Neighborhood Connect: improving Worcester neighborhoods through community action
Official title: Prevention Research Center at UMass Chan
Run by University of Massachusetts, Worcester · NCT07780825 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Neighborhood Connect tests a community-led approach to make Worcester neighborhoods more attractive, safer, and livable by training residents and collaborating with local health officials.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 240 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Massachusetts, Worcester Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Worcester, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 2028 |
| Study ends | September 2029 |
| Registry record updated | August 24, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07780825 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults who live, work, or have ties to the specified Worcester areas and who speak English or Spanish.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals not connected to the target Worcester areas or who do not speak English or Spanish may not benefit from the program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study uses a mixed-methods design to implement and evaluate a training and technical assistance program delivered by a built environment specialist from the local health department. The program includes six Zoom-based sessions organized around connecting with the community, the environment, and the process of change, with a stepped-wedge rollout across eight neighborhoods. Both residents and health department staff are studied to understand how capacity building influences built-environment decisions and outcomes. Qualitative methods capture experiences, decisions, and collaboration patterns, while the stepped-wedge design assesses program impact over time. The project is led by the UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center in collaboration with a Community Advisory Board.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants and their communities could see strengthened social networks and more neighborhood-led improvements in safety and livability.
How similar studies have gone: Similar capacity-building approaches in built-environment initiatives have shown promise in improving community engagement, though this exact implementation is novel to Worcester.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Live, work or have other connection to specific areas of Worcester, MA; * Speak English or Spanish Exclusion Criteria: * Don't speak English or Spanish; * Have a cognitive deficit that precludes participation
Where it's running
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University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Stephenie C Lemon, PhD, MS — University of Massachusetts, Worcester
- Study coordinator: Stephenie C Lemon, PhD, MS
- Email: Stephenie.Lemon@Umassmed.edu
- Phone: 15088564098
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.