A SNAP-Ed Ethical Storytelling and Asset Framing Toolkit to Promote Public Health Practitioner Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This manuscript describes the development and content of a toolkit focused on practicing ethical community storytelling and constructing narratives based on community strengths or assets. The toolkit was developed by a community of practice formed by practitioners engaged in evaluation and reporting related to the federally-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP-Ed) program. The toolkit is based on the concepts of ethical storytelling and asset-framing and includes instructions, templates, an implementation rubric, and examples of application. It is designed to be used broadly within the field of public health to guide increased practitioner self-efficacy regarding inclusion of community voice that highlights community assets and best practices toward co-creation of narratives about community-centered work. The use of these practices in program reporting can help to strengthen public health practitioner/community partnerships by highlighting the contribution, agency, and strengths of community members and partners as well as amplifying community voices.