Checking On Utah: Wellbeing Survey Launches in More Than 55 Utah Communities

Residents across Utah have the opportunity this spring to weigh in on how life is going in their own communities through the Utah Wellbeing Project, now in its seventh year tracking feedback on everything from social connection to safety.

And it’s still not too late for cities and towns to join the partnership this year, said Courtney Flint, project leader and professor of environment and society at Utah State University.

The project is a collaboration between researchers and city and town leaders. The goal is to help local leaders keep a finger on the pulse of resident wellbeing, to support the community planning processes with insights about financial and programmatic decisions.

Community partners for the survey that’s coming in March and April range from small towns like Bluff, Springdale, Mayfield, Castle Dale and Uintah City to larger cities like West Jordan, West Valley City, Sandy and Ogden. More than 80 communities in Utah have partnered with the project since 2019.

USU students and faculty administer the survey and provide reports back to leadership of participating cities and towns. Cities advertise the survey and recruit participants. Funding for the survey is provided by the Utah League of Cities and Towns.

These partnerships are the key to the long-running success of the project, Flint said.

“It’s a strong example of USU’s land grant mission to put our capacities in tandem with needs of Utah communities,” she said. “The survey captures unique local experiences about growth and development and identifies shared perspectives across the state, such as the importance of safety and security and physical and mental health.”

Seth Atkinson, city administrator in Nephi, said he has appreciated the nuanced perspective survey results have offered.

"It’s valuable data on how city services are viewed,” he said, “what residents find important and how the city can improve.”

The town of Springdale has also benefited, said Tom Dansie, community development director, because the survey highlights areas of particular concern for residents.

“It’s a powerful tool that helps communities understand what is working well and what can be improved,” he said. “It helps us direct more attention and resources to these areas in an effort to improve overall wellbeing in the community.”

This year’s survey includes a new questions to better understand experiences among individuals with disabilities, made possible by collaboration with Ty Aller and Heather Kelley from the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice at USU.

More can be learned at the project website. Questions about the Utah Wellbeing Survey can be directed to courtney.flint@usu.edu.