NCT07009795

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

Rise & Renew (Remembering, Expressing, Navigating, Embracing, Witnessing): Enhancing Well-being Among Black Women Who've Experienced a First-order Bereavement Event

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Lillian Haley, PhD · Industry
• Sex: Female
• Age: 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed 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.

Conditions

• Bereavement
• Grief
• Psychological Distress
• Well Being

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Rise & Renew Hybrid Grief Support Program	The Rise \& Renew Hybrid Grief Support Program is a culturally responsive, multi-component behavioral intervention designed specifically for Black women aged 40 and older who have experienced the loss of a spouse, parent, or child. It integrates wellness practices, grief support, spiritual care, and community healing in a hybrid format that includes both an in-person and virtual component. This intervention is distinguished by its cultural tailoring for middle-aged and older Black women, co-facilitation by both a trained facilitator and a faith-based leader, and its combination of expressive arts, spiritual guidance, and practical wellness strategies delivered in a hybrid format. It addresses grief holistically through emotional, physical, spiritual, and social dimensions, and emphasizes culturally relevant healing practices often overlooked in conventional grief programs.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-20
• Primary completion: 2026-05-19
• Completion: 2026-05-19
• First posted: 2025-06-08
• Last updated: 2025-12-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States