmental screens last year and had completed 139 screens as of August 2025. She described the Ages and Stages developmental screening as a tool the nursing team uses to identify risks and connect families to services.

Sonata also reviewed substance-use prevention efforts and local coalitions. She cited the RADPAC (Resisting Alcohol and Drug Prevention Advocacy Coalition) and described coalition activities that bring students to the Utah Capitol to share prevention messages. She noted ongoing household hazardous-waste days and an increase in inspections tied to county growth — food trucks, handler permits, body-art facilities and pools — and said the department streamlined hazardous-waste collection with an online sign-up to reduce queuing.

Board members and council representatives who spoke during the public portion thanked the health department for its outreach and grants work. A council member noted collaboration with prevention specialists in Rush Valley and asked Sonata to follow up on wastewater and other local issues. Sonata said she would schedule community visits and requested local input and partnerships.

Discussion vs. decision: the presentation was informational only; no formal action or vote was taken on health-department items at the meeting. The council requested follow-up visits and additional outreach; Sonata said staff would coordinate visits and share materials.

Ending: Sonata closed by asking members for ideas and offering to meet with jurisdictions to better understand local needs and coordination points.