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
The project was conducted virtually during August and September 2021. 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.
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
- The Council on Patient’s Safety in Women’s Health Care 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/
- Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/
Storytellers
Angelica Hernandez
Autumn Mels
Jess Pierson
Krystal Wilson
StoryCenter Team
Allison Meyers
April Bell
I PROMOTE-IL Team
Abigail Holicky
Elizabeth Glassgow
Crystal Stevenson