# Chicago Chronic Condition Equity Network (C3EN)

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2023 · $699,956

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Underresourced communities are affected by structural barriers and detrimental conditions that contribute to
disparities in mental and physical health. People living in these communities may also face financial and
logistical barriers to engaging in meaningful and rewarding activities in their community, which is linked to risk
for depression and cardiometabolic disease in emerging health behavior models. There is also evidence that
depression, physical inactivity, and reward-driven overeating exhibit reciprocal causal relationships that
promote cardiometabolic disease through multiple pathways, which supports the value of intervening on these
co-occurring risk factors simultaneously. Structured interventions that increase engagement in rewarding
activities are effective for treating depression, but this approach has not been adapted for broad dissemination
in underresourced populations that face challenges accessing the health care system, and have a high burden
of cardiometabolic risk factors.
This project will refine and test a novel approach for reducing the burden of depression and cardiometabolic
disease in underresourced communities. The Activity and Recreation in Communities for Health (ARCH)
intervention is designed to promote engagement in rewarding activities through an adaptation of Behavioral
Activation Treatment for Depression, and direct provision of resources to engage in rewarding recreational and
social activities both independently and through our partnering community-based organizations. ARCH is
designed to be delivered in participants’ homes and community venues by a health outreach workforce, which
addresses barriers to accessing treatment. Aim 1 is to engage community stakeholders in the process of co-
designing ARCH to maximize feasibility, acceptability, and uptake. Aim 2 is to conduct an initial evaluation of
the refined ARCH intervention among adults from underresourced communities with depression. Changes in
depressive symptoms, adiposity, and physical activity over four months will be compared between those
randomly assigned to ARCH versus a traditional health outreach comparator. In addition to clinical outcomes,
key metrics of program uptake, cost, and feasibility will be quantified, and hypothesized mechanisms
underlying treatment effects will be explored (Aim 3). The project also includes sustainability planning activities
focused on preserving this program as an enduring resource to our communities. Findings will inform the
design of a definitive implementation trial, and determine the potential value of incorporating behavioral
activation in other outreach interventions for underserved populations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10892358
- **Project number:** 3P50MD017349-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** ELBERT S. HUANG
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $699,956
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-09-24 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10892358

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10892358, Chicago Chronic Condition Equity Network (C3EN) (3P50MD017349-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10892358. Licensed CC0.

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