Learning from the Flint Water Crisis: Restoring and Improving Public Health Practice, Accountability, and Trust

Boufides, Colleen Healy; Gable, Lance; Jacobson, Peter

doi:10.1177/1073110519857310

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Communication in emergency situations from national leadership has been seen as problematic in the past. During the Flint Water Crisis, government officials delayed intervening and sharing information publicly (Boufides et al, 2019), resulting in lost trust from constituents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro, mezzo, and macro factors associated with coping in the early phase of COVID-19

Wang

Krase

MacMillan

et al. 2020

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment

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Coping and adapting to crisis can be influenced by numerous factors on multiple levels. The experience during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. This article reports on the results of a cross-sectional, online survey administered to adults living in the United States and Canada in June 2020 (N = 1,405). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis found that respondent's age, support of family and friends, support of children's school, use of alcohol and substances, level of trust/satisfaction with national government, being overwhelmed by the amount of COVID-related information, and level of life disruption accounted for 12% of the variance for level of selfreported coping. This study did not find that race or gender impacted self-reported coping. Discussion and implications at the micro, mezzo and macro levels are offered.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro, mezzo, and macro factors associated with coping in the early phase of COVID-19

Wang

Krase

MacMillan

et al. 2020

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment

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“…Although we often assume that trust in water experts, infrastructures, and institutions is both an outcome of, and essential to, water security, our case examples reveal the uneven, fragile, tenuous, and evolving nature of trust and distrust in water systems (See also Meehan et al, 2020a). As discussed above, recent research shows that the water crisis in Flint, Michigan has contributed to a loss of public confidence in government and scientific authorities more generally (Boufides et al, 2019; Pauli, 2019), and even contributed to heightened distrust of tap water and increasing reliance on bottled water in many other locales across the United States (Rosinger and Young, 2020). Our case examples of Kashechewan First Nation and Navajo Nation illustrate the influence of broader colonial politics on water insecurity for Indigenous peoples (see also Wilson et al, 2021), highlighting other features of historical and institutional relations which significantly influence water-trust dynamics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From “trust” to “trustworthiness”: Retheorizing dynamics of trust, distrust, and water security in North America

Wilson

Montoya

Lambrinidou

et al. 2022

Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space

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Assumptions of trust in water systems are widespread in higher-income countries, often linked to expectations of “modern water.” The current literature on water and trust also tends to reinforce a technoscientific approach, emphasizing the importance of aligning water user perceptions with expert assessments. Although such approaches can be useful to document instances of distrust, they often fail to explain why patterns differ over time, and across contexts and populations. Addressing these shortcomings, we offer a relational approach focused on the trustworthiness of hydro-social systems to contextualize water-trust dynamics in relation to broader practices and contexts. In doing so, we investigate three high-profile water crises in North America where examples of distrust are prevalent: Flint, Michigan; Kashechewan First Nation; and the Navajo Nation. Through our theoretical and empirical examination, we offer insights on these dynamics and find that distrust may at times be a warranted and understandable response to experiences of water insecurity and injustice. We examine the interconnected experiences of marginality and inequity, ontological and epistemological injustice, unequal governance and politics, and histories of water insecurity and harm as potential contributors to untrustworthiness in hydro-social systems. We close with recommendations for future directions to better understand water-trust dynamics and address water insecurity.

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“…For example, ensuring transparency, seeking community input, and enabling two-way communication with the public on resolving issues will allow trust to be built institutionally. Having government and public health officials being held accountable, demonstrating integrity by admitting to mistakes, and seeking input from respected outside experts will bridge their past leadership woes and connect with the communities they are serving (Boufides et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Having government and public health officials being held accountable, demonstrating integrity by admitting to mistakes, and seeking input from respected outside experts will bridge their past leadership woes and connect with the communities they are serving. 48 In Flint, efforts are being made to provide urgent mental health services. Psychological first aid training for people interested in helping others cope with the water emergency has been provided by the Flint Community Resilience Group, 31 and the Flint RECAST program educates residents about trauma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Consequences of the Flint Water Crisis: A Scoping Review

Brooks

Patel

2021

Disaster med. public health prep.

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Objective: To summarize existing literature on the mental health impact of the Flint Water Crisis. Methods: In March 2020, we searched 5 databases for literature exploring the psychological consequences of the crisis. Main findings were extracted. Results: 32 citations were screened and 11 included in the review. Results suggest a negative psychological effect caused by the water crisis, including anxiety and health worries, exacerbated by lowered trust in public health officials, uncertainty about the long-term impacts of the crisis, financial hardships, stigma, and difficulties seeking help. There was evidence that concerns about tap water continued even after the state of emergency was lifted. Conclusions: With a possible compound effect to residents of Flint with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the results highlight the need for more resources for psychological health interventions in Flint as well as a need for local governments and health authorities to regain the trust of those affected by the Flint Water Crisis.

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Learning from the Flint Water Crisis: Restoring and Improving Public Health Practice, Accountability, and Trust

Cited by 9 publications

References 8 publications

Micro, mezzo, and macro factors associated with coping in the early phase of COVID-19

Micro, mezzo, and macro factors associated with coping in the early phase of COVID-19

From “trust” to “trustworthiness”: Retheorizing dynamics of trust, distrust, and water security in North America

Psychological Consequences of the Flint Water Crisis: A Scoping Review

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