Natural Resource Dependency & Wellbeing

Projects focused on rural community wellbeing during times of economic transition.

Natural Resource Dependency and Wellbeing projects focus on understanding the role of community wellbeing in consent-based energy infrastructure projects as Utah’s coal country wrestles with the transition away from the local coal industry. Using interviews and participatory and traditional focus groups, we will examine energy workforce families’ and residents' experiences of changes to community wellbeing as coal production declines in southeastern Utah. 

Public Website

Contact Ashley Yaugher

Contact Kristen Koci


Program Information

About
      

Community Partners
  • Southeast Utah Health Department
  • South Eastern Regional Development Agency
  • USU Extension HEART Initiative
  • Utah Wellbeing Project 

Extension Program Leadership


         

USU Program Leadership

 

Trophy icon       Award icon      AWARDS    Trophy icon     Award icon  

 

PUBLICATIONS

Koci, K., Ulrich-Schad, J. D., Flint, C. G., Yaugher, A., McIntosh, A., Murza, G., & Hunt, A. (2024). Raising Awareness of the Link Between Coal Mining and Mental Health. Outcomes and Impact Quarterly, 4(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.59620/2995-2220.1081

Koci, K. (2024) Wellbeing, Mental Health, and Natural Resource Dependency in Rural Utah (Publication No. 172) [Master's thesis, Utah State University]. USU DigitalCommons. https://doi.org/10.26076/a920-2f95 

Koci, K. & Ulrich-Schad, J. (2024) Mental Health in Price: A Report on Community Perspectives. Utah State University, College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Community & Natural Resoruces Institute. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/canri_publications/7/

Koci, K. & Ulrich-Schad, J. (2024) Mental Health in Park City: A Report on Community Perspectives. Utah State University, College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Community & Natural Resoruces Institute. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/canri_publications/5/

Koci, K., Flint, C. & Ulrich-Schad, J. (2023) Utahns’ Wellbeing and Mental Health by Rural-Urban Location. Utah State University Extension. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/2368/

Koci, K., Flint, C. & Ulrich-Schad, J. (2023) Utahns' Wellbeing and Mental Health. Utah State University Extension. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/2369/

 

If you have updates to this page, please contact Kristin Hoch at kristin.hoch@usu.edu.