Health Policy Training as a Community Power-Building Approach: Strengthening Public Health Policy Impact Through Photovoice

Abstract

Photovoice is a systematic approach to documenting community needs and advocating for policy change. Thus, a critical goal of photovoice is reaching policymakers, yet hierarchical societal structures of power and dominance often result in photovoice participants never having gained the policy skills that are required to achieve this goal. We describe how we enhanced the photovoice method by incorporating health policy training into a photovoice study. A health policy scholar facilitated the health policy training, which included training in best practices for communicating with policymakers, crafting a compelling story through photovoice data, and delivering a policy pitch. Participants used these skills to deliver their policy recommendation to policymakers and community leaders at a public photovoice exhibit. Participants stated that the training gave them confidence and practical skills for advocating for their community’s health needs. Health policy training through photovoice can shift power dynamics and provide an opportunity for communities most impacted by power imbalances to retell their histories, change the narrative around their lived realities, and shape policy change.