Disaster Social Work: Impact, Human Responses, and Ethical Practice

This workshop explores disaster social work through an ethical, trauma-informed, and equity-centered lens, with particular attention to marginalized populations, women, and children.

Participants will examine how disasters intersect with systemic inequities, understand common human reactions across disaster phases, and clarify the unique roles and professional identity of social workers in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Define disasters and explain how structural inequities shape disaster impact, particularly for marginalized populations, women, and children
2. Identify common individual, family, and community reactions to disaster using a trauma-informed and strengths-based framework
3. Describe and apply the ethical roles, responsibilities, and tools of social workers across disaster phases and settings.

Topics Covered

• What “disaster” means from a social work perspective
• Disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities, women, and children
• Human reactions across disaster phases
• Social worker roles at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels
• Trauma-informed and culturally responsive tools and resources
• Ethical challenges, boundaries, and decision-making in disaster settings
• Social worker well-being and professional sustainability

Who Should Attend

• Social workers in clinical, community, school, healthcare, and administrative roles
• Helping professionals involved in crisis response or disaster-impacted communities
• Educators, supervisors, and practitioners seeking to strengthen their disaster competence

Ethics

This workshop is grounded in the NASW Code of Ethics and emphasizes social justice, professional competence, ethical decision-making, and culturally responsive practice in disaster contexts.

Tuition

• $ 70 – Registration Fee
• $ 50 – Alumni, Field Instructor, FFL, Current Adelphi University School of Social Work Adjunct Rate
• $ 40 – Veterans Fee, Current Adelphi University Students

Instructor Bio

Renee M. Rawcliffe, LMSW

Renee M. Rawcliffe, LMSW, is a social worker with nearly 25 years of experience, beginning in child welfare before specializing in disaster preparedness, response and recovery in New York City. Over 17 years in the NGO disaster arena, she held diverse clinical and administrative leadership roles, eventually transitioning into higher education as a social work practicum liaison and adjunct instructor.

Renee provides national consultation and training on supervision, staff education, and the mitigation of burnout and compassion fatigue. She currently serves as the Director of Continuing Education and Professional Development for the School of Social Work, Co-Director of the nationally recognized Social Work Practice Fellows postgraduate certificate program, and Educational Coordinator for the Institute for Social Work and Ecological Justice (ISWEJ), and continues to teach for Simmons University and Adelphi University in their respective Online MSW programs.

Renee is a PhD candidate whose dissertation research explores the lived experiences of social workers in disaster preparedness, response and recovery, highlighting the profession’s unique contributions to the field.

Credentialing Information

This program has been approved for the following continuing education credits:

CEs: 2.5

To receive approved continuing education credits, participants must attend the entire symposium and submit a completed evaluation form.

See full credentialing information and CEUs

Cancellation Policy

Please note that we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations made within seven business days of the event or for no-shows. However, if you notify us at least 24 hours in advance, we can issue a credit toward a future workshop. No credit will be provided for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the event.

Accessibility Statement

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Adelphi University require that all events be accessible. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the event host identified on the event webpage; please allow for a reasonable time frame. The event host, when necessary, will collaborate with the Student Access Office.