PG Cares

PG Cares offers help to community

Do you know what to say if someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide?

Do you know what basic needs must be addressed to build resilience in our youth?

Do you know how to identify and express your emotions (even anger) in a way that can strengthen family relationships?

Utah is an amazing place to live, but we also have our issues. Utah is sixth in the nation for suicide rates, with youth and young adult suicide rates rising. One in four kids face some level of sexual abuse, and those are only the reported numbers.

We also struggle with higher than national average levels of addiction and overdose deaths, often beginning with prescription opioids. Youth vaping rates have been rising with kids becoming nicotine dependent without even realizing what chemicals they are inhaling from a fruity flavored vape device.

While this can seem heavy and hard to swallow, we know there is so much hope and so many resources available. As we shine a light on our struggles, we also learn how to face them together.

Two years ago, the leadership of Pleasant Grove City took the necessary steps to obtain a grant from Utah County to start a Communities that Care Coalition. Created by the University of Washington Social Development Research Group, this coalition model is proven to strengthen communities. We decided on the name “PG Cares’’ to spread the message that Pleasant Grove cares about these very real issues we face as families.

As a evidence-based coalition, PG Cares works to reduce the risks of addiction, abuse and suicide in the community. Prevention science has been around for decades, and the State of Utah is now prioritizing community level prevention work. Research shows that local prevention efforts are the most impactful.

The Utah State Legislature has earmarked funds for local, evidence-based prevention work, and PG Cares has been awarded multiple grants to implement educational classes and run prevention campaigns right here in our community. Each class is carefully researched and chosen because of the data that we gather to understand our specific struggles here in Pleasant Grove. Each instructor is fully trained by our partner organizations to teach the skills and lead the discussions that help us tackle tough issues as families and neighbors.

We encourage families, businesses, churches and schools to join us in our prevention efforts. Our new website has more information about prevention science, trusted resources and partners, and educational classes we provide at no cost to the community.

Sign up for a class or request that we bring professionally developed training to your organization. Ask us about the resources available and find support when those we love are hurting or in crisis. We are passionate about community education and supporting each other in even the most difficult situations. It takes a village, and we know that PG is one of the very best.

WEBSITE: pgcaresutah.org

QUESTIONS: Contact PG Cares Coordinator Tamara Oborn, toborn@pgcity.org