Research and Recommend: Build Relationships and Decrease Loneliness
Research and Recommend: Build Relationships and Decrease Loneliness funds research and planning for Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and families to build connections and reduce loneliness.
Funder: Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
Due Dates: November 15, 2026 (Applications) | December 18, 2027 (Listed contract deadline; confirm with program manager)
Funding Amounts: $40,000 for January 1–September 30, 2027; required match of $13,333.33 ($0 poverty match)
Summary: Supports research and planning to recommend strategies that reduce loneliness and build relationships for Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Key Information: Applicants must be registered to do business in Georgia and obtain meaningful input from people with disabilities and families throughout the project.
Description
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) funds research and planning to identify two to three evidence- and experience-based strategies that help Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families build relationships and decrease loneliness by 2031. The project advances GCDD’s inclusion goal and responds to community priorities for meaningful friendships, peer support, leadership opportunities, and communities where people feel valued.
The work combines a literature review, statewide environmental scan, regional gap analysis, and inventory of programs suitable for replication or adaptation. Findings will inform investment recommendations and a plan for years two through five. Research must meaningfully involve people with I/DD and families, address cultural and linguistic needs, and prioritize strengthening local community resources. Recommendations must translate findings into practical, documented, plain-language plans.
