Building community disaster resilience: How social workers in Trinidad and Tobago conceptualize and operationalize community disaster resilience

This study examines disaster resilience through the lens of social workers, drawing on (1) Mayunga’s capital development theory and (2) scholarship on the three“waves” of resilience. These waves include efforts for communities to “bounce back” by restoring prior functioning, “bounce forward” through adaptation and growth, and“critical community praxis,” which advances social and environmental justice. 

Findingsindicate that disaster resilience strategies in Trinidad and Tobago primarily emphasize“bouncing back” and “bouncing forward,” rather than promoting transformative so-cial and environmental change. The findings highlight that current approaches oftenfail to address systemic inequalities and structural barriers hindering long-term disas-ter resilience and advocate for a broader role for social workers in disaster manage-ment and environmental justice. As a profession, social work integrates the missionof strengthening community resilience while addressing historical and social inequities.The recommendations advocate for a more transformative approach to sustainable dis-aster resilience in the Caribbean, prioritizing equity, justice, and long-term communityempowerment.