University of Michigan University of Michigan School of Social Work School of Social Work Disaster Relief GroupDisaster Relief Group

Presents:Presents:

COMMUNITIES LOST: COMMUNITIES LOST: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK IN THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK IN

DISASTER RECOVERYDISASTER RECOVERY

By:By:Emily M. Tofte, Jason Anthony Plummer, and Violeta V. GarciaEmily M. Tofte, Jason Anthony Plummer, and Violeta V. Garcia

A special thanks to Heather Swope for assistance in the development of this projectA special thanks to Heather Swope for assistance in the development of this project

Social Welfare Action Alliance ConferenceSocial Welfare Action Alliance ConferenceJune 16-18, 2006June 16-18, 2006

School of Social Work School of Social Work Disaster Relief Group (SSWDRG)Disaster Relief Group (SSWDRG)

Mission StatementMission Statement: The purpose of the SSWDRG is to provide a forum for : The purpose of the SSWDRG is to provide a forum for School of Social Work students, faculty, and staff to critically discuss the School of Social Work students, faculty, and staff to critically discuss the role of social work in disaster relief and to provide the SSW community with role of social work in disaster relief and to provide the SSW community with opportunities to take action in response to human tragedy. The SSWDRG opportunities to take action in response to human tragedy. The SSWDRG was formed in reaction to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and was formed in reaction to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and the social injustices revealed during inadequate federal and state relief the social injustices revealed during inadequate federal and state relief efforts.efforts.

Disaster DefinedDisaster Defined"A disaster is a sudden, calamitous, community-"A disaster is a sudden, calamitous, community-

wide event that brings great wide event that brings great damage, loss, and/or destruction to individual damage, loss, and/or destruction to individual persons, the social structures that connect persons, the social structures that connect

persons, and the built environment." persons, and the built environment."

PreparednessPreparedness

What does it mean to be prepared?What does it mean to be prepared? Why is preparedness important for social Why is preparedness important for social

workers in disaster response and recovery?workers in disaster response and recovery? How do we prepare collectively?How do we prepare collectively?

Form a larger social work coordinating organizationForm a larger social work coordinating organization Cooperate with current first responders, such as Cooperate with current first responders, such as

FEMA and American Red Cross, for trainings and FEMA and American Red Cross, for trainings and action plansaction plans

Social workers should advocate to be viewed as Social workers should advocate to be viewed as essential in disaster response by other essential in disaster response by other professionals and governmentprofessionals and government

ResponseResponse

FEDERALFEDERALFEMA FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)(Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Mitigation DivisionMitigation DivisionPreparedness DivisionPreparedness DivisionResponse DivisionResponse DivisionRecovery DivisionRecovery Division

ResponseResponse

At the 1996 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Delegate At the 1996 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Delegate Assembly, the current Disaster policy statement (NASW, 2000) was Assembly, the current Disaster policy statement (NASW, 2000) was adopted and reads: "NASW supports participation in and advocates for adopted and reads: "NASW supports participation in and advocates for programs and policies that service individuals and communities in the wake programs and policies that service individuals and communities in the wake of disaster" (p. 71).of disaster" (p. 71).

In 1997 NASW signed a five-year agreement with the American Red Cross In 1997 NASW signed a five-year agreement with the American Red Cross to deliver mental health services to the victims of disaster, rescue workers, to deliver mental health services to the victims of disaster, rescue workers, military personnel and their families, and refugees (American Red Cross, military personnel and their families, and refugees (American Red Cross, 2000). 2000).

For more information please see: For more information please see: http://http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/health/redcross.aspwww.socialworkers.org/practice/health/redcross.asp

National Association of National Association of Social WorkersSocial Workers

(NASW)(NASW)

Social Worker Roles in a Social Worker Roles in a Disaster ResponseDisaster Response

Mental Health Practitioners Mental Health Practitioners Community OrganizersCommunity Organizers Social Service Advocates Social Service Advocates Legal/Policy Advocates Legal/Policy Advocates Researchers Researchers Educators Educators Volunteers Volunteers

How is the Social Work How is the Social Work Response different from other Response different from other

professionals?professionals?

Social workers can fill many roles in the Social workers can fill many roles in the wake of a national disaster, whether it is wake of a national disaster, whether it is man-made or natural. In addition, we have man-made or natural. In addition, we have the expertise to address many of the the expertise to address many of the issues people face in the wake of a issues people face in the wake of a disaster such as housing, unemployment, disaster such as housing, unemployment, and restructuring dismantled social and restructuring dismantled social systems. systems.

