Ralston Institute awards grants to advance behavioral health and developmental disability work
The University of Georgia’s Ralston Institute for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities has awarded its inaugural Momentum Grants in Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, supporting interdisciplinary projects aimed at improving outcomes for individuals and families across Georgia.
The program drew strong interest from across the university, with applicants representing seven colleges and 18 departments, centers, and institutes. Five projects were selected for funding based on their potential for impact, feasibility and alignment with priority areas of the Ralston Institute.
“These awards reflect the kind of work the Ralston Institute was created to support, projects that move beyond ideas and into action,” said Orion Mowbray, professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and executive director of the Ralston Institute. “Each of these teams is addressing a clear need in Georgia with solutions that are practical, scalable and grounded in the lived experiences of the individuals and communities they serve.”
Funded projects emphasize applied approaches, strong community partnerships and direct benefits to Georgia communities. Each initiative is intended to produce tangible outcomes while laying the groundwork for future expansion.
Funded projects include:
Financial Self-Efficacy for Substance Use Recovery: A Pilot Program for Post-Rehabilitation Reintegration, led by Kimberly Watkins, assistant professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences with collaborators including Esther Maddux, Christine Hargrove, Michelle Medlock, Naomi Hill, Ravisha Chutani, Kiana Drummond, Carol Ann Adams with A-CC Government and Michelle Craig with Acceptance Recovery Center, will integrate trauma-informed financial education into recovery programs. The initiative addresses financial instability as a key barrier to sustained recovery, equipping participants with practical tools to manage finances, reduce stress and support long-term well-being.
The Disability Ambassador Leadership Initiative, led by Brandy Walker, Senior Public Service Associate in the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of Public Service and Outreach, and in partnership with Erin Benson and Emmie Gooch in Accessibility and Testing within the Division of Student Affairs, will train undergraduate students with disabilities to serve as mentors for middle school students. Through a summer leadership boot camp and community outreach, the project will build confidence, self-advocacy and awareness of postsecondary pathways while developing a toolkit for families and educators.
Accessibility and disability inclusion in workforce pathways, led by Rachel Figard, assistant professor in the College of Engineering, will focus on internship and early career experiences. The project will develop and pilot a survey instrument to better understand barriers and supports for students with disabilities, generating data to inform policy and practice across Georgia’s workforce systems.
Powered Connections Labs (PC Labs), led by Diane Bales, professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Alisha McGlawn, will provide structured, community-based learning experiences for middle school students with developmental disabilities. Participants will engage in real-world activities in local businesses and community settings, building social, behavioral and pre-vocational skills that support independence and long-term success.
The See Me, Hear Me project, led by Mark Johnson, the John G. Alston Sr. Professor of Sports Media in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, with collaborators Robin Rayne and Jerry Grillo, will expand their use of photojournalism and storytelling to document the lived experiences of individuals with behavioral health conditions and developmental disabilities. The work will culminate in a book and widely-distributed media content designed to inform public understanding, education and workforce training.
Together, the projects reflect the Ralston Institute’s commitment to advancing behavioral health and developmental disability systems through collaboration, innovation and community engagement.
“This work is ultimately about improving the lives of individuals and their families across Georgia,” Mowbray said. “By supporting projects that are grounded in real-world needs and designed for impact, we are helping to strengthen systems of care, expand opportunity and ensure that individuals can participate in their communities.”