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

Lillian Haley, PhD

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Grief

Bereavement

Well Being

Psychological Distress

Treatments

Behavioral: Rise & Renew Hybrid Grief Support Program

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Industry

Other

Identifiers

NCT07009795

RN052025

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is testing a new grief support program called Rise & Renew (Remembering, Expressing, Navigating, Embracing, Witnessing) designed for Black women ages 40 and older who have experienced the loss of a close loved one, such as a spouse or significant other, parent, or child (including pregnancies). The program includes a weekend wellness retreat followed by 10 weeks of online group support. Participants will be randomly assigned to start weekly virtual sessions right away or after a 10-week delay. The study will help the investigators learn whether the program is helpful, easy to take part in, and meaningful for those who attend. The investigators believe that a culturally tailored program that focuses on healing, wellness, and community will improve emotional health, spiritual well-being, and resilience during the grief process.

Full description

Rise & Renew (Remembering, Expressing, Navigating, Embracing, Witnessing) is a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) using a waitlist control design to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a culturally responsive hybrid grief support program for Black women aged 40 and older who have experienced the death of a spouse/significant other, parent, or child (including pregnancies).

This study addresses critical gaps in bereavement support for Black women, who often face intersecting emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs. The Rise & Renew program is rooted in wellness practices, spiritual care, and culturally grounded healing rituals.

Study Design

After completing the baseline assessment, participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to one of two groups using a computer-generated randomization sequence:

Group A (Intervention Group): Will participate in an in-person weekend retreat and begin the 12-week Rise & Renew virtual support program immediately.
Group B (Waitlist Control Group): Will attend the same in-person retreat but will delay participation in the 12-week virtual program for 12 weeks.

This staggered model allows researchers to examine short-term changes in well-being and grief outcomes while providing all participants access to the full intervention.

Intervention Description

Rise & Renew is a 12-week hybrid grief support program designed to affirm the cultural identity, spirituality, and healing traditions of Black women. The program consists of:

One In-Person Weekend Retreat: Focused on wellness, healing rituals, community building, and expressive arts.
10 Weekly Virtual Support Sessions: Co-facilitated by a professional with group facilitation expertise and a Black faith leader. Session themes include:
Grief and emotional healing
Spiritual and personal growth
Financial empowerment
Self-care and wellness
Building social support networks

Recruitment and Eligibility The study is open to self-identified Black women aged 40 and older, living 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, and West Virginia. Recruitment will be conducted via digital outreach, including phone calls, text messages, and a study webpage.

Data Collection

This study uses a mixed-methods approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data:

Needs Assessment Survey: Conducted before the retreat to gather information on participants' unique needs and expectations, allowing facilitators to tailor the program accordingly.
Baseline: Participants will complete a pre-intervention survey in Qualtrics assessing grief, stress, depression, physical wellness (including self-reported blood pressure and weight), social support, and financial resilience.
Post-Intervention: Surveys and optional focus groups/interviews will assess perceived benefits, changes in well-being, and overall program satisfaction.

All participants will be invited to join Part 2 (10-week support group) after the retreat, regardless of initial group assignment. Participation is voluntary, and no compensation will be provided.

Enrollment

40 estimated patients

Sex

Female

Ages

40+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

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