Hello, I am Kimberly Kay Lopez, I have a community-based evaluation and research practice based in Houston, Texas. My work is concentrated in participatory evaluation methods used for the evaluation of youth programs and services.
Hot Tip: Using Photovoice in an Empowerment Evaluation: When working with youth, I have used the Empowerment Evaluation model many times. I have found that using Photovoice and journal writing within the Empowerment Evaluation model yields a variety of rich evaluation data. The goals of the Photovoice process enhance the evaluation process. The Photovoice process allows participants to document issues, engage in dialogue, and impact policy. I first integrated Photovoice with the Empowerment Evaluation model when evaluating the long-term impact of a multi-year teen pregnancy prevention program among urban Latino youth, I utilized the Photovoice process as a tool to “take stock” within the Empowerment Evaluation model. Youth were given cameras to capture the impact of the program. Youth were also given journals and guided writing assignments to express the impact that the teen pregnancy prevention program had on them. We also held traditional Empowerment Evaluation discussion groups. The youth and I analyzed visual data, journal data and discussion group data to develop the final evaluation report.
Rad Resource: PhotoVoice.org: PhotoVoice is an international organization that works with vulnerable populations. They offer several publications including a manual for using Photovoice. The methodology series gives further instruction on working with specific populations such as refugees. http://www.photovoice.org/shop/info/methodology-series
Rad Resource: PhotoVoice Manual: A comprehensive Photovoice Manual developed by Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence. www.pwhce.ca/photovoice/pdf/Photovoice_Manual.pdf
Hot Tip: Using Journal Writing in Evaluations: I have found when working with middle school students, some students may be reluctant to participate in a discussion group. Offering youth writing opportunities allows those students uncomfortable in a group discussion a way to contribute to the evaluation process, on their terms.
Rad Resource: Guide on Engaging Youth: The National Clearinghouse for Families and Youth has a great guide on engaging youth in writing. www.ncfy.com/publications/pdf/lbd_write.pdf
There are all kinds of ways to get creative with data collection-digital storytelling, video cameras, blogs, tweets, text messages! Get creative! Use your imagination! Have fun!
Want to learn more from Kimberly? She’ll be on the program this November at Evaluation 2010, The American Evaluation Association’s Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
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For members only, the screencast and recording of the Coffee Break Webinar Kimberly Kay Lopez offered on Using PhotoVoice to Engage Stakeholders in Empowerment Evaluations may be accessed here http://bit.ly/LopezPVWeb.
Not a member? Kimberly Kay Lopez’s slides from the webinar about Using PhotoVoice to Engage Stakeholders in Empowerment Evaluations may be found in the AEA Public eLibrary here http://bit.ly/LopezPVSlides. I encourage you to consider joining and thus gaining access to AEA’s webinars archive library (as well as journals, professional development, thought leaders discussions, newsletters…). Join now online at http://www.eval.org/membership.asp.