The Wake Forest CTSI Community & Stakeholder Research Engagement team is proud to announce the recipient of the 2026 Community Partnered Research Award to Bridgette Hampel, MA, LCAS, LCMHCA, NCC at Insight Human Services’ Women and Infant Service for Health (W.I.S.H.) program, in collaboration with Dr. Kathleen Egan, PhD, Department of Implementation Science. This innovative partnership addresses one of the most pressing public health challenges—substance use among women who are pregnant, postpartum, or parenting.
Why This Work Matters
Substance use disorders (SUD) among women during pregnancy and early parenting have far-reaching consequences for maternal health, infant outcomes, and family well-being. Women with SUD often face systemic barriers such as stigma, fragmented services, and fear of child welfare involvement. These challenges frequently delay or prevent access to prenatal and postpartum care, leading to preventable maternal morbidity, poor birth outcomes, and disruptions in early caregiving environments.
About the W.I.S.H. Program
Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the W.I.S.H. program provides comprehensive care for pregnant, postpartum, and parenting women in recovery. Through this award, W.I.S.H. will partner with Dr. Egan to strengthen academic-community collaboration using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles and the empowering Photovoice method.
Celebrating Collaboration
We congratulate Insight Human Services, the W.I.S.H. program, and Dr. Egan for their dedication to improving maternal health and recovery outcomes through community-driven research. This award exemplifies how shared governance and respect can transform care for women and families.
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For more information and questions contact, Keena Moore, MA at Keena.Moore@Advocatehealth.org. For more Community and Stakeholder Research Engagement Program resources and services, please visit our program website.