An Examination of Evidenced-Based Practice Interventions for Public Emergencies

Abstract

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics identifies numerous ethical standards that describe the responsibilities for the social work profession to the broader society. Mentioned among these ethical standards is the responsibility for social workers to provide appropriate professional services in response to public emergencies. However, few empirical studies describing effective interventions for public emergencies are available. This article reviews empirical evidence that can be used to guide social work practice in response to public emergencies, the methodological issues that present challenges for evidence-based research during public emergencies, and provides suggestions for the delivery of professional social work services in response to public emergencies considering the limited empirical evidence.

Implementing Psychological First-Aid Training for Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers

“…[8][9][10][11] In spite of international endorsement, 12,13 to our knowledge, no rigorous outcome studies have been conducted. 14 The Department of Health and Human Services' disaster behavioral health concept of operations recommends the training of first responders in PFA, and the American Red Cross and other disaster organizations are implementing PFA training for their employees and volunteers. Listen, protect, and connect (LPC) [15][16][17][18] is one PFA model that has been developed for lay persons and first responders, and its simple framework may be appropriate for surge responders such as the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).…”

“…PFA is designed to reduce disaster-induced stress by prompt provision of social support, linkage to resources, and promotion of effective coping strategies and coping self-efficacy 8 11 In spite of international endorsement, 12 , 13 to our knowledge, no rigorous outcome studies have been conducted 14 . The Department of Health and Human Services’ disaster behavioral health concept of operations recommends the training of first responders in PFA, and the American Red Cross and other disaster organizations are implementing PFA training for their employees and volunteers.…”

Educating a New Generation of Social Workers: Challenges and Skills Needed for Contemporary Agency-Based Practice

“…Carp (2010 emphasizes that this work requires social workers to develop additional skills and an enlarged vision of practice which focuses on the strengths and resilience of the individuals, organizations, and communities that have experienced chaos. Patterson (2009) highlights the need for skills in the provision of both micro interventions for victims and survivors of disaster and collaboration with first responders as well as macro interventions to intervene with complex systems and entire communities.…”

“…Since the national crisis of September 11, 200l, social work services have increasingly addressed people who have experienced a wide variety of disasters including hurricanes, school and violent mass shootings, and other public emergencies (Patterson 2009). Disaster mental health has become an area of expertise for social work practitioners across all fields of practice (Callahan 2009;Carp 2010;Rosenthal-Gelman and Mirabito 2005;Mirabito and Rosenthal 2002;Pomeroy 2009).…”