Disaster, Trauma and Loss

(1 Credit)

This course will introduce a cohesive perspective from which to consider immediate, emerging, and long-term community engagement and clinical practice in the aftermath of disaster. Considering collective and individual impact, as well as resourcefulness, as disasters evolve, discussion will include dimensions of distress, trauma, loss, and traumatic loss, within a cultural frame. Providing a global and historical context, the class will consider a variety of disasters, and the social realities of inequity and violation often accompanying them. Cumulative police shootings/choking within a context of race, no indictments, collective grief, and community protest; the Sydney, Australia hostage situation accompanied by #illridewithyou hashtag in solidarity; the recent Philippine typhoon, so soon after last year’s typhoon devastation as many still mourn and recover; the epidemic of Ebola in West Africa, as here in the city diaspora families mourn for loved ones and experience others’ animosity and suspicion, and as health workers plead for respect, and the city community grapples with fear; unaccompanied children from Central America fleeing violence and violation; the context of humanitarian catastrophe across the Middle East; the continuing impact of the Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting, and the context of other school and community shootings; the unprecedented devastation of Superstorm Sandy, with long-extended regional and local impact, still; the East Harlem building explosion and collapse; and the Boston marathon bombing, are only some. In addition, the Japan earthquake/tsunami/nuclear power plant disaster, amid uncertainty and worry; the Haiti earthquake, with attendant health and infrastructure problems; the Gulf Coast region hurricanes of Katrina and Rita, amidst issues of race and class; the Indian Ocean region tsunami in the context of civil war; and the aftermath of September 11, 2001, framed by a context of bias, also offer context and will be viewed within a long-term perspective. The course will identify the diversity of social work roles and practice with individuals, groups, and communities having distinctly unique situations, and will look at the significant roles of community, support networks, and cultural foundations. The inevitable impact on clinicians of providing community engagement and clinical practice across the long-term continuum of unfolding disaster, along with their own resourcefulness and resilience, will be addressed, highlighting the importance of reflective self-care for student and social worker, on-going support, continued learning, and active social engagement.