CONNECT study 3

10-2024 to 09-2028

Background: Worldwide, promising community initiatives inspired by new public health approaches, are being developed that seek to strengthen social connection of individuals with serious illnesses and their families, along with their access to care, support and services, quality of life and wellbeing. Such initiatives are also gaining momentum in Flanders e.g. compassionate communities, caring neighborhoods, and compassionate cities. Involved communities can be area-based like neighborhoods, streets, or municipalities, but also include social groups or clubs, religious groups, or online communities. Within communities that focus on social wellbeing, several programs or initiatives can be launched to foster social connection in the face of serious illness e.g. neighborhood support initiatives, death cafes, coffin clubs, festivals, etc. In Flanders, several initiatives have already been established, backed in their efforts by the COCO Centre of Expertise, led by several partners in CONNECT (e.g. in Bruges, Herzele, Leuven, Kempen, led by municipialities, civil society, primary or palliave care organisations).  

Current research gaps: To date, there is a lack of understanding of these community development initiatives in terms of their focus on social connection in the face of serious illness, dying, and bereavement. We have little insight into how they can be effectively and sustainably developed in different contexts, how they work, for whom, and through which mechanisms. Such insights are important to better understand how relevant impacts can be achieved and thus provide a basis for more informed future community initiatives in this area. We also know very little about whether and how these initiatives reach people in structurally vulnerable positions. 

Scientific objectives: 
1) To identify and analyse existing community development initiatives – nationally and internationally – aimed at improving social connection in serious illness, dying, and bereavement. 
2) To evaluate the implementation of community development initiatives aimed at improving social connection, their impact on people with serious illness, carers, citizens, and communities, the underlying mechanisms of change, and the contextual factors affecting implementation and outcomes.

Research Foundation Flanders number: 001525N – 56955