Potter Valley Community Assessment
Identifying community resources includes creative way to involve youth
Potter Valley Healthy Start, Mendocino County, CA
In conducting a community assessment, Potter Valley Healthy Start used a photo-voice process to provide insight and asset mapping. Using this photojournalism technique provided an enjoyable and informal way to include a teen perspective, which proved very valuable to the assessment.
A Potter Valley High School student volunteered to coordinate the photo-voice project, and in addition to helping her community, she used the experience to fulfill a requirement for her project-based learning class. The student surveyed peers by asking them, "What is something positive about our community?" She then set out to photograph something to illustrate their answers and put the pictures, together with their comments, into a PowerPoint presentation.
The first photograph in the presentation was of Potter Valley High School. In reply to the question, "What is something positive about our community," the caption reads, "Potter Valley High School. . . because we have an elementary, middle school, and high school in such a small community." An additional photograph depicts a child riding a bucking calf and reads, "Rodeo. . . because everyone can get involved, and it brings our community together."
There was a good round of discussion after the project was presented to Potter Valley's Healthy Start Advisory Committee. An interesting discovery was that two important resources that were now included in the student presentation had been overlooked by the prior assessment of resources. One of those resources was a small Mexican restaurant that students often walk to for lunch. The caption read, "Cucas Cocina. . . because it tastes good, is affordable, and is just down the street." The other previously overlooked resource was the community’s only store. The comment noted, "We have a store where we can buy food close to home."
This neighborhood restaurant and store identified as assets by students are very important resources in this community. Not only do the store and restaurant provide a great service just by being open and serving the community, they also help provide donations and support to local sports and after-school programs. For many students, extra-curricular activities such as sports and after-school programs provide strong incentive to stay in school and keep their grades up.
Identifying community resources is an important step in developing partnerships. Potter Valley Healthy Start discovered that getting input from a wide representation of school and community members, including students, is essential.
For more information, contact Maria Johnson, Potter Valley Healthy Start Coordinator, at pvhealthystart@gmail.com.