Texas Health Resources' Solutions to a Healthy Community

Join us for
Solutions to a Healthy Community Exhibit and Reception
featuring PhotoVoice, a story about our community told through photos

What is a Community Health Needs Assessment?
At Texas Health, our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve.  One way that we carry out our mission is to learn more about the health needs of communities through our Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). A CHNA is completed at least once every 3 years and provides valuable information about the overall health needs of a community. During the CHNA, Texas Health gathers information from community members, public health and medical experts, and community leaders on the types of health challenges that affect the community. This information can be gathered through individual and group (focus groups) interviews, surveys or through secondary data sources (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Texas Department of Health and Human Services). Once the CHNA is complete, Texas Health develops strategies and/or programs to address the health needs that were identified.
 
What is PhotoVoice?
PhotoVoice, a photograph and written narrative form of storytelling, engages community members to identify what they perceive to be assets and challenges to living a healthy life. The PhotoVoice technique is usually conducted in groups and has three main goals: (1) to encourage people to record and reflect their community's strengths and concerns, (2) to provide a group space to share their photographs and narratives and engage in dialogue about the strengths and concerns while learning from each other, and (3) to reach other community stakeholders and policymakers through a community exhibit of final PhotoVoice projects.
 
How does photovoice fit in with the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment?
During the summer of 2019, Texas Health partnered with residents from 14 zip codes across north Texas for a PhotoVoice project as part of the Community Health Needs Assessment. The CHNA provided an opportunity for residents to share their ideas for solutions to challenges that affect the health of their community.  Through photography and short narratives, 90+ community members highlighted community strengths, solutions to health problems, and opportunities for collaboration between Texas Health and local communities. Texas Health is thankful for the neighbors who graciously shared their stories and ideas for solutions for building healthier communities.