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The project seeks to create a more connected community in Clarkston, Ga., often described as “the most diverse square mile in America.”
ATLANTA — The Prevention Research Center at Georgia State University has received a grant of up to $5 million over five years from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address two related issues that the U.S. Surgeon General has identified as a public health crisis: social isolation and loneliness.
Working with community partners in the refugee resettlement hub of Clarkston, Ga., the Prevention Research Center will explore how evidence-based interventions that combine mindfulness with cognitive behavioral therapy can be adapted to reduce social isolation and loneliness in highly diverse communities. The findings from the project will help promote social connectedness in the local community and will be disseminated nationwide.
“Our Community Advisory Board identified addressing social isolation and loneliness as a key priority, and we’re excited to work with them on a project that has implications for Clarkston and our nation as a whole,” said Michael Eriksen, Regents’ Professor in the School of Public Health and PRC principal investigator. “We are grateful for the continued support through this new round of CDC funding, which speaks to the important role that culturally and linguistically informed research and interventions play in promoting public health.”
Launched in 2019 with an initial grant of $3.75 million, the GSU PRC has worked with community partners to adapt the evidence-based SafeCare parenting program to the needs of refugee, immigrant and migrant communities; increase vaccination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic; hold events such as the Clarkston Summit; and deliver culturally adapted programs and services in areas such as diabetes self-management and maternal health, among several other projects.
“GSU’s Prevention Research Center demonstrates the kind of synergies that are possible when community members, academia, government, nonprofits and the private sector all come together to advance a shared vision of improved health and well-being,” said School of Public Health Dean Rodney Lyn. “I’m grateful to all of the partners who have contributed to its success and am looking forward to this next phase of our collaboration.”
'America’s Most Diverse Square Mile'
Clarkston is a metro-Atlanta suburb that has welcomed refugees for resettlement since the 1980s. In one square mile, more than 14,000 residents speak more than 60 languages and represent cultures from around the world.
Ashli Owen-Smith, an associate professor in the School of Public Health and co-lead of the core research project, noted that refugees, immigrants, migrants and other marginalized groups are at particularly high risk of social isolation and loneliness.
In a 2023 advisory, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy highlighted the physical and mental health consequences of a lack of social connection, including a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke and a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia. Loneliness and isolation also contribute to mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression.
“Many migrants have endured the trauma and violence of war and are separated from friends and loved ones,” Owen-Smith said. “They also may face financial, language and cultural barriers that can make it difficult to build strong social connections.”
A Wealth of Community Engagement and Collaboration
Despite the challenges that many members of the Clarkston community face, a preliminary survey conducted by the PRC found that 86 percent of respondents agreed that “people in Clarkston form a close-knit community” and that 81 percent agreed that “people in Clarkston work together to solve community problems.” Nearly all respondents — 94 percent — reported they feel welcome in Clarkston.
A total of 34 community organizations are collaborating through the Prevention Research Center, and the core research project will be facilitated by the Clarkston Community Center, Refugee Women’s Network and Positive Growth Inc.
“The wealth of community engagement and collaboration that exists in Clarkston makes it an ideal place to adapt, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions that promote social connectedness,” said Daniel Whitaker, Distinguished University Professor and co-lead of the core research project.
Prevention Research Center Faculty, Staff and Community Site Leadership
- Michael Eriksen, Regent’s Professor, School of Public Health, and principal investigator
- Rodney Lyn, Dean, School of Public Health, and co-principal investigator
- Ashli Owen-Smith, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, and co-lead investigator of the core research project
- Daniel Whitaker, Distinguished University Professor, School of Public Health, and co-lead of the core research project
- Kimberley Freire, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Public Health, and PRC Director of Dissemination and Translation
- Mary Helen O’Connor, School of Public Health, PRC Community Engagement Specialist
- Amy Nyman, Research Associate, School of Public Health, and PRC Director of Evaluation
- Erin Weeks, Senior Research Associate, School of Public Health, and PRC core research project coordinator
- Katherine Henderson, Project Coordinator, School of Public Health, and PRC Program Manager
- Lindsey Disney, Clinical Supervisor, Positive Growth Inc.
- Temple Moore, Program Director of Community Health Promotion and Civic Engagement, Refugee Women’s Network
- Luay Sami, Executive Director, Clarkston Community Center
— Story by Sam Fahmy