Social Work Practitioners and Human Service Professionals in the 2016 Alberta (Canada) Wildfires: Roles and Contributions

Abstract

The 2016 Alberta wildfires resulted in devastating human, economic and environmental impacts. Social work practitioners and human service professionals are increasingly involved in disaster contexts yet there remains a pressing need to better understand their professional role and contributions. The wildfire resulted in the mobilisation and engagement of social work practitioners and human service professionals to meet the needs of individuals, families, groups and affected community members. Research was undertaken to identify the roles and responsibilities of social work practitioners and human service professionals in the context of the wildfires in Fort McMurray, AB, Canada. Forty social work practitioners and human service professionals were interviewed about their direct experience in the provision of social services in the context of the 2016 wildfire. This article shares the findings based on four themes: social work practice in disaster contexts; social work role in disaster management; building capacity and advocacy, wellness and self-care. Implications and recommendations discuss the need to enhance understandings of the roles and contributions of social work practitioners and human service professionals in disasters with a particular focus on long-term disaster recovery.