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Photovoice Project

Lincoln Trail District Health Department’s Photovoice project features 12 powerful images that bring public health work to life through the eyes of staff serving our communities every day. Organized around key themes such as community connection, education, system challenges, and workforce resilience, these images pair visual storytelling with lived experience to highlight both the strengths and barriers that shape local public health. Together, they offer a meaningful look at how staff perspectives can inform planning, spark conversation, and help bridge experience with action.

Melissa Phillips presenting Photovoice Project at the KPHA Conference 2026 in Covington KY.

Theme 1: Community Centered Public Health

Public health works best when it is built on trust, visibility, and genuine community connection. This theme reflects the importance of meeting people where they are—through mobile services, pop-up events, home visits, and partnerships with schools, nonprofits, faith communities, and local leaders—to make services more accessible and meaningful. Staff recognized that consistent presence in the community helps build credibility, strengthen relationships, and encourage participation, especially in underserved areas. At the same time, they noted that engagement is not always guaranteed, and limited time and staffing can make it difficult to maintain that level of presence everywhere it is needed.

Meeting People Where They're At

We have many NaloxBoxes (also commonly referred to as Narcan boxes) placed at different locations throughout our six-county district. The one in this picture is just chilling next to a cigarette receptacle like they are best friends, and I think that captures how we meet people where they're at, both literally and figuratively.
We have many NaloxBoxes (also commonly referred to as Narcan boxes) placed at different locations throughout our six-county district. The one in this picture is just chilling next to a cigarette receptacle like they are best friends, and I think that captures how we meet people where they're at, both literally and figuratively.

Youth and Community Involvement

This photo captures the calm before the storm—the quiet setup before one of our Friday night prevention events for high school students, created to give them a fun, safe alternative to risky situations. The sponsor signs on the windows represent local businesses that believed in our mission and helped make the event possible through their support and donated prizes. Because of this community involvement, these events have been a success and have allowed our message of prevention to reach even more youth.
This photo captures the calm before the storm—the quiet setup before one of our Friday night prevention events for high school students, created to give them a fun, safe alternative to risky situations. The sponsor signs on the windows represent local businesses that believed in our mission and helped make the event possible through their support and donated prizes. Because of this community involvement, these events have been a success and have allowed our message of prevention to reach even more youth.

Never Underestimate Impact

This is a lead case that I worked a while ago. What is hard to see is the home was infested with roaches so much so I almost couldn't walk through certain areas of the home without almost stepping on one. This person was struggling, both mentally, physically, financially and doing her best to raise her child. People process ideas and concepts through their own lens that is shaped by belief and experience. Be kind, stand up for the people we serve and do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.
This is a lead case that I worked a while ago. What is hard to see is the home was infested with roaches so much so I almost couldn't walk through certain areas of the home without almost stepping on one. This person was struggling, both mentally, physically, financially and doing her best to raise her child. People process ideas and concepts through their own lens that is shaped by belief and experience. Be kind, stand up for the people we serve and do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.

Theme 2: Education, Information and Empowerment

Knowledge is a powerful tool for prevention, equipping individuals and communities to make informed decisions that support better health outcomes. This theme highlights the role of education in public health, from promoting safe sleep, car seat safety, and overdose prevention to helping people navigate available resources and services. Staff emphasized the value of using creative, accessible tools—such as visual aids, demonstration materials, and text-based resources—to make health information practical and easier to understand. They also recognized that education is not just about sharing facts, but about empowering people with the knowledge and connections they need to take action. At the same time, widespread misinformation, especially on social media, and misunderstandings about public health interventions continue to create barriers to trust in evidence-based guidance.

Fake News

Statistics show that a large percentage of people, especially young people, receive their health information from social media. This is alarming when you see the number of headlines that mention health misinformation. The joke used to be about people using Dr. Google to get health information, but now it’s also Tik Tok, Instagram and other sites. 
Statistics show that a large percentage of people, especially young people, receive their health information from social media. This is alarming when you see the number of headlines that mention health misinformation. The joke used to be about people using Dr. Google to get health information, but now it’s also Tik Tok, Instagram and other sites. 

