Peer advocacy and community support for immigrant and refugee mental health during COVID-19
Official title: Multilevel Community-Based Mental Health Intervention to Address Health Disparities
Funded at University of New Mexico · NIH-11162276 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a community-based program that pairs immigrant and refugee peers with support services and policy action to reduce stress and improve mental health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $785,392 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH127733-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162276 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are recent Latin American or African immigrants or refugees who are served by the partner community-based organizations and can take part in a 6-month peer advocacy program and follow-up visits are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not recent immigrants or refugees, are not connected to the partner CBOs, or cannot participate in the 6-month program or long-term follow-up are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you join, you may be paired with a peer advocate in a 6-month Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project (RIWP) program that focuses on mutual learning and practical support. The project partners with community-based organizations to connect you to services and also works toward policy changes like disaster relief and broader health coverage. Participants are randomly assigned to receive the RIWP intervention now or continue usual CBO involvement, and people will be followed with surveys and interviews over three years. The study uses both numbers and personal stories to track changes in stress, mental health, social support, and access to resources.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce psychological distress and improve access to social, legal, and health resources for immigrant and refugee families.
How similar studies have gone: Peer advocacy programs like the RIWP have shown promise for newcomer well-being, but combining randomized community engagement with policy-level actions in a long-term design is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goodkind, Jessica R — University of New Mexico
- Study coordinator: Goodkind, Jessica R
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.