Social Work Response to Disasters

Catalog description

Vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, and people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by large-scale disasters. This course will address the specific psychosocial needs of vulnerable populations after a disaster and related policy implications. Best practices for crisis intervention with specific populations including children, older adults, people with disabilities, people with mental health issues, and people with substance abuse issues will be discussed. A theoretical foundation for understanding disasters, response systems, common guidelines for preparedness, and basic crisis theory will be presented.