Health Across the Lifespan

All components of health are critical to the overall wellbeing and thriving of Utah women. Although Utah does well compared to other states in a few areas (e.g., physical activity and general health), data show the state is ranked 46th (out of 51) for women’s preventive healthcare and is among the three lowest states for mammography screening rates. Utah is also ranked at 49th when considering the depression rate for women, and many women struggle with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. In addition, health issues such as substance use, disordered eating, and suicidal behaviors demand additional health resources to respond to the unique needs of those women (and families) who are experiencing them. Improving health across the lifespan will strengthen families, support economic stability, and help ensure all Utah women can fully participate in their communities.

In collaboration with partner organizations across the state, A Bolder Way Forward’s Health Across the Lifespan Spoke is focused on improving Utah women's health in eight key areas (subspokes): Access & Prevention, Adolescent Health, Disordered Eating, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Older Adult & End of Life, Perimenopause & Midlife, Reproductive Health, and Trauma Informed Care. Explore the resources below to support women in thriving at every stage of life through strong mental, physical, social, and environmental health. Individuals, organizations, and communities can also take specific actions to help. To get engaged, email the UWLP Community Connector (Amy Anderson).

Key Resources

Informational Video

Resource Kit

Research Reports

What Utahns Need to Know

Spoke Podcast

Bold Goals

Through collective impact and systems thinking, Utah can improve things by working towards the following goals:

Identify and reduce barriers to access for women across the state. [Metric Dashboard]
1. Decrease the percentage of women avoiding care due to cost.
2. Increase equitable access to primary care by increasing breast cancer screening in the Uintah Basin.
Increase the percentage of youth able to talk to a trusted adult or friend about their feelings. [Metric Dashboard]
Decrease the percentage of women reporting poor mental health days. [Metric Dashboard]
Increase access to Perimenopause/Menopause (Midlife) Healthcare for women across the state of Utah. [Metric Dashboard]
1. Increase the number of Menopause Society Certified Practitioners (MSCPs) in Utah.
2. Promote physician/provider education on midlife women’s healthcare across the state of Utah, addressing clinical care gaps based on evidence-based and patient-centered clinical guidelines by increasing the number of participants in Midlife Women's Health ECHO training at the University of Utah.
Increase the percentage of Utah women with a preventive healthcare visit in the past year.  [Metric Dashboard]
1. Increase the percentage of Utah women ages 40+ who received a mammogram in the past two years.
2. Increase the percentage of Utah women ages 45-75 who reported receiving one or more of the recommended colorectal cancer screening tests within the recommended time interval.
Increase Utah Women's agreement with the following statements: [Metric Dashboard]
1. It’s likely I will be able to schedule and complete a preventive healthcare visit in the next 12 months.
2. I feel empowered to make informed decisions regarding reproductive health that fit my needs and/or the needs of my family.
3. I am knowledgeable about perimenopause for women.
4. I feel physically, mentally, and emotionally safe in healthcare settings.
5. It is likely one of my healthcare providers will effectively screen me for intimate partner violence (and connect me with resources if needed) in the next year.

What You Can Do

Educate yourself and others on the health risks of unhealthy relationships and intimate partner violence. Share one resource on your social media channel weekly or with a friend or family member.

Encourage all women you know aged 40 or older to schedule an annual mammogram. Share the following resources: What to Know if You’re Nervous about Mammograms and Breast Health.

Initiate candid conversations with girls and young women about issues that impact their health and wellbeing. These can include topics such as maturation, physical and mental health, body image, social media, disordered eating, and substance use disorder.

Spoke Advisors

Audrey Jiricko (Sr. Medical Dir., Intermountain Health)
Erika Lindley (Admin. Dir., University of Utah Health)
Stephanie Stokes (Community Health Manager, Primary Children's)

Access & Prevention Subspoke
Sheralee Petersen (AVP Clinical Programs, Intermountain Health)
Brooke Drollinger (Medical Dir. Population Health, Castell)
Mike Woodruff (Medical Dir., Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah)

Adolescent Health Subspoke
Elizabeth Gerke (Adolescent Health Program Manager, UT Dept. of Health)

Disordered Eating Subspoke
Liz Joy (Podcast Host, She Leads Science)
Jennifer Wilke (Clinical Nutrition Manager, Intermountain Health)

Mental Health & Wellbeing Subspoke
Megan Willes (Psychologist, Intermountain Health)

Older Adult & End of Life Subspoke
Elizabeth Fauth (Director, USU Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Research Center)
KoShell Burnham (Community Advocate)
Raven Albertson (Program Director, Utah Alzheimer's Association)

Perimenopause & Midlife Subspoke
Camille Moreno (Medical Dir. Menopausal Medicine, University of Utah)
Britt Vanderhoof (Founder, The Ayurvedic Nurse)

Reproductive Health Subspoke
Sarah Deluca (Associate Director, ASCENT Center for Reproductive Health)
Jessica Sanders (Family Planning Research Director, University of Utah)

Trauma Informed Care Subspoke
William Cosgrove (Retired Physician)
Dani Howard (Clinical Risk Director, Intermountain Health)

Community Partners

Intermountain Health is the largest nonprofit health system in the Intermountain West. They prioritize access to care and community services that improve health and healing, providing expert care closer to home, and making great health more affordable.

As the only academic medical center in Utah, University of Utah Health strives to provide the best health care science has to offer. They seek to improve individual and community health through excellence in patient care, education, and research.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services supports all individuals and communities throughout Utah through its effective system of services and programs. They aim to help all Utahns have fair and equitable opportunities to live safe and healthy lives.

Holy Cross Ministries is a nonprofit organization that responds to the community’s need for health and well-being. They provide health, education and justice services o ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable Utahns do not go overlooked.

Regence BlueCross BlueShield has been serving members in Utah since 1944. They offer a flexible network, assistance programs, virtual care, and value to increase the health and well-being of indviduals, families, and communities.

The One Utah Health Collaborative is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming healthcare in Utah. By aligning the community, identifying opportunities, and accelerating innovation, they aim to create a better health care system in Utah.

Know Your Lemons' mission is to improve early detection of breast cancer worldwide through creative and empowering education. Initiatives include an early detection app, classes, educators and a global campaign in over 40 languages.

The Boob Bus offers a mobile and modern mammogram experience, which includes a personalized breast cancer assessment. Women can book groups to rotate through the breast imaging suite while others are learning about genetic testing.

The Utah Cancer Coaltion seeks to reduce cancer incidence and mortality through prevention, control, advocacy, partnerships, and survivorship. With the Utah Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Control Plan, UCC works to eliminate barriers to health equity.

The Utah chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is offers support to anyone facing Alzheimer’s. They advocatefor the needs and rights of those facing dementia, or advance critical research, and work towards treatment, prevention, and ultimately, a cure.

The Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Research Center at Utah State University supports research, services, and education. They are committed to building a collaborative research infrastructure to help Utahns learn and find resources for support.

The Planned Parenthood Association delivers vital health services and information to ensure all Utahns have access to care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures.