Sanpete gets $75,000 grant to hire

social worker who will focus on preschool

9-6-2018

SALT LAKE CITY—Sanpete County has been awarded $75,000 to hire a social worker to focus on preschool enrollment for children experiencing intergenerational poverty, according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

Intergenerational poverty is a phenomenon where two or more successive generations of a family rely on public assistance at least one year.

In 2012, the Utah State Legislature passed the Intergenerational Poverty Mitigation Act to help children break out of the public assistance pattern.

Utah takes a two-generation approach with families by focusing on the needs of parents and their children simultaneously.

“So it’s really taking an individualized approach—looking at all the services that are available,” Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said.  “Not just government services, but nonprofits, volunteers, our faith-based communities. We bring all of these groups together in a room to focus on individuals and specifically to focus on children.”

“Many people in local communities understand the long-term effects of intergenerational poverty on children and families and are actively engaged in developing solutions,” Rep. Edward Redd, R-Logan said. “These grants will assist ongoing efforts of communities in our state to mobilize local resources to address intergenerational poverty on a local level.”

In all, about $900,000 was awarded for efforts in Carbon, Iron, Kane, San Juan, Sanpete, Utah, Washington and Weber counties.