Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
The International Conference on Social Work and Social Research: Financial Capability and Asset Building for All, Baku, Azerbaycan, 24 - 25 Kasım 2023, ss.307-308
Social work is an essential support system during challenging times (including natural disasters, economic declines, health epidemics, wars and personal struggles) faced by both individuals and society as a whole. In such times, social workers play a vital role by providing prompt emergency aid in the field. Hence, they coordinate the provision of food, shelter and health services. However, social workers are not exclusively limited to emergency interventions. They also offer guidance for coping with the psychosocial impact of crises and help to prevent issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder. During times of crisis, social workers play an essential role in constructing community resilience and fostering learning from experiences. Additionally, they contribute to the successful management of resources and assist in restoring social welfare. Social work addresses the underlying reasons for crises and develops techniques to enhance the resilience of societies. Consequently, social work provides a diverse and comprehensive approach to addressing crises, while also contributing to the empowerment of both individuals and communities. On the other hand, social workers working in the field also have different needs, particularly in terms of protecting workers' rights and supporting psychological resilience. Therefore, in addition to social work interventions in times of disaster or crisis, support services for social workers are crucial. Regarding these issues, two field visits were conducted, following the earthquakes on the 6th February 2023, where observations were made regarding social workers and social work interventions in the earthquake zone. As it is commonly acknowledged, on the 6th February 2023, Türkiye experienced two earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 7.6 in magnitude, with the epicenters located in Kahramanmaras, impacting a total of 10 provinces including Kahramanmaras, Malatya, Adiyaman, Hatay, Kilis, Adana, Sanhurfa, Osmaniye, Gaziantep and Diyarbakir. The earthquakes significantly impacted a population of approximately 13-14 million people residing in these provinces. From the outset of the earthquake, social workers participated psychosocial support services in the field. First, it was found that many social workers were young and freshly graduated from universities. While possessing theoretical knowledge, they lacked practical experience. Also, there was inadequate coordination in providing social work interventions and psychosocial support services, leading to challenges in crisis management. As it is well known social workers were particularly vulnerable to secondary trauma. In addition, their workload affected their ability to intervene and continue with a case. This study will explore various issues relating to social work intervention in this kind of crisis in depth. During a crisis, it is crucial to identify the support and resources required for social workers. These people should receive training and counselling in crisis management, post-traumatic support, pre-crisis preparation and post-crisis recovery. Besides, support groups and psychological counselling services should be available to reduce the psychosocial burden on social workers during crisis processes. Thus, social workers can more effectively respond to the needs of society and individuals during times of crisis. Such professional support and resources can help social workers meet the needs of societies and individuals in crisis. These findings establish an imperative guide for social workers to improve their crisis intervention. However, attending to their own needs can enhance the success of crisis intervention.