Climate change consequences hit our
nation full force this year. Inhospitable heat waves and flash flooding display
the foreboding of climate intolerance to humans as weather changes increase in
intensity. Temperatures extremes are costly to life, health, and the economy. This
week, an article from the journal Nature
Climate Change, reported a link between climate change and mental health,
specifically, a direct increase in suicide rates. Researchers (Burke et al.
2018) reported:
“Suicide rates rise 0.7% in US counties and
2.1% in Mexican municipalities for a 1 °C increase in monthly average
temperature. This effect is similar in hotter versus cooler regions and has not
diminished over time, indicating limited historical adaptation… >
600 million social media updates further suggests that mental well-being
deteriorates during warmer periods.” (para 1)
An increase in suicide is only one substantial area influenced by increasing temperatures. Climate events prompt a broad spectrum of harmful behaviors from individuals. As social workers, our response to climate induced behaviors needs a systems overview, plan, and response to intervene, and in some cases prevent, negative consequences.(More information about the social work's response to environmental change and how you can be involved is available from this link
American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare Strengthening the Social Response to the Human Impacts of Environmental Change)
American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare Strengthening the Social Response to the Human Impacts of Environmental Change)
The impact of climate change is a
problem for every intersection of diversity. Crisis interventionists can
work easiest with those who have the most resources economically, personally, and
regionally. Climate change consequences pose the most threat to marginalized
and vulnerable populations. Social work can bridge the gap between long and short-term
solutions between these populations. Collaborations across disciplines to identify
and develop strategies for communities to decrease anxiety, depression, stress
on relationships, health issues, violence, and aggressive behaviors need to be
developed.
Considering the
significant increases in temperature averages and weather extremes in the
United States the response from social workers needs to be immediate and
significant. People experiencing weather
crisis require a coordination of resources. Heat waves, droughts, cold bomb cyclones,
flooding, hurricanes, or when weather extremes increase past our ability to
access resources, will challenge our national reserves to not only keep people
safe from harm, but allow time for rebuilding or relocation. The effort to
build support systems for climate change impact will involve all systems in
order to be successful. Social workers can lead the shift in support systems through
advocacy and education.
At the extreme, social workers will
develop relocation plans for whole areas impacted negatively by continued
hostile temperatures and weather. How will California residents respond to an
increase of wild fire severity or drought conditions in agricultural areas? What
if disrupting weather systems hit Puerto Rico each year making it significantly
challenging to live there? Would the population of Puerto Rico become a third
world where people have little access to electricity, food, or housing? Or will
Puerto Rican’s be invited into our communities in America to continue their
lives and culture without fear of losing their homes each year? How will Southern
Florida residents respond to storms increasing in severity and damage along their
coasts? What will happen to cities and businesses continually disenfranchised
by flash flooding throughout the year similar to what is happening in Ellicott
City, MD? These examples underly the need for future planning in the present,
not as a band aid strategy as each crisis occurs.
At the least, social workers involve
themselves with individuals impacted by climate extremes. Residents in warmer
climates are now experiencing highs above 104 for the first time. Body temperatures
reaching 104 degrees or higher develop heat stroke leading to organ damage or
death. When the heat reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit in California how do those
without a way to cool their internal temperatures survive? What education and resources
can seniors and children access to minimize the impact of new and existing heat
waves? These questions require answers.
Social work
educators and leaders are poised to assist legislators in designing appropriate
mechanisms and funding streams for crisis intervention and support system infrastructure.
Government planning will include micro and macro responses to climate change. Areas
across the spectrum requiring intervention include; significant loss of life
and illness, destruction of homes and businesses, the impact of economic costs
in transportation, agriculture, production, energy and infrastructure, and the resources
needed to address each crisis.
The chart
below identifies key social work positions needed to stabilize our communities during
times of climate change disasters and emergencies. This is not an inclusive
chart. Each position is not intended to be the only resource. A
multidisciplinary team of specialists supplement the strategies, resources, and
labor force of climate change need.
Climate Change Social Work Specific Position Needing to be Created
Position
|
Responsibilities
|
Collaboration
|
Housed
|
Community Relocation Transition
Coordinator
|
· Identification of welcoming communities for
relocating individuals and families
· Development of identified Welcoming Community to
educate and prevent NIMBY
· Develop strategies for moving small and large
populations
· Systems coordination between moving points
|
Government programs, Community
stakeholders, Neighborhoods,
Businesses, School systems, Health
Care, Police and Fire, Military, National Guard
|
Local, State, Federal government,
Insurance Companies,
|
Climate Relocation Specialists
|
· Assessment of family needs for location
· Financial and Career planning
· Crisis Intervention
· Community advocate and liaison for integration
between old and new residents
|
Housing, Businesses, Communities,
school systems, real estate companies, local governments, social service
agencies
|
Local, State, Federal government,
Insurance Companies
|
Weather Extreme Coordinators
|
· Identification of weather impact potential
· Storm Consequence Mapping of Human needs
· Coordinate community response efforts
· Educational coordination of suicide prevention/evaluation
resource materials to therapists and community
· Develop and communicate area safe zones
|
Weather Services, local, state and
federal governments,
National Guard
FEMA, health care settings, supply
companies, businesses, Police and Fire, Military, National Guard
|
Weather Centers, local Governments,
Regional governments, Military bases, National Guard posts
|
Weather Extreme Case Managers
|
· Crisis Intervention
· Suicidal ideation evaluator due to weather
temperature increases
· Resource
management
· Health care management
· Shelter stability
|
Hospitals, Pharmacies, Temporary
housing,
Social service agencies, Psychiatric facilities,
Jails
|
Townships, Hospitals, Police or Fire
Departments, Social Service agencies with emergency services
|
Weather Extreme Financial Managers
|
· Crisis Intervention
· Financial collaboration and translator for aid from Internet
fundraising, insurance reimbursement, government aid
· Works closely with Weather Extreme case managers
|
Federal Government agencies, Local
government, Insurance Companies, Internet Fundraising groups
|
Insurance Companies, Internet
Fundraising sites, Federal Government Aid, Townships, Social Service agencies
with emergency services
|
Weather Extreme City Specialists
|
· Community educator on self-care, relationship care,
and health challenges during weather extremes
· Coordinator of community actions to reduce crime and
violence
· Coordinate hotline and/or drop in centers for mental
health issues related to extreme weather issues.
· Collaborator with law enforcement officers and systems
for methods in decreasing violence
|
Federal Government agencies, Local and
city government,
Social Service Agencies, Police and
Fire, Jail and Prisons, Hospitals, National Guard
|
Local Government, City Agencies,
Townships, Social Service Agencies, Law enforcement Agencies
|
Social work
education can provide a pathway for training future advocates challenged by the
impact of climate change on a micro and macro level. Answers will come from the
collaboration of all disciplines. Please share your thoughts and solutions about
addressing the impact of climate change either through education, research or
practice. Please participate in @CSocialWorkEd 's #twitterchat on August 1, at 12pm EST or August 2, 1pm EST for a chat on #SWFutures. You can submit questions to CSWE.org by 7/27.
Reference
Burke, M., Gonzalez, F., Baylis P., Heft-Neal,
S., Baysan, C., Basu, S., & Hsiang, S. (2018). Higher
temperatures increase suicide rates in the United States and Mexico. Nature Climate Change. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0
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