I PROMOTE-IL conducted the Illinois Maternal Health Digital Storytelling Project to collect perspectives from Illinois birthing persons on experiences of complications and challenges during pregnancy and in the postpartum period through the creation of digital stories (videos).
The goals of this project include:
- Raise awareness about complications and challenges occurring during pregnancy and postpartum
- Elevate voices (stories) to complement other sources of data on maternal mortality and morbidity
- Provide a personal element to inform ongoing prevention work
Participants joined five two-hour group sessions to understand the basics of storytelling, share their stories with others, and learn the hands-on skills required to create digital stories. Participants also worked individually with facilitators to compose and edit their story.
The project occurred first in August-September 2021 and then again in August 2022.
You can download a one page overview of the Storytelling project here.
Note: The videos contain sensitive content that may be potentially distressing for some viewers.
Note: The videos contain sensitive content that may be potentially distressing for some viewers.
Digital storytelling is the practice of using digital tools to tell a story. A “digital story” is a 2-3 minute short video that synthesizes still images, video, voice recordings, music or sound and text. The Illinois Maternal Health Digital Storytelling Project used a digital storytelling workshop format that brought five women together virtually to share true personal (first-person “I” voice) stories from their lives. The workshop was highly participatory and included five main components:
- Share a story verbally, in a “Story Circle”
- Work with a facilitator to write the story in a short format
- Record the story into a microphone
- Create and/or choose photos, videos, drawings or other illustrative methods to visually enhance the story
- Work with a facilitator to combine these materials into short digital story
This digital storytelling workshop was facilitated by StoryCenter.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Hear Her Campaign: https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/index.html
- Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health’s Urgent Maternal Warning Signs: https://safehealthcareforeverywoman.org/council/patient-safety-tools/urgent-maternal-signs/
- Northshore Perinatal Depression Hotline: 866.364.MOMS (866.364.6667) or visit https://www.northshore.org/pediatrics/specialty-programs/neonatology/perinatal-family-support-center/perinatal-depression-program/
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: text or call 833-TLC-MAMA
- Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/
Storytellers- 2022
Carrita Flie
Kelly Hubbard
Jahniyah Morris
Ashley Tabata
Breanna Wakar
Erika Walton
Storytellers-2021
Angelica Hernandez
Autumn Mels
Jess Pierson
Krystal Wilson
StoryCenter
Allison Meyers
April Bell
I PROMOTE-IL
Abigail Holicky
Liz Glassgow
Crystal Stevenson
Lawrie Zhang