Social Work Roles Overlooked?Social Work Roles Overlooked?

Our distinctive roles are not clearly stated Our distinctive roles are not clearly stated in the NASWin the NASW

Traditional first responders receive the Traditional first responders receive the media attention media attention

Perhaps it is because we do not wear Perhaps it is because we do not wear uniforms or we do not wear badges that uniforms or we do not wear badges that identify us as “Social Workers”identify us as “Social Workers”

Maybe it is because we are not organized Maybe it is because we are not organized to make a collective impact?to make a collective impact?

RecoveryRecovery

What is lost in a community affected by a What is lost in a community affected by a disaster?disaster?

Social Resources Social Resources Sense of community and belongingnessSense of community and belongingnessPhysical environmentPhysical environment

RecoveryRecovery

How do social workers help rebuild How do social workers help rebuild communities after a disaster?communities after a disaster?

Monitor for human rights violationsMonitor for human rights violationsRe-create associations and advocacy groupsRe-create associations and advocacy groupsHeritage SocietyHeritage Society

RecoveryRecovery

How does a social worker's role in recovery How does a social worker's role in recovery connect to the boarder concerns of connect to the boarder concerns of

disaster management? disaster management?

ConclusionConclusion

PreparednessPreparedness We, as social workers, need to be prepared in order to be effective in We, as social workers, need to be prepared in order to be effective in

response and recovery. If we are not organized as a profession to response and recovery. If we are not organized as a profession to respond to choatic disasters, we cannot expect to be effective in our respond to choatic disasters, we cannot expect to be effective in our actions.actions.

ResponseResponse Social workers need to respond according to our various roles, but also Social workers need to respond according to our various roles, but also

need to respond in a flexible way that facilitates disaster response in need to respond in a flexible way that facilitates disaster response in coordination with other responders. coordination with other responders.

RecoveryRecovery We need to empower community residents to establish a “new normal” We need to empower community residents to establish a “new normal”

that is sensitive to the communities history, norms, and character. that is sensitive to the communities history, norms, and character.   

Questions, Questions, Comments, Comments,

and Feedbackand Feedback

ReferencesReferences Farquhar, Stephanie and Noelle Dobson, (2004). “Community and Farquhar, Stephanie and Noelle Dobson, (2004). “Community and

University Participation in Disaster-Relief Recovery: An Example from University Participation in Disaster-Relief Recovery: An Example from Eastern North Carolina.” Eastern North Carolina.” Journal of Community Practice.Journal of Community Practice.

FEMA website: FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov/http://www.fema.gov/ Katoch, Arjun. "The responders' cauldron: the uniqueness of international Katoch, Arjun. "The responders' cauldron: the uniqueness of international

disaster response.(RELIEF and RESPONSE)." disaster response.(RELIEF and RESPONSE)." Journal of International Journal of International AffairsAffairs 59.2 (Spring-Summer 2006): 153(20).  59.2 (Spring-Summer 2006): 153(20). General Reference Center General Reference Center GoldGold. Thomson Gale. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. 29 May. 2006  . Thomson Gale. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. 29 May. 2006 

NASW National Association of Social Workers:http://www.naswdc.org/NASW National Association of Social Workers:http://www.naswdc.org/ Payne, Malcolm (2005). Modern Social Work Theory third edition. Chicago, Payne, Malcolm (2005). Modern Social Work Theory third edition. Chicago,

Il: Lyceum Books, Inc.Il: Lyceum Books, Inc. Poulin, John and Hussein H. Soliman, (1999). “Disaster Outreach Service Poulin, John and Hussein H. Soliman, (1999). “Disaster Outreach Service

Provision: The Development of an Index.” Provision: The Development of an Index.” Journal of Social Service Journal of Social Service Research.Research.

Shultz, James, Espinel, Zelde, Galea, Sandro, and Reissman, Dori. Shultz, James, Espinel, Zelde, Galea, Sandro, and Reissman, Dori. Disaster Ecology: Implications for Disaster Psychiatry (in press). Disaster Ecology: Implications for Disaster Psychiatry (in press).

Webb, Rita A, DCSW, and LICSW Senior Staff Associate, (2002). “National Webb, Rita A, DCSW, and LICSW Senior Staff Associate, (2002). “National Association of Social Workers and the American Red Cross Partners in Association of Social Workers and the American Red Cross Partners in Disaster Mental Health.” Disaster Mental Health.” http://http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/health/redcross.aspwww.socialworkers.org/practice/health/redcross.asp