PoupArte: A collaborative programme to empower low-income vulnerable families

Abstract

Interventions directed towards vulnerable families currently tend to adopt a more collaborative approach in order to increase their effectiveness in improving the well-being of these families. This paper describes the design, pilot-implementation and a preliminary evaluation of PoupArte. This is a collaborative programme, inspired by the Photovoice methodology that aims to support families to recognize and activate their competencies and resources, to overcome their usual lack of confidence and forge a more positive identity, and to stimulate their ability to resolve their own problems. This pilot intervention consisted of ten semi-structured sessions. Five different families and their networks participated. An evaluation, based on the content analysis of photo-assignments, was conducted in order to increase the understanding of families' perspectives of their participation. The main themes addressed in the photographs were: daily celebrations of achievements as well as worries; saving and minimizing expenses; and 'my children'. PoupArte seems to be a flexible, collaborative programme that supports vulnerable families in the process of developing and/or acknowledging their competencies, in particular by providing them with the strength to undertake action.