ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors outline a strengths based approach, and focus on empowerment and self-help. They argue that short-term methods should be informed by strengths based perspective and an empowerment framework as these foster the building of resilience. The authors discuss the trauma and grief that follows sudden, unexpected and life-changing disasters and the types of interventions that social workers might engage in at meso- and micro-levels to assist people to build resilience. Crisis intervention is critical to post-disaster practice and is a familiar form of intervention by social workers. Social workers who move into post-disaster sites, often with very little notice, are ill-prepared for the scale of disasters and may be unfamiliar with the extent of trauma, grief and losses experienced by individuals following a disaster. Understanding the language of trauma, grief and loss is a significant element of effective practice at all levels of practice in disaster sites.
