For Participants

At SLEEP Friendly Cities, we are committed to advancing the science of population sleep health through interdisciplinary research grounded in community engagement, prevention science and systems thinking. Our research examines how social, environmental and institutional conditions influence sleep health and how community-driven interventions can create healthier environments for children and families.

Through collaborations with researchers, healthcare institutions and community partners, we develop and evaluate innovative approaches to improving sleep health, strengthening sleep-supportive resources and reducing inequities across populations and communities.

We actively disseminate our findings through peer-reviewed scientific publications, professional conferences and community partnerships. By connecting scientific discovery with real-world implementation, we aim to expand the evidence base for population sleep health, inform policy and practice and advance sustainable solutions that help children, families and communities thrive.

Participate in Our Research & Learning Activities

Through SLEEP Friendly Cities, you can help us understand what makes healthy, restorative sleep easier—or harder—in everyday life. We learn alongside youth, families, educators, healthcare professionals, workers, congregations, creatives and local leaders. Attending a community event or workshop does not make you a research participant. If an activity involves formal research, our team will explain the details clearly before you decide to join.

How You Can Get Involved

Depending on the study phase, participation may include:

• Listening & Co-Design: Sharing your experiences in 45-to-90-minute interviews, focus groups or listening sessions (in-person or virtual).
• Community Improvement Townhalls: Large, open community gatherings where we share findings from listening sessions, review local sleep data and gather broad feedback on community priorities.
• Collaborative Improvement Workshops: Smaller, working-group sessions where participants take part in 3 to 4 workshops over approximately two months. During these working sessions, participants:
  • Map local systems and identify daily barriers to sleep
  • Co-design sector-specific strategies, tools and resources
  • Prioritize action items and test solution ideas over time
• SLEEP Prevention App Testing: Using and giving feedback on our mobile/web tool over 8 to 12 weeks to help us evaluate its ease of use, reflection tools and resource guides.
• Follow-Up Surveys: Completing brief periodic check-ins (at 6, 12, and 18 months) to help us measure long-term changes in sleep knowledge, habits, organizational practices and policy.

Youth Participation (Ages 13–17)

Youth can participate in approved study activities with parental or guardian permission and the young person’s agreement (assent).