Disaster Preparedness in Social Work: A Scoping Review of Evidence for Further Research, Theory and Practice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand the extent and nature of social work literature relating to preparedness in the context of natural disasters and to identify the implications for further research, theory and practice. A systematic scoping review explored scholarly databases pertaining to literature about social work and disaster preparedness, between 2000 and 2019; a total of thirty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from these articles to map the range and type of literature, and thematic analysis was undertaken to explore aspects of preparedness in greater depth. Analysis revealed a recurring theme regarding the need to foreground preparedness in social work and disaster practice along with recommendations that preparedness be more consistently enacted as an ongoing, localised, dynamic and dialogic process in order to better respond to a diverse range of community needs. Building on these findings, the authors highlight the need to challenge dominant discourses in social work and extend the conceptualisation of the profession in the context of disasters at both the intra- and inter-professional levels. By drawing on transformative, ecosocial approaches, the profession’s contributions to disaster practice, equity and justice in this complex context of global practice can gain visibility.

The obstacles hierarchy of school disaster preparedness implementation in Mount Sinabung area, Indonesia

“…Related to health matters, disaster impact can take the form of the spread of various diseases, injuries, malnutrition, post-traumatic physical and psychological complications, even causing death (Midtbust et al, 2006;Sajow et al, 2020;Ali, 2021). It can also change the demographical structure, culture, rising levels of violence, loss of livelihoods, poverty, instability of the political situation (Boetto et al, 2021), and severe damage in agricultural sector impacting the food security, crop failure, food production and distribution (Fahad and Jing, 2018;Fahad and Wang, 2018) linked to the overall vulnerable condition of the population (Fahad et al, 2022b).…”

Adaptability, Interdisciplinarity, Engageability: Critical Reflections on Green Social Work Teaching and Training

“…Macro-level: Before this learning, the student felt that macro-level social work interventions toward climate change, disaster, and diverse crises were always “far away” and inaccessible due to her school-based occupational practice settings. After this training, the student realized the social worker’s critical role in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction by advocating environmental justice and social justice and enhancing the residents’ health and well-being [ 72 ]. The potency of social work research, interacting with agents from different realms, especially government and academia, informs policy/decision-making and program improvement.…”

Imagining the ecosocial within social work

“…The theoretical article addresses the socio‐ecological crisis and the necessity for social work to apply an ecosocial approach (Peeters, 2012). The empirical articles deal with several topics: the first concerns corporate social responsibility (CSR) regarding social work in Mauritius (Backlund Rambaree, 2020); the second discusses disaster preparedness with respect to natural disasters and social work (Boetto et al, 2021); the third empirical article regards ecosocial work in relation to community resilience and water activism in Guelph (Canada) (Case, 2017); the fourth centres on ecosocial consequences of overfishing in Bönan (Sweden) (Rambaree et al, 2019); while the fifth and last empirical article considers social work interventions in eco‐neighbourhoods in Portugal (Rocha, 2018).…”

“…These articles articulate a holistic ontological understanding of the ecosocial. When describing the relationship between the social and the ecological, they use words such as interlinked , interdependent and interconnectivity (Backlund Rambaree, 2020; Boetto et al, 2021; Case, 2017; Peeters, 2012; Rambaree et al, 2019; Rocha, 2018). For instance, Rambaree et al write that humans are ‘intrinsically embedded in mutually dependent relationships within the larger ecosystem’ (2019, p. 232).…”

“…Despite their ontological position, these articles mainly value humans: the human is the central subject throughout the articles (Backlund Rambaree, 2020; Boetto et al, 2021; Case, 2017; Peeters, 2012; Rambaree et al, 2019; Rocha, 2018). Occasionally, the non‐human is valued as well.…”