SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR HEALTH

Critical health literacy is the ability to advocate for oneself and others through sociopolitical action. For example, an adolescent living in a disadvantaged community with adequate critical health literacy will be able to look at her community and the neighboring community and (1) ask questions regarding differing access to resources; (2) understand that the disparities are unfair; (3) engage in action to change access in her neighborhood.   Therefore, targeting critical health literacy builds both family and community capacity to improve situations in which people live and grow (i.e., determinants of health). The goal of the Social Justice for Health project is to improve tweens' critical health literacy through an interactive, multi-session, group-based workshop. The workshop involves teaching critical literacy skills with the use of health content and culminates in youth participating in a photovoice project (take social justice/health photos in the neighborhood and caption them then display them in the community) to encourage community dialogue about health. Participants will complete surveys pre- and post- workshop and ~1-month follow-up. The workshops will be carried out in the community setting. Refreshments and a small stipend will be provided to participants. Start date of the project is flexible and will be decided with the community partners.

Please click here to view images from past participants Photovoice Project.

We are currently seeking youth-serving (youths 10-13 years-old) organizations to partner with on this project. Please contact Dr. Fleary at sasha.fleary@sph.cuny.edu or 646-364-9595 or the Child Health Equity Research Lab at cherlab@sph.cuny.edu for more information.  

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