Promoting Policy and Environmental Change using Photovoice: Kaiser Permanente's Community Health Initiative

Creative methods are needed to engage both community residents and political leaders in policy and environmental solutions to public health issues. We examined the impact of a Photovoice project on policy change related to obesity prevention. Photovoice is a community-based approach to documentary photography that provides people with training on photography, ethics, critical discussion, and policy advocacy. A Photovoice project was implemented as part of the Colorado Community Health Initiative - a community-based obesity prevention effort sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Photovoice themes that related to healthy eating and active living included a lack of access to healthy food choices in stores and schools, unsafe street crossings and sidewalks, and the need to redevelop certain areas to encourage safe recreation and active living. The involvement of policy leaders in the project combined with several dissemination activities has contributed to healthier food offerings in schools and restaurants, city planning efforts that emphasize walkability and access to healthy food, and the promotion of youth markets selling fresh produce. Photovoice is a promising strategy to engage policymakers and other key stakeholders around policy and environmental change.