Orem outlines three-month health improvement plan focusing on domestic violence, classes and a Spanish-language website

Orem City staff presented a three-month health improvement plan to the City Council on Jan. 14, 2025, proposing a centralized health website, expanded free health classes at city venues and targeted domestic-violence resources available in Spanish and English.

The proposal, led by a city staff member who described a year-long process tied to the Utah Healthy Community designation, said the plan grew from a community wellness survey conducted with Utah State University and recommendations from a newly formed local health coalition made up of hospital, health department and nonprofit partners. The plan’s immediate steps include launching health.orem.gov, scheduling free classes at the library, recreation center and Senior Friendship Center, and producing educational videos about domestic violence in both English and Spanish.

City staff highlighted the coalition’s membership and community outreach: Timpanogos Regional Hospital and the Utah County Health Department participated, and local victim advocates and law-enforcement specialists contributed to the recorded domestic-violence videos. Staff also described use of a matrix tying survey concerns (physical health, social connection, air quality, transportation) to four community-health pillars and prioritized tasks for the initial three months.

Officials and staff emphasized harm-prevention and early education. The police department noted patrol officers use a validated lethality assessment protocol (LAP) on domestic-violence calls to guide safety planning and shelter referrals; city staff said they are coordinating with victim advocates and local shelters to expand communications and prevention programming that could include school-based education and community outreach. Staff also said they will seek grant funding where available, pointing to state injury-prevention grants and other health-related opportunities.

Next steps include launching the city health website (staff said the domain health.orem.gov has been registered), finalizing the schedule for free classes and coordinating the annual health fair with the city farmers market. Staff named Debbie (community connections supervisor) as the project point of contact for scheduling and public outreach.

Council members asked about partnerships and noted limited county-level funds for domestic-violence prevention; city staff and the County Health Department said they would explore volunteer and university partnerships and pursue relevant grant opportunities.

The council did not take a formal vote on the plan; staff will proceed with implementing the initial three-month actions and will return with updates and scheduling details.