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Photovoice: A Youth Empowering Program

A Good Idea

Description

The DeKalb County Board of Health has recruited students from Clarkston High School for three summers to participate in Photovoice: a youth empowering program. Through the Photovoice process, students are able to identify and move to action to do something about issues facing their community. The process also builds skills and improves attitudes among a previously silent population in Clarkston, its minority high school students. Through the use of research and photography, they act as recorders of and catalysts for social change in their community's health.

Goal / Mission

The goals of Photovoice are for Clarkston High School students to 1) document community health-related strengths and challenges through participatory research; 2) reflect, think critically, and dialogue about their research; 3) present their findings persuasively to pertinent stakeholders.

Results / Accomplishments

Over the years, many students have participated in the Photovoice program, representing approximately 5% of the Clarkston High School student body and affecting 100% of the student population and the community. Due to the students' advocacy Clarkston High School became a Hands-on-Atlanta project resulting in much needed repairs and restoration, the City of Clarkston started a recycling program, and an anti retaliation bill was submitted to the state legislature.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
DeKalb County Board Of Health
Primary Contact
Bethann Cottrell, Senior Consultant
445 Winn Way
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 508-7790
drbwitcher@earthlink.net
http://www.dekalbhealth.net/
Topics
Health / Adolescent Health
Community / Civic Engagement
Organization(s)
DeKalb County Board Of Health
Source
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Date of publication
2005
Location
DeKalb County, GA
For more details
Target Audience
Teens
Kansas Health Matters