Every first Monday, a group of school administrators, law enforcement officers, healthcare workers, and community volunteers meets at Mt. Pleasant City Hall to coordinate prevention and support services for North Sanpete County. It’s called the North Sanpete Cares Coalition, it operates under the Central Utah Prevention Coalition, and unless you’ve been in the room, you probably don’t know what happens there.
Sanpete Serves is changing that. Here’s what happened in the coalition’s October, November, and December 2025 meetings.
The Headlines
The 2025 SHARP Survey results landed at the December meeting, showing broad improvements in youth substance use and mental health across the six-county region, with notable concerns about sixth graders (increases in alcohol use, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation) and a sharp rise in nicotine pouch products replacing vaping. The North Sanpete Police Department confirmed 24-hour coverage with nine full-time officers. And community organizations continued building out a support network that most residents don’t know exists.
October: New Faces, New Resources
Phil Brown, founder of Needs Beyond Medicine, presented to 16 coalition attendees. His nonprofit provides financial assistance to cancer patients 18 and older in active treatment across Utah, covering groceries, utilities, transportation, and rent for approximately 18 patients each month.
Schools reported launching structured intervention periods on Tuesdays and Thursdays (9:30–10:00 AM) to address topics like social media use and in-person communication skills. The Teen Center opened. 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline QR codes went up in school bathrooms. Jan Reese was elected coalition chairperson.
November: Police Coverage and Holiday Prep
Attendance grew to 17. The North Sanpete Police Department shared that Fairview and Mt. Pleasant now have round-the-clock police coverage, with a canine handler in training to support drug enforcement. Residents can report non-emergency concerns at 435-835-2345.
The Mobile Food Bank confirmed continued monthly distributions. The Sanpete Family Resource Center highlighted its RideShare program: free, volunteer-based transportation to medical appointments for county residents. Holiday programs (Toys for Tots, Sub for Santa, Tree of Angels) entered planning stages.
December: SHARP Survey and Growing Momentum
Nineteen attendees made the December meeting the best-attended of the quarter. The centerpiece was a preview of the 2025 SHARP Survey. Most of the news was positive: substance use dropped across nearly every category, mental health indicators improved for most grade levels, and protective factors like family connection and school engagement strengthened.
The exceptions matter. Sixth graders showed concerning increases in alcohol use, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation. Nicotine pouches are climbing as vaping declines, meaning youth nicotine use is shifting form rather than disappearing. Screen time emerged as a new tracked metric, with students reporting that phone use negatively impacts sleep, family time, and schoolwork.
Community updates rounded out the meeting: successful bilingual family nights focused on resilience and growth mindset, a growing teen center food pantry supported by school-based drives, and a free parent coaching program through the school district.
Why It Matters
These coalition meetings determine where prevention resources go in North Sanpete County. The SHARP data presented in December will shape funding and program priorities for 2026–2027. The connections made in these rooms put 988 QR codes in school bathrooms, keep the Mobile Food Bank running, and ensure that a cancer patient in Mt. Pleasant can find financial help without knowing who to ask.
What Comes Next
District-specific SHARP data for North Sanpete schools is expected soon. Workgroups will then convene to identify Sanpete-specific priorities. Volunteers are needed for both the Community Assessment Work Group and the Resource Assessment Work Group.
The coalition meets the first Monday of every month at noon, Mt. Pleasant City Hall. It’s open to the public. Contact Jocie Rojas (jocelyner@cucc.us) for information or to volunteer.
Sanpete Serves will cover every coalition meeting going forward.
Sourcing: This recap is based on official coalition meeting minutes from October 6, November 3, and December 2, 2025, taken by Jocie Rojas, Behavioral Health Prevention Specialist at Central Utah Counseling Center. For corrections, email info@sanpeteserves.com.
