Student engagement in school wellness policy implementation through Photovoice

We report the process and results of a 9-month Photovoice project in which high school students used photography, peer education skills, and advocacy to examine their school and community environments, and to influence the implementation of school wellness policies related to nutrition in one school district in northern New Mexico. The project involved a group of high school students in identifying and documenting barriers and facilitating factors related to healthy eating choices in their school and community. Students recruited from a health career club utilized Photovoice, a tool that enables participants to gather photographic images in their immediate environment, to analyze data collected, and to share the results with the larger community. Participants received training and technical assistance in photographic techniques, research methodology, and school wellness policy implementation. The project culminated in a community event to share results and a follow-up social action plan to advocate for changes in the school environment to support healthy eating choices. The project was conceived and implemented by the Community Diabetes Collaborative, a partnership involving a local community health council, a local school district, a university, and two offices of the state department of health.