A Doll with a Job

In recent months, there has been an increase in infant deaths due to unsafe sleep practices in Hardin county. A pillar of maternal child health is educating and instilling the confidence in caregivers that they are capable of raising a healthy baby.  Safe sleep Sasha helps me do just that. She goes with me to every education opportunity and referral visit with caregivers to show what a proper sleep environment looks like. With her I'm able to demonstrate the best way to keep babies safe and thriving.   
In recent months, there has been an increase in infant deaths due to unsafe sleep practices in Hardin county. A pillar of maternal child health is educating and instilling the confidence in caregivers that they are capable of raising a healthy baby.  Safe sleep Sasha helps me do just that. She goes with me to every education opportunity and referral visit with caregivers to show what a proper sleep environment looks like. With her I'm able to demonstrate the best way to keep babies safe and thriving.   

Knowledge Is Power

Resources within local health departments are often limited. I may not be able to directly help with groceries or utilities, but I can connect them to someone who can.
Resources within local health departments are often limited. I may not be able to directly help with groceries or utilities, but I can connect them to someone who can.

Theme 3: Data, Funding and System Constraints

Effective public health action relies on strong systems, sustainable resources, and reliable data to identify needs, guide decision-making, and justify programs. This theme reflects staff awareness that data is essential for understanding community health challenges and planning meaningful responses, while also recognizing that important gaps in data can limit what agencies are able to see and address. Participants also highlighted the ongoing challenge of balancing growing community needs with limited resources, especially when programs depend on short-term, grant-based funding. Even in the face of these barriers, staff demonstrated creativity and adaptability in making the most of available resources, but noted that funding instability and the loss of key supports can make long-term planning and sustained impact difficult.

Trying To Make Bread Out of Breadcrumbs

It’s difficult to improve our community’s health when we lack sustainable funding. Despite evidence showing a relationship between food and one’s health; we are unable to implement programs to help. It’s like attempting a recipe without having any of the ingredients. We just have to get creative with what’s in the pantry.
It’s difficult to improve our community’s health when we lack sustainable funding. Despite evidence showing a relationship between food and one’s health; we are unable to implement programs to help. It’s like attempting a recipe without having any of the ingredients. We just have to get creative with what’s in the pantry.

Balancing
Expectations

In public Health work we often have limited resources. Funding being cut and losing access to important data can interfere with our ability to address real world problems. The funding was provided through this resource, but it is only guaranteed for a year.
In public Health work we often have limited resources. Funding being cut and losing access to important data can interfere with our ability to address real world problems. The funding was provided through this resource, but it is only guaranteed for a year.

Mapping For
Change

In the digital age, we have access to tools at out fingertips that can give us knowledge which allows us to look at a health issue in innovative ways and open the door for creativity. Mapping can also communicate a health need in a way that reminds you of how an issue is tied to a community.
In the digital age, we have access to tools at out fingertips that can give us knowledge which allows us to look at a health issue in innovative ways and open the door for creativity. Mapping can also communicate a health need in a way that reminds you of how an issue is tied to a community.

Theme 4: Workforce Capacity and Adaptability

Public health efforts are sustained by staff who bring knowledge, creativity, flexibility, and resilience to their work each day. This theme highlights the value of ongoing training and professional development, strong knowledge of community resources, and the ability to adapt when funding or capacity is limited. Staff described taking on cross-functional roles, multitasking across programs, and finding innovative ways to continue serving communities with care and cultural sensitivity. Their commitment to the mission is a major strength, but participants also acknowledged the challenges that come with balancing multiple responsibilities, working within role limitations, and facing the ongoing risk of burnout in high-demand environments with limited resources.

Spot The Eyewash Station

I took this photo to demonstrate how essential safety equipment can become inaccessible or overlooked when workspaces become cluttered or used for other purposes. Even small amounts of disorganization can create significant risks. An eyewash station is critical in an emergency, yet clutter suggests that staff may not have time, training, or reminders to maintain clear access.
I took this photo to demonstrate how essential safety equipment can become inaccessible or overlooked when workspaces become cluttered or used for other purposes. Even small amounts of disorganization can create significant risks. An eyewash station is critical in an emergency, yet clutter suggests that staff may not have time, training, or reminders to maintain clear access.

Staff
Training

I took the photo my coworker at her desk because it shows that we are able and have access to all our training. The training we do provides us with the knowledge to help us do our job.
I took the photo my coworker at her desk because it shows that we are able and have access to all our training. The training we do provides us with the knowledge to help us do our job.

Stronger Skills, Stronger Service

Everything your local health department does is informed by real-time evidence and data. Within my job as a community health strategist, I am given many opportunities to attend trainings to further my knowledge, so I can better help the communities we serve.
Everything your local health department does is informed by real-time evidence and data. Within my job as a community health strategist, I am given many opportunities to attend trainings to further my knowledge, so I can better help the communities we serve.
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