Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ST. GEORGE — A coalition of public, private and government organizations is aiming to break the cycle of poverty in Washington County.
In the county, more than 45 percent of children are either currently living in poverty or at risk for intergenerational poverty, which continues from one generation to the next.
Local leaders came together in May 2016 to hear Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox speak on the matter, and they have been meeting regularly ever since to form a plan of action focusing on education, health, early childhood development and family economic stability.
As part of the plan, volunteer “allies” will offer a variety of support and training to families for about 18 months.
“That’s proven to be a successful model in helping people kind of break out of poverty,” Washington County Commissioner Victor Iverson said.
Iverson called these volunteers alternately advocates, allies and mentors.
“Somebody they can kind of rely on to help them,” he said. “Whether it’s job training that they need or other things like that.”
