
The links below contained detailed information for the upcoming 2017 Safe States Alliance Annual Meeting, taking place September 12-14, 2017 in Aurora, Colorado.
Please note:
1. Understand the process of implementing a pedestrian safety project using PHOTOVOICE methodology
2. Understand the process of using qualitative evaluation to determine effectiveness of the intervention
The annualized pedestrian death rate in Dallas County is 2.5 deaths per 100,000 population compared to the U.S. annualized rate of 1.9 deaths. Policies and environmental land use strategies that make it easy and safe for residents to walk to venues can be effective in improving health and safety.
In 2016, the Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas (IPC) analyzed data from the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences to identify “hotspots” for pedestrian incident locations in Dallas. Students enrolled in a Community Health Worker program at a Dallas County community college and a middle school scholars program were recruited to participate in a pedestrian safety project utilizing the PHOTOVOICE methodology. Participants were taught basic photography and advocacy skills. Each participant photographed pedestrian safety issues in the hotspot areas.
Photos were evaluated based on depictions of a common safety theme and an evidence-based pedestrian safety countermeasure. Overall, there were six overarching themes identified between the two project sites that depicted potentially hazardous pedestrian environment conditions and/or behaviors. The Social Ecological Model was used to identify the factors that are responsible for addressing the theme of each photo. Seventy-one percent of the photos depicted issues within the Built Environment and/or Community Policies categories, and 14% depicted issues within the Interpersonal and/or Individual categories. Participants presented these findings and recommendations for improvement to city leaders within the community. As a result, two city leaders have initiated pedestrian safety improvements in the areas.
PHOTOVOICE may be an effective tool to enable community members to 1) record their community’s strengths and concerns; 2) promote critical dialogue and knowledge about community issues through group discussion of photographs; and 3) reach policy makers.
Marissa Rodriguez is a Public Health Educator with the Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas. Marissa has experience developing, implementing and evaluating community-based injury prevention programs, with a focus on child passenger safety and senior falls. She is a certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician Instructor as well as an Instructor in the Transportation of Children with special healthcare needs and is a certified Community Health Worker Instructor (CHWI). Marissa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Promotion from the University of Texas at El Paso.