Disaster Social Work with Children and Families
摘要
Disasters continue to increase in prevalence worldwide and so does the interest from researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, with social workers—as professionals and scientists involved in all three areas—being one group of those concerned. The impacts of disasters, and for the purposes of this chapter natural disasters, on children and families are immense, complex, and multilayered. Policy and practice are often disjointed, between and within organizations and services, leaving individuals and communities in a precarious position, without clear guidance of support. This chapter recognizes the direct and indirect impacts on children and families, highlighting the close connections between child outcomes to caregiver distress, parenting capacity, and family processes, and uses this foundation to explore integrative disaster interventions and the role of social work within them. The chapter draws on theoretical frameworks and approaches to illuminate some key areas of practice, concluding with the need for integrative approaches, and continued efforts toward predisaster preparedness and professional training.