Planning a Photovoice Project to Evaluate a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program

Almost 11 percent of Washington households experienced food insecurity – a disruption in food intake or regular eating due to lack of money or other resources – from 2015 to 2017. To improve access to nutritious foods, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) used a $5.86 million Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant to implement fruit and vegetable incentive programs for low-income households starting in 2015. While initial evaluations of the economic impact and general participation have been positive, more research is needed to understand how the incentive programs are working from the perspective of the participants.

Using the principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR), we planned a photovoice project to evaluate Washington’s fruit and vegetable prescription program. Specific aims include: understanding the perceived impacts of the prescription program, evaluating the extent of its success in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and developing recommendations for improving the user experience. The project is designed to engage community partners across Washington in facilitating a series of participant-led focus group discussions that enable community members to share their experiences and identify themes through photographs.

Materials Available

• Poster

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Project Type(s): MPH Practicum, PH Concentration Poster

Author(s): Lindsay Beck

Program(s): Master of Public Health, RDN Training

Year: 2019

Adviser(s):

• Anne Lund