Building community to support trauma recovery research in rural Appalachian Kentucky

To examine the psychological effects of weather-related catastrophes and mental health needs in Central Appalachia and to develop community-driven, culturally grounded solutions for trauma recovery in this underserved rural region.

Researchers from the University of Kentucky initiated an academic-community partnership with residents of several flood-affected Central Appalachian counties in Eastern Kentucky impacted by a widespread flooding event. The partnership engaged three stakeholder groups: community researchers (local residents trained in research methods serving as bridges between community perspectives and academic expertise), trainees, and academic faculty in the collaborative development of sustainable, long-term research relationships. The process was designed to honor local cultural strengths and remain sensitive to the compounding challenges of disaster recovery layered on broader systemic regional health inequities.

This article presents the perspectives of the three stakeholder groups as they navigated the early stages of establishing an academic-community partnership. Stakeholder reflections illuminate the processes, challenges, and early progress involved in building trust and shared research infrastructure in a community recovering from major flood events within a context of chronic regional adversity.

Developing sustainable, culturally sensitive academic-community partnerships in Central Appalachia is both feasible and necessary. Community-engaged approaches that center local knowledge and cultural strengths hold promise for addressing trauma recovery needs in regions disproportionately affected by natural disasters and systemic health challenges. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).