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

1. University of Michigan School of Social Work Disaster Relief GroupPresents:COMMUNITIES LOST: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK IN DISASTER RECOVERY By: Emily M. Tofte, Jason Anthony Plummer, and Violeta V. Garcia A special thanks to Heather Swope for assistance in the development of this project Social Welfare Action Alliance Conference June 16-18, 2006

2. School of Social Work Disaster Relief Group (SSWDRG) • Mission Statement: The purpose of the SSWDRG is to provide a forum for 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 opportunities to take action in response to human tragedy. The SSWDRG was formed in reaction to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and the social injustices revealed during inadequate federal and state relief efforts.

3. Disaster Defined "A disaster is a sudden, calamitous, community-wide event that brings great damage, loss, and/or destruction to individual persons, the social structures that connect persons, and the built environment."

4. Preparedness • What does it mean to be prepared? • Why is preparedness important for social workers in disaster response and recovery? • How do we prepare collectively? • Form a larger social work coordinating organization • Cooperate with current first responders, such as FEMA and American Red Cross, for trainings and action plans • Social workers should advocate to be viewed as essential in disaster response by other professionals and government

5. Response FEDERAL • FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) • Mitigation Division • Preparedness Division • Response Division • Recovery Division

6. Response National Association of Social Workers(NASW) • At the 1996 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Delegate Assembly, the current Disaster policy statement (NASW, 2000) was adopted and reads: "NASW supports participation in and advocates for programs and policies that service individuals and communities in the wake of disaster" (p. 71). • 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, military personnel and their families, and refugees (American Red Cross, 2000). • For more information please see: http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/health/redcross.asp

7. Social Worker Roles in a Disaster Response • Mental Health Practitioners • Community Organizers • Social Service Advocates • Legal/Policy Advocates • Researchers • Educators • Volunteers

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

9. Social Work Roles Overlooked? • Our distinctive roles are not clearly stated in the NASW • Traditional first responders receive the media attention • Perhaps it is because we do not wear uniforms or we do not wear badges that identify us as “Social Workers” • Maybe it is because we are not organized to make a collective impact?

10. Recovery • What is lost in a community affected by a disaster? • Social Resources • Sense of community and belongingness • Physical environment

11. Recovery • How do social workers help rebuild communities after a disaster? • Monitor for human rights violations • Re-create associations and advocacy groups • Heritage Society

12. Recovery How does a social worker's role in recovery connect to the boarder concerns of disaster management?

13. Conclusion • Preparedness • 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 respond to choatic disasters, we cannot expect to be effective in our actions. • Response • Social workers need to respond according to our various roles, but also need to respond in a flexible way that facilitates disaster response in coordination with other responders. • Recovery • We need to empower community residents to establish a “new normal” that is sensitive to the communities history, norms, and character.

14. Questions, Comments, and Feedback

15. References • Farquhar, Stephanie and Noelle Dobson, (2004). “Community and University Participation in Disaster-Relief Recovery: An Example from Eastern North Carolina.” Journal of Community Practice. • FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov/ • Katoch, Arjun. "The responders' cauldron: the uniqueness of international disaster response.(RELIEF and RESPONSE)." Journal of International Affairs 59.2 (Spring-Summer 2006): 153(20). General Reference Center Gold. Thomson Gale. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. 29 May. 2006  • NASW National Association of Social Workers:http://www.naswdc.org/ • Payne, Malcolm (2005). Modern Social Work Theory third edition. Chicago, Il: Lyceum Books, Inc. • Poulin, John and Hussein H. Soliman, (1999). “Disaster Outreach Service Provision: The Development of an Index.” Journal of Social Service Research. • Shultz, James, Espinel, Zelde, Galea, Sandro, and Reissman, Dori. Disaster Ecology: Implications for Disaster Psychiatry (in press). • Webb, Rita A, DCSW, and LICSW Senior Staff Associate, (2002). “National Association of Social Workers and the American Red Cross Partners in Disaster Mental Health.” http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/health/redcross.asp