Session: Equitable Resilience – Strengthening Social Impact through Social Work Disaster and Climate Research (Society for Social Work and Research 29th Annual Conference)

Throughout the world, we have witnessed the effects of climate change and the resulting disasters. The most vulnerable are greatly affected and are left with limited ability to respond and recover from the impacts. Nations in the Global South are very vulnerable to climate change, although their contributions are relatively minimal (Atwoli, Muhia, and Merali, 2022). Climate change impacts are more than just tangible; they also have an impact on our overall well-being. Vulnerable populations experience a slower recovery due to the unequal effects. Communities of color, low-income, and socially vulnerable groups, are excessively impacted, resulting in widening existing disparities.

Equitable resilience, a relatively recent notion in the field of social work research, refers to the idea of developing resilience in a way that guarantees justice, fairness, and inclusivity for all persons and groups. Social, environmental, and climate-related difficulties frequently plague historically marginalized populations. Equitable resilience also acknowledges that socially disadvantaged groups frequently experience the greatest impact of the climate crisis, disasters, and economic pressures.

The field of social work is ideally positioned to take the lead in discussing equitable resilience in the context of disaster and climate research. Considering the complex nature of disasters and the connection between inequality, disasters, and climate change, it is crucial for social work research to lead the charge in promoting fair and inclusive resilience. Given the complexities of disaster and climate, as well as the intersection of inequality, it is imperative that social work research be at the forefront of critical discourse on equitable resilience.

Social work provides a valuable understanding of equitable resilience research by examining social issues through an equity lens. The symposium provides scholarly papers that showcase research applying equitable resilience principles in the context of disasters and climate change. The objective is to critically examine and improve the definitions of theoretical concepts and practical applications of equitable resilience for social work disaster and climate research.

Paper 1, First et al., discuss factors that place Latinx populations at risk for harm during tornado hazards and practices that can enhance weather warning communication; Paper 2, Hansel and Robison, employs a cross-disciplinary approach to gain a better understanding of the person-in-environment that shape the complex ecosystem in developing tropical landscapes; Paper 3, Scott et al., details the design and preliminary outcomes of the Communities Organizing for Power through Empathy (COPE) intervention, that aims to increase community and individual resilience to disasters and climate change, Paper 4 Smith et al., present a participatory action case study of flooding response effort in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Detroit, MI; Paper 5 by Davidson et al., used group concept mapping (GCM) to delve into the concept of equitable resilience in the context of Southern Africa.

This collection of papers and moderated discussion provides a platform for social work scholars to critically examine the significance of equity in disaster and climate contexts. We delve into the interpretation of disaster and climate concepts through the lens of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.