Utah County recognizes Spanish Fork Active & Healthy Communities and Intermountain employee Kai Minor

Utah County Health Department representatives and the Board of County Commissioners presented Friend of Public Health awards to the Spanish Fork Active and Healthy Communities board and to Kai Minor of Intermountain Healthcare during the county meeting.

Ralph Clegg of the Utah County Health Department described Spanish Fork’s program — launched by Councilman Mike Mendenhall and Susan Chapman — as a community-led effort that promotes physical activity, nutrition, mental-health messaging, suicide-prevention training (QPR), SNAP access at farmers markets and a popular annual health fair. Clegg said the group reaches residents through social media and local cable, noting the city’s population and local outreach: "With a growing community of over 37,000 people, Spanish Fork City works hard to ensure a high quality of life for the residents," he said.

Clegg also highlighted grant support and program outcomes: grants from Intermountain Healthcare and the state Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse have funded SNAP benefits, air-quality monitors, and QPR trainings; the Spanish Fork event series reached an estimated 600 participants in its first year. He credited state legislators and partners, saying the work can serve as a model for communities working with government agencies to improve public health.

Kai Minor, recognized as the individual Friend of Public Health, was described as a longtime collaborator who coordinates screening events, supports Safe Kids Utah County, and partners across 30 agencies. Clegg noted she has worked with the county’s health-promotion efforts for roughly 16 years; Minor accepted the recognition and remarked on long-standing partnerships between county staff and community organizations.

The board took no policy action on the awards; the presentation emphasized community partnerships, grant-funded programs and local prevention efforts.