The Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response funds and supports research initiatives to better disseminate disaster human services information, improve practices and policies, and ultimately improve the coordinated delivery and restoration of human services following disasters.
Developing Solutions to Complex Human Services Challenges
Evidence indicates that historically marginalized groups are the most vulnerable to displacement by disasters, and that this displacement has significant negative impacts on individuals, households, and communities.
OHSEPR, the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), and the Evidence Capacity Support project team synthesized information from a range of sources and disciplines to:
- Create a shared understanding of disaster displacement
- Encourage the use of evidence by key audiences
- Promote equity in post-disaster human services delivery
Next, they engaged key audiences to deepen understanding of disaster displacement and advance equity in disaster human services delivery. After reviewing and synthesizing research on disaster displacement and post-disaster human services, OPRE, OHSEPR, and the project team encouraged practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and the public to apply the evidence in their work.
To learn more:
- Read the report: Using Evidence to Engage Audiences on an Emerging Issue: How the Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response and the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation used an evidence synthesis to engage key audiences on a critical human services issue (PDF)
- Watch the webinar: Human Service Needs and Disaster Displacement featuring OHSEPR Director Natalie N. Grant. It also includes a conversation and Q&A with experts in disaster planning, human services, and disaster research who shared their insights and discussed potential applications or implications for practitioners in the field.
Human Services and Disaster Displacement
Disaster displacement refers to the involuntary movement of residents from their homes and communities because of a natural disaster for a temporary, short- or long-term period. There are approximately 1 million new disaster displacements in the United States every year. After being displaced by a disaster, people often have critical human services needs in areas such as housing, income support, transportation, employment and education.
OHSEPR, in collaboration with the ACF Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE), engaged Mathematica to write a report summarizing existing literature and available resources on this topic. The Human Service Needs and Disaster Displacement report includes the following topics:
- Definition of disaster displacement
- What disaster displacement looks like in the U.S. and who is most affected by it
- Human services needs of people displaced by disasters
- Human services delivery to people displaced by disasters
- Outcomes for people and communities affected by disaster displacement
- Recommendations for addressing disaster displacement
Learn more and download the executive summary and full report on the OPRE website.
From Hurricane Katrina to Paradise Wildfires, Exploring Themes in Disaster Human Services
On behalf of OHSEPR, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a workshop July 22-23, 2020, called “From Hurricane Katrina to Paradise Wildfires, Exploring Themes in Disaster Human Services.” The online event focused on children and youth in disasters.
During the workshop, subject matter experts discussed ongoing challenges, promising practices, and potential opportunities since Hurricane Katrina to improve the coordinated delivery and restoration of human services following federally declared major natural disasters and public health emergencies.
Children & Youth in Disasters: A Workshop
Videos of the workshop as well as workshop slides and agenda are available on the "National Academies: From Hurricane Katrina to Paradise Wildfires, Exploring Themes in Disaster Human Services" website.
Full Report on Workshop Proceedings
"Exploring Disaster Human Services for Children and Youth: From Hurricane Katrina to the Paradise Wildfire" chronicles the workshop discussions of the delivery of human services to children and youth after a disaster.
Post-Disaster Social Services Scan (PDF — 1,407.88 KB)
The environmental scan, "Understanding Post-Disaster Social Services for Children Families," is a literature review on the delivery and coordination of post-disaster social services for children and families.