I was responsible for investigating some of the research for the development of the Media Wise Families curriculum including: tools for teaching media literacy, media curricula in Spanish, alcohol and tobacco videos and advertisements, family communication surveys and communication tools,  effects of media literacy on health and health outcomes of media literacy.  Researching such subjects was very informative and provided me an educational background and rationale for using media literacy and communication skills in effort to combat substance abuse in a high risk population.

I was asked to conduct a survey of the Elvira/Sunnyside neighborhood to evaluate the magnitude of advertisements within the area aimed at alcohol and tobacco promotion.  In doing so, I was appalled not only at the number of billboards and signs of substance ads which were clearly in violation displayed next to churches and schools but also the convenient stores on every corner which hung numerous substance ads in their windows and street signs.  I was also surprised at the many liquor and tobacco stores offering check cashing with purchase.  Ads were also promoted in Spanish to ensure infiltration within the area’s high Spanish speaking population.   In completing this land survey, I was able to gain an understanding of the community’s predicament.  Offering free check cashing to low income families who often do not have a bank account ensures that families will have little alternative than to buy substances to obtain their money.  I realized how difficult it must be to avoid such substances when businesses saturate one’s surroundings promoting to substance use to families each time they leave their homes. I learned how important it is to visit the community in which you intend to conduct research to make an initial assessment and evaluation of the current surroundings.

The recruitment of families and implementation of MWF surveys is the part of the project where I felt contributed the most. I felt a great deal of personal accomplishment.  As we looked to recruit our 24 training families for participation, it became apparent that the majority of the families that were willing to participate were Spanish speaking.  Since MWF trainings needed to take place in Spanish, it was imperative that family members be able to communicate and have any questions answered in their native language.  I was therefore responsible for recruitment phone calls and consent processing.  I visited many homes and met with many families explaining the purpose of the trainings and the positive impact it could have on their family.  It is not uncommon however for some cultures to consent to something but not actually do it since it is considered rude to refuse.  We therefore had to over recruit for each training course to ensure that we obtained all the participating families we needed.

As a student of Public Health, I find that my participation in the Media Wise Families project has allowed me to grow and develop skills that will be useful to me as a public health practitioner especially in a research capacity.  Being part of each step of the project has allowed me to consider the many issues that arise during each phase of implementation and how they can impact the entirety of what is trying to be accomplished.  In dealing with a specific community, I have learned that one needs to consider such issues as community setting, timing, logistics, language barriers, cultural competency, cultural practices, and even ignorance or indifference to the issue being researched.  The challenges I have seen in trying to bring such a research project to fruition in a community where issues are difficult to fully comprehend in a classroom setting.  I appreciate the opportunity to have been part of the MWF project as an EXPORT fellow.  I believe my experience will be invaluable to my future in Public Health.