TA Partnership Newsletter — February/March 2010
Families Matter!
Our Children Succeed Initiative's Photovoice Project
"Photovoice is a participatory action research strategy (PAR) that provides individuals with the opportunity to identify, reflect, and convey their everyday lives and challenges through photographs that are culturally and contextually relevant. Photovoice uses photography and participant stories as a means to access the all too silent themes associated with the lives of individuals and families from under-represented, stigmatized groups. Photovoice is NOT a photography project, art therapy, or photojournalism. Photovoice IS…a multi-step process that combines equal parts photography, research, group process, storytelling, social action, and development of awareness of personal and community issues."
– Wyoming SAGE Photovoice Project
The Our Children Succeed Initiative in Northwestern Minnesota is making strides in answering these questions: How do we influence positive change? How do we share "real life" stories in a manner that will leave an impact and further understanding of children's mental health needs and situations families face? How do we share the voices of youth and caregivers? Photovoice is one of the avenues we are using to answer these questions.
In July of 2009, a core group of individuals participated in a training — facilitated by Dr. Kent Becker from the University of Wyoming SAGE Photovoice Project — to learn the skills required to create Photovoice projects. The group learned how to use a small-group setting to teach individuals the steps to combine photos and words into projects expressing personal messages for others to view and read. Following the prescribed process, participants created messages about personal strengths, skills or abilities, and dealing with issues related to mental health treatment, in a way that gave youth and caregivers an anonymous voice for sharing their personal life experiences in words and photos.
A Photovoice project format was developed and presented, walking participants through the process together and creating completed Photovoice projects. These were displayed at an open house event for the participants to view before the projects were displayed in the community. All projects utilized pseudonyms and removed personal information to protect the privacy of the individuals creating each story. Individuals of a wide age range, from eight years old to adults, created the first round of stories. The process is designed to help individuals of all ages and abilities to tell their story.
The Photovoice projects are now displayed in various settings throughout a six-county area in Northwestern Minnesota. The project displays can be seen in libraries, town halls, schools, community gatherings, county social service agencies, health care agencies, and other venues identified by the Photovoice team.
According to the lead facilitator for this project, "Photovoice can be a powerful tool to tell your story and create a lasting image to impress upon people the importance of taking mental health seriously and taking action on issues of social justice, or to impress upon people that they are not alone. Additional opportunities for individuals to create projects are being offered throughout the six counties, with the next project starting in February 2010" (Rich Mosher, Youth Coordinator with Our Children Succeed Initiative).
When asked to comment about how the community and participants are responding to the Photovoice Project, a community member stated, "the stories and pictures I viewed as part of the Photovoice Project really hit home to me. They will forever impact my personal and professional life. As each story began, feelings started to bubble to the surface — anxiety, upset, anger, compassion, commitment, and hope. I so appreciate each and every story and the people behind them, for giving me just a glimmer of what life is like for them. It is from stories like these that I can learn and be motivated to do my part in making the quality of life better for those I come in contact with."
A parent who participated with her daughter had this to say: "I didn't know I had a story to tell. I was invited to participate in the Our Children Succeed Initiative Photovoice Project. I wasn't sure that what I had to say was important, but our family is going through the journey with mental illness so I thought I might have something to share. I talked my daughter into attending with me; it seemed like something we could do together. As the first meeting drew closer I had a lot of ideas swirling in my head. Choosing one story to tell, one issue to talk about, turned out to be difficult. Just when I had the idea flowing, another idea would creep up. My first thoughts and final project turned out to be very different My daughter also wrote a story. I felt privileged that she allowed me to read her story. It was amazing to me how easy it was for her to be honest with herself and put her story on paper. Her thoughts were very deep and thought provoking.
Finding and taking the photographs to help tell the story was quite interesting. Photographs can tell many stories. The challenge was finding the right picture to enhance the story that was being told and placing it in the right place within the story. The photos made the stories even more powerful. I feel we were fortunate to be able to participate in this project. It was a great experience. It provided my daughter and me an opportunity to share an experience and strengthen our relationship."
We are very proud of this Photovoice Project, and the community's response has been incredible. We know that by dedicating time and effort to this project, the impact will be longstanding and moving. The Our Children Succeed Initiative Photovoice Project has helped develop a collective voice that is youth guided, family driven, and culturally competent.
More Information
If you would like more information about Photovoice projects, please contact Terri Heggie, Lead Family Contact, Our Children Succeed Initiative, at Terri.Heggie@co.polk.mn.us.