Action Beyond Exhibition: Amplifying Photovoice Through Social Action After a Community Health Needs Assessment in Philadelphia

Abstract

Photovoice is a participatory action research method that was founded on mobilizing communities toward action. However, there is limited research detailing the action stages of photovoice that are meant to follow the initial research. In this article, we describe the action stage of a youth photovoice project conducted at the planning phase of a Community Health Needs Assessment of the Latino community in North Philadelphia. In collaboration with local leaders, we utilized photovoice to prioritize the health needs identified in the assessment. We announced a request for proposals and launched twelve, 1-year, community catalyst grants in the amount of US$50,000 each. While grants were funded and implemented, the participants continued to exhibit their findings in Philadelphia City Hall and engage with city policymakers. We developed a health policy workshop where Philadelphia youth beyond the original photovoice participants could learn advocacy skills and policy research to develop a proposal addressing a priority health need identified through photovoice. This workshop was expanded into a year-round program where participants can be matched with a career mentor, engage in professional development sessions, and continue to refine and advocate for their policy proposal. We found that successful action planning stemmed from setting goals several steps ahead of the current stage of action while enhancing the ability to center community voice in guiding action forward. Photovoice influenced decision-making throughout each of the steps taken toward action. Future research should recognize and describe action planning as a central tenet of photovoice methodologies.

Mobilizing community-driven health promotion through community granting programs: a rapid systematic review

“…More than half had established a steering committee or partnership infrastructure Study design : Qualitative Quality rating : Moderate Crespo, 2011 [ 54 ] Program : Appalachian Coalition Organization : Appalachian Regional Commission Location : Appalachian counties, USA Grant size : $10 000 USD Framework : Rural Appalachian Model, adapted from Model for coalition development Focus area : Diabetes prevention and management Eligible projects : Promoting healthy eating, physical activity, chronic disease self-management and awareness building Eligible recipients : Members of Appalachian communities Dissemination : Not described Application : Description of diabetes issues in community. Applications ranked based on applicant group diversity and understanding of public health approach to diabetes Reporting : Quarterly reports of numbers of participants Training : 2-day workshop to develop measurable objectives and action plan Conferencing : Awardees gather annually to present on their projects Site Visits : Program staff visited project sites 66 projects funded Facilitators : • Non-traditional application process where objectives and plan are developed during a workshop increased reach to community partners • Awarding full amount upfront was helpful for awardees 58 projects have been sustained past initial funding Study design : Descriptive Quality rating : Not appraised Dafilou, 2022 [ 55 ] Program : Community Catalyst Grants Organization : Lindy Family Foundation through The Philadelphia Collaborative for Health Equity (P-CHE) Location : Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Grant size : $50 000 USD Framework : World Health Organization Social Determinants of Health Framework Focus area : Mental health and trauma, safety, housing, built environment Eligible projects : Engage community with at least one of mental health; trauma, safety, and violence, e.g., developing a community-centred trauma training curriculum; housing, e.g., forming a housing trust; and built environment, e.g., building a park Eligible recipients : Latino community of Philadelphia Dissemination : Call for applications announced at community photovoice exhibition Application : Application requirements not described. Panel of unaffiliated grant reviewed ranked applications, prioritizing those which addressed findings at photovoice exhibition Reporting : Program evaluation not described Technical assistan...…”

“…Community granting programs were designed to address broad or narrow scopes of community health priorities. Approximately two-thirds of programs ( n = 24, 69%) focused on a specific public health topic area, including physical activity and nutrition [ 44 , 45 , 51 , 59 , 68 , 74 , 77 ], cancer prevention [ 49 , 60 , 63 , 73 , 75 , 76 , 78 ], environmental health [ 50 , 57 , 66 , 70 ], HIV prevention [ 62 , 79 ], breastfeeding [ 52 ], diabetes education and prevention [ 54 ], mental health, trauma, safety and violence [ 55 ] and the built environment [ 69 ]. The remaining 11 (31%) programs were broader in their focus, and accepted proposals for any aspect of community health.…”

“…For community-research partnership programs, both community and research representatives reviewed applications and informed selection. Two programs involved community members in the application review process [ 55 , 64 ]. To encourage nonfunded applicants to reapply, three programs provided feedback on non-funded applications [ 61 , 65 , 78 ].…”

“…Program staff provided assistance through regularly scheduled meetings [ 52 , 60 , 69 ], on an ad hoc basis [ 51 , 53 , 62 , 63 , 65 , 75 , 78 ], or both [ 48 , 59 , 66 ]. Four programs noted that technical assistance was provided to awardees, but do not provide additional details [ 55 , 57 , 71 , 74 ]. Program staff for four programs visited project sites to conduct on-site consultations [ 52 , 54 , 62 , 66 ].…”

“…Two programs that required proposals based on research evidence provided workshops on finding, selecting and adapting evidence-based interventions [ 60 , 75 ], including a workshop based on the National Cancer Institute’s “Using what works” curriculum [ 75 ]. Several programs provided workshop sessions focused on social action, including anti-racism and diversity [ 48 , 56 ], and policy and advocacy [ 55 , 64 , 69 ]. To enhance the long-term sustainability of funded projects, some programs offered sustainability-focused training [ 60 , 69 ] or workshops to develop grant writing skills in order to support securing additional funding [ 47 , 56 , 69 ].…”