
Flooding Schools & The Climate Crisis: SSWN Open Access 2020

Editor’s Note: In this SSWN Open Access 2020 series, we’re sharing the articles from the just-published open-access International Journal of School Social Work (published by SSWAA and where I serve as Editor-in-Chief) with all of our SSWN readers and to invite authors and practitioners to interact with this original research here and over at our SSWNetwork platform. The fifth article looks at the issue of school flooding as part of our continuing climate crisis, and what the implications of school flooding caused by climate change are for school clinicians. The authors write::
In addition to planning for the adverse mental health outcomes following a natural disaster, school districts will also likely need to develop plans regarding how to respond when the physical infrastructure of their buildings are compromised. Most notably, coastal communities may soon need to make difficult decisions regarding fortifying existing schools against the risks of flooding or moving them to higher ground. Both options would require significant financial expenses that are not likely to be raised without the support of state and federal governments. As professionals with training in prevention and crisis response, school mental health providers would be well-suited to have a seat at the table for this type of large-scale planning. (Reinbergs & Fefer, 2020, pp. 6-7)
Reinbergs, Erik J. and Fefer, Sarah (2020) “Flooding Schools: School Mental Health Providers and the Climate Crisis.”
Tell us what you think and share how you might use this innovative research where you practice, over at SSWNetwork.
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