Community Living Room

Reducing social isolation and loneliness for adults in Winnebago County

Full Project Name:Community Living RoomPrimary Community Organization:Winnebago County Health DepartmentPrimary Academic Partner:Sara A Kohlbeck, PhD, Psychiatry and Behavioral MedicineAward Amount:$50,000

Award Date

January2024

Project Duration:12 months

Project Summary:

In collaboration with community partners, Community Living Room will establish pop-up spaces to create social connection and belonging in Winnebago County. Through welcoming and inclusive spaces, opportunities will be created for social connection and decreasing loneliness.

The project will include building a cohort and providing training for Community Living Room listeners (individuals to participate in the pop-ups and share in peer experiences), identifying spaces for Community Living Room pop-ups through listening sessions with agencies and partners, and offering one Community Living Room each month for six months.

Community Partners: Dandalliance, Karen Iverson Riggers Consulting

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Hosted four trainings in Emotional CPR (eCPR) to build the capacity of community listeners in collaboration with Solutions Recovery, Day by Day Shelter, and Oshkosh Public Library
Hosted 18 pop-up Community Living Rooms to create the space needed for community connection with collaboration from Neenah Public Library, Oshkosh Pride, Solutions Recovery Center, Tiny Home Village, Read Elementary, and Day by Day Shelter
Empowered and trained individuals to provide clinical support to participants through the validation of experiences, emotional support, and companionship to result in a positive impact on mental health and well-being