About the Washington BRIDGES Photovoice Project:
The photovoice project took place between April and December 2015 and included (a) outreach to invite participants to discuss the Washington BRIDGES project at three individual programs through photovoice, (b) follow-up emails and conference calls with project and program staff to coordinate the Photovoice toolkit distribution, (c) Photovoice tasks to collect data, (d) face-to-face interviews about the data, (d) transcribing the recorded interviews and (e) initial organization of the Photovoice data on a private website to show participants and to solicit feedback and edits.
Outreach: To reach out to as many participants as possible, the photovoice facilitator developed a flyer, inviting participants to learn more about participating in the Washington BRIDGES photovoice project. Information on the flyer included a brief description of the photo voice process, anticipated outcomes and a time and location to hear more about the work. Project staff distributed the flyer to as many potential participants as possible and posted flyers at each program.
Information session via webinar: A webinar with program staff and the project coordinator was held in June 2015 to explain what the purpose of the photovoice project was, to share examples of related photovoice projects that focused on housing, employment and peer services and to explain the steps of a photovoice project. The agenda for the information session to the staff also included instructions for those individuals who agreed to participant: (a) an orientation to the photovoice process with examples, (b) training on camera use and photography ethics, (c) consent procedures to take pictures and (d) determining what photos to take by reviewing some guiding questions.
Evaluation focus: Specifically, for participants, the guiding evaluation question was: “ How would you describe your experiences with the Washington BRIDGES project?"
Photovoice toolkits: In late June, 2015, the Photovoice facilitator shipped 5 Photovoice toolkits to each of the three participating programs. The toolkit included a digital camera, directions for using the cameras and permission slips to take pictures of people or their belongings. In turn, program staff were asked to distribute them to participants who consented to conduct photovoice research. Participants were asked to take photos over the next 4 weeks in preparation for face-to-face interviews with the photo voice facilitator in individual face-to-face meetings.
Follow-up interviews: In September 2015, face-to-face meetings between individual participants and the photovoice facilitators were held at each of the programs: Catholic Community Services in Everett ( September 8th), Department of Veterans Affairs- Retail ( September 9th) and Spokane Catholic Charities (September 10). At these meetings, the photovoice facilitators asked participants to share their photos and then select 4-6 photos that best highlighted how the program impacted their lives. Participants were asked to explain why the photos were selected.
Reviewing photos and transcripts for themes: The photo voice facilitators reviewed photos from a total of 11 WA BRIDGES photovoice participants and determined 5 major themes from the work that include: life on the street, housing and shelter, access to services and benefits, staff and peer navigator support and stability and preparation for next steps.
Outreach: To reach out to as many participants as possible, the photovoice facilitator developed a flyer, inviting participants to learn more about participating in the Washington BRIDGES photovoice project. Information on the flyer included a brief description of the photo voice process, anticipated outcomes and a time and location to hear more about the work. Project staff distributed the flyer to as many potential participants as possible and posted flyers at each program.
Information session via webinar: A webinar with program staff and the project coordinator was held in June 2015 to explain what the purpose of the photovoice project was, to share examples of related photovoice projects that focused on housing, employment and peer services and to explain the steps of a photovoice project. The agenda for the information session to the staff also included instructions for those individuals who agreed to participant: (a) an orientation to the photovoice process with examples, (b) training on camera use and photography ethics, (c) consent procedures to take pictures and (d) determining what photos to take by reviewing some guiding questions.
Evaluation focus: Specifically, for participants, the guiding evaluation question was: “ How would you describe your experiences with the Washington BRIDGES project?"
Photovoice toolkits: In late June, 2015, the Photovoice facilitator shipped 5 Photovoice toolkits to each of the three participating programs. The toolkit included a digital camera, directions for using the cameras and permission slips to take pictures of people or their belongings. In turn, program staff were asked to distribute them to participants who consented to conduct photovoice research. Participants were asked to take photos over the next 4 weeks in preparation for face-to-face interviews with the photo voice facilitator in individual face-to-face meetings.
Follow-up interviews: In September 2015, face-to-face meetings between individual participants and the photovoice facilitators were held at each of the programs: Catholic Community Services in Everett ( September 8th), Department of Veterans Affairs- Retail ( September 9th) and Spokane Catholic Charities (September 10). At these meetings, the photovoice facilitators asked participants to share their photos and then select 4-6 photos that best highlighted how the program impacted their lives. Participants were asked to explain why the photos were selected.
Reviewing photos and transcripts for themes: The photo voice facilitators reviewed photos from a total of 11 WA BRIDGES photovoice participants and determined 5 major themes from the work that include: life on the street, housing and shelter, access to services and benefits, staff and peer navigator support and stability and preparation for next steps.