Home and Community Department Working Groups
About Working Groups
Working groups are collaborative teams focused on specific topic areas within the Home and Community Department. These work groups meet in various meet at various frequencies to share ideas, develop resources, and support each other's work.
Current Working Groups
Lead(s): Sadie Wilde & Yvette Rea
Strengthens local economies through workforce training, entrepreneurship, and community capacity building.
Lead(s): Paul Hill & Cris Meier
Builds self-esteem, resilience, and personal development through targeted programming.
Lead(s): Christina Pay, Anna Gilliam & Kristen Koci
Enhances family dynamics and relationship skills across the lifespan.
Lead(s): Naomi Brower, Jared Hawkins, Dave Schramm, Taryn Wahlquist (Editor)
Promotes financial literacy, homeownership education, and resource navigation.
Lead(s): Amanda Christensen
Sub-Working Group:
- PowerPay Money Master Online Course | Amanda Christensen | Website
- Utah Money Matters | Amanda Christensen | Website
- Change Makes $ense | Darlene Christensen | Website
- Empowering Financial Wellness | Amanda Christensen, Melanie Jewkes & Andrea Schmutz | Website
- Homebuyer Education | Melanie Jewkes & McKenzie Walsh | Website
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) | Jared Hawkins
Educates on safe food handling, preservation techniques, and household emergency readiness.
Lead(s): Melanie Jewkes & Andrea Schmutz
Supports overall well-being through physical, emotional, and lifestyle health education.
Lead(s): Aaron Hunt, Gabriela Murza & Cara Murray
Sub-Working Group:
Addresses trauma-informed practices and healing-centered engagement in communities by partnering locally and nationally to respond to the opioid epidemic and other pressing public health issues. Sub-work group of Health & Wellness.
Lead(s): Aaron Hunt, Tim Keady, Lea Palmer & Cara Murray
Focuses on reducing food insecurity through research, partnerships, and community action.
Lead(s): Palak Gupta & Lea Palmer
Provides nutrition education tailored to limited-resource audiences to promote healthy eating.
Lead(s): Lea Palmer
Promotes mental well-being through education, stigma reduction, and access to resources. Sub-work group of Health & Wellness.
Lead(s): Jared Hawkins, Cris Meier, Kristen Koci & Troy Allan
Advances healthy eating habits and nutrition knowledge for individuals and families.
Lead(s): Jenna Dyckman & Carrie Durward
Encourages movement and exercise through accessible, community-based programs. Sub-work group of Health & Wellness.
Lead(s): Gabriela Murza & Emma Parkhurst
Preserves and promotes traditional skills like sewing, quilting, and other home arts.
Lead(s): Andrea Schmutz
Supports veterans and their families through targeted outreach, education, and resource connection.
Lead(s): Troy Allan
How to Join
Interested in joining a working group? Fill out the form below or contact Kristin Hoch (kristin.hoch@usu.edu) directly.