The CHURCH project is a Community-Partnered Participatory Research (CPPR) project where a team of researchers and faith leaders are collaborating to develop and evaluate Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) based mental health training called Renew Your Mind (RYM) that can be implemented and sustained in Black churches. RYM is culturally tailored by incorporating Black sacred music and spirituality, which is designed to increase access to evidence-based strategies to promote mental health among African-American populations.
Community Partners: Homewood Community Ministry
Funding Sources: Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP), Center for Research on Innovations, Services and Equity in Mental Health (RISE-MH)
Click the picture below to watch a video about the CHURCH project
- Scholarly Presentations:
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- Moon, D.J, Nichols, C.B., Wallace, J, Counts,J., Jones, T., Glaze., W. R., Durham, A. & Oxley, G. E. V. (2022). Engaging African American Church Leaders as Partners in Ethical Research. 72nd Annual Convention of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW). Oak Brook, IL. October 27-30.
- Moon, D.J, Jones, T. Counts, J.**, Wallace, J, Glaze, W. R.**, Durham, A. Powe, Paula & Nichols, C.B.*, (2023). Transformed by the Renewing of Mind. Pre-Conference Institute. 72nd Annual Convention of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW). Pittsburgh, PA. Nov. 9-12.
- Publications:
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- Moon, D.J., Nichols, B.*, Wallace, J., & Durham, A. (2024) Engaging African American Faith Leaders as Partners in Ethical Research. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship. 16(2). Engaging African American Faith Leaders as Partners in Ethical Research - Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship (ua.edu)
- Awards and Recognitions
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- The CHURCH project team received a 2024 Partnerships of Distinction Award on March 5th at the Annual Community Engaged Scholarship Forum hosted by the Office of Engagement and Community Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh!
The CHURCH Music Project (An additional section of the CHURCH project)
This study examines the feasibility of incorporating Black Church Music into Renew Your Mind, a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy based and Biblically informed mental health training curriculum developed through the CHURCH project to equip African American faith leaders with the knowledge and skills to address mental distress resulting from daily stressors. We collaborated with local Black church musicians to select and record spiritual songs that are familiar to African American churchgoers, which have been incorporated into Renew Your Mind. We will examine the effects of this musical component on the acceptability and feasibility of disseminating Renew Your Mind through Black churches in future studies.
Community Partners: Judah First Music
Funding Sources: Year of Community Engagement Award, Office of Provost, University of Pittsburgh
Click here to listen to the Renew Your Mind theme song
Contact: churchproject@groups.pitt.edu