Youth are seldom seen as primary stakeholders in identifying and addressing the very issues of which they are a part and are commonly the targets of inquiry rather than partners in the research process. Similarly, research efforts are commonly shaped to the needs of the researchers and seldom consider the most appropriate approach for appealing to youth. The Photovoice project presented here was conducted with 15 participating youth of the Southeast Youth Academy of Baltimore. The project was designed to engage youth in the process of defining and discussing the issues that affect the health of youth in their community by entrusting them with cameras and inviting them to identify, represent and enhance their community through a shared photographic process. Secondarily, the project attempted to assess the degree to which the Photovoice process could be used as an appealing tool for engaging youth as research partners in their own community. The culminating events of the project were three exhibits to which community residents, stakeholders and policy makers were invited. Results from this youth Photovoice project provides insight into the merits of this technique for engaging youth in a community needs/assets assessment.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the steps of a youth Photovoice project. 2. Recognize the challenges and opportunities of using the Photovoice process with youth. 3. Apply the lessons learned from the presented project to other projects with youth
Keywords: Needs Assessment, Photovoice
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.