Rise & Renew: Supporting Well-Being in Black Women After the Loss of a Loved One

Launched by LILLIAN HALEY, PHD · May 29, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Rise & Renew clinical trial is studying a new program designed to help Black women aged 40 and older who are grieving the loss of a close loved one, such as a spouse, parent, or child. This program includes a weekend wellness retreat followed by 10 weeks of online support sessions. Participants will be randomly assigned to either start the online sessions immediately or after a 10-week wait. The goal is to see if this culturally tailored program can improve emotional health and resilience during the grieving process.

To be eligible for the study, you must identify as a Black or African American woman, be at least 40 years old, and have experienced the death of a close loved one. You also need to live in certain Southern U.S. states, have reliable internet access, and be able to attend the in-person retreat in Stone Mountain, GA, as well as participate in the online sessions. By joining the study, you will help researchers understand how effective and meaningful this support program is for those who are grieving.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Self-identifies as a Black or African American woman
• • Aged 40 years or older at the time of enrollment
• • Has experienced the death of a spouse, parent, or child (first-order bereavement)
• • Resides in the U.S. South Region, including: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or West Virginia
• • Has access to a reliable internet connection and a device capable of running Zoom
• • Is able to attend a 2-day in-person retreat in the Stone Mountain, GA area
• • Is able and willing to participate in 10 weekly virtual group sessions
• • Provides informed consent to participate in the study
• • Agrees to complete pre- and post-intervention surveys
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Has not experienced the death of a spouse, parent, or child
• • Under the age of 40 at the time of enrollment
• • Does not reside in the U.S. South Region
• • Unable to attend the in-person retreat in Stone Mountain, GA
• • Unwilling or unable to participate in weekly Zoom sessions
• • Does not have access to the necessary technology for virtual sessions
• • Does not provide informed consent
• • Currently receiving intensive psychotherapy or psychiatric treatment that would conflict with participation
• • Any condition or circumstance that, in the opinion of the investigators, may compromise the participant's ability to safely engage in the group setting