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INSPIRE Lab
The INSPIRE Lab—Interdisciplinary Social and Public Health Intervention Research for Equity—is dedicated to advancing health equity through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to social and public health research.
Under the leadership of Dr. Liana Petruzzi, a health researcher and licensed clinical social worker, the lab focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions that address health disparities through social care interventions that simultaneously address mental health and social needs.
The INSPIRE Lab’s research prioritizes improving access to healthcare, particularly maternal healthcare, by working with multi-sectoral community networks. Dr. Petruzzi is invested in community-based participatory research methodologies and practices that are essential to eradicate health inequities. Dr. Petruzzi seeks to expand collaborations across the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas, with a mission to foster equitable, multi-level health interventions that drive systemic change.
Contact us: [email protected]
Current Studies
Advancing Perinatal Mental Health: A Feasibility Study of an Integrated Social Work and Community Health Approach
Maternal mortality is at an all-time high in Texas, particularly among Latina women. Mental health risk factors such as depression and suicidality have been identified as the leading cause of maternal mortality. Evidence-based interventions such as patient navigation and problem-solving therapy have been developed to improve perinatal health outcomes. However, few interventions address both mental health and resource needs, and even fewer are adapted, which could improve feasibility and acceptability among Latina women. Therefore, the primary goal of this 5-year research study is to develop, implement and pilot a community-informed, perinatal intervention for Latinas in Central Texas.
This project is funded by the National Institute of Minority Health & Health Disparities (NIMHD). As principal investigator of a K01 Career Development Award, Dr. Petruzzi is completing both didactic and experiential training in community intervention development, cultural adaptation, and hybrid effectiveness implementation clinical trial design.
Funding Period: September 2024 to May 2029
More about Advancing Perinatal Mental Health
The Black Solidarity Model with Healthy Start
of Central Texas
Maternal morbidity and mortality are urgent public health crises, disproportionately affecting Black and Latina women. In response to the rising rates of preventable maternal deaths and structural barriers faced by Black and Brown birthing people in Central Texas, the Maternal Health Equity Collaborative applied for and received a $5 million Health Research Services Administration (HRSA) grant to establish Healthy Start Central Texas (HSCT) in April 2024.
Healthy Start of Central Texas aims to improve maternal and infant health among Black and Latina families. Healthy Start provides 3 primary types of services: case management and care coordination, group-based prenatal, postpartum and parenting education, and behavioral health services. Dr. Petruzzi serves as the evaluator of this 5-year grant, which includes technical assistance, data management, and program evaluation.
Funding Period: April 2024 to March 2029
Lab Bulletins
- Petruzzi, L. J., Garza, B., Patel, S., Brode, W. M., Hanson, K., Degtoff, T., Mora, C., Garay, R., Phillips, F., Cook, R., Mercer, T., & Valdez, C. R. (2025). Addressing Health-Related Social Needs During COVID-19 Through a Hospital-Based, Community Health Worker Program: A Case Study. Health Promotion Practice, 15248399241311289. DOI: 10.1177/15248399241311289
- Petruzzi, L. J., Errisuriz, V. L., Valdez, C. R., & Parra‐Medina, D. (2025). The Role of Perceived Neighborhood Factors and the Built Environment on Depression and Stress Among Latinas on US‐Mexico Border. Journal of Community Psychology, 53(1), jcop.23165. DOI: 10.1002/jcop.23165
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