PG Cares Program to address problems of addiction, abuse, suicide With a goal to educate residents about issues such as abuse, addiction and suicide as well as link them to available resources, Pleasant Grove City has adopted a prevention program utilized by cities across the nation. Called Communities that Care, the program utilizes prevention efforts and science to promote healthy youth development, improve youth outcomes and reduce problem behaviors, according to the CTC website. “CTC helps communities prevent problems before they develop. Many see dramatic reductions in levels of youth alcohol and tobacco use and crime and violence,” states the website. Tamara Oborn has been hired to act as coordinator of the Pleasant Grove program, which is called PG Cares, a Communities that Care Coalition. She said participating cities are able to customize the CTC program to address their own local challenges. “We get to assess our own needs,” Oborn said. “We get statistics for Pleasant Grove specifically and then take those and make goals based on what our kids are struggling with.” While the CTC program itself has been operating for decades, Pleasant Grove’s program is new, having been adopted about three months ago. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down organization efforts, but Oborn said a leadership board is being assembled to oversee PG Cares
along with a community board that will be central to organizing and performing volunteer work when PG Cares begins hosting community programs and events. PG Cares has a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram through which it has been promoting prescription drugs education and disseminating other information. Free suicide prevention training courses that have been offered through the city for about a year are now offered through PG Cares and have continued via online Zoom meetings. PG Cares also recently received a $5,600 grant from the state to implement an EveryDay Strong campaign, a United Way program that addresses anxiety and depression in youth. A big part of PG Cares will be partnering with the many organizations that exist to provide help for people struggling with issues such as addiction or suicide and then connecting residents with the services and help they provide, Oborn said. Volunteers are being sought to help with PG Cares efforts. Those interested may contact Oborn at toborn@pgcity. org.
20 • Pleasant Grove - Lindon Chamber of Commerce • 2020 • www.pglindonchamber.org
