Research Project Summary
This project evaluates the Be Inc Collective Thrive Family Café model, a community-based, intergenerational wellness intervention designed to strengthen social connectedness and reduce mental health stigma among families in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Guided by Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles, this six-month mixed-methods pilot partners Rutgers University–Camden with Be Inc Collective, a trusted grassroots organization with deep community roots. The intervention centers on monthly Thrive Family Cafés that bring families together in healing-centered spaces integrating dialogue, wellness practices, mindfulness, and culturally grounded education focused on emotional regulation, stress reduction, and relationship-building.
The study is informed by a theory of change in which consistent participation in intergenerational healing spaces strengthens social connection and collective efficacy, which in turn reduces self-stigma related to mental health. Primary outcomes include reduced mental health self-stigma and increased community connectedness. Secondary outcomes explore family resilience, social support networks, and trauma-related knowledge.
Research Project Goals
The goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a healing-centered, intergenerational community wellness model in reducing mental health stigma and strengthening social connectedness among families in New Jersey. The project seeks to generate evidence that supports community-driven approaches to mental well-being that both build collective trust and healing while complementing traditional behavioral health systems.
Research Project Objectives
The primary objective of this pilot study is to examine whether participation in healing-centered, intergenerational community spaces reduces mental health self-stigma among parents and caregivers in under-resourced communities. The project also seeks to understand how consistent engagement in the Thrive Family Café model influences community connectedness, including trust, collective efficacy, and the availability of social support networks.
In addition, the study aims to assess changes in family-level protective factors, such as family resilience and parent–child connection that support mental well-being across generations. Through surveys, qualitative focus groups and participant observation, the project will explore how families experience these healing-centered spaces and identify the mechanisms through which community connection and collective care contribute to shifts in attitudes, behaviors, and relationships.
Finally, the project seeks to generate practical evidence to inform the refinement, scalability, and sustainability of the Thrive Family Café model, contributing to broader efforts to advance community-driven mental health promotion and health equity across South Jersey.