Summary

The ecological crisis goes far beyond global warming: the decline in biodiversity also is a significant issue affecting communities' well-being worldwide. Those impacts are particularly striking when it comes to cultural keystone species, i.e. species that shape the culture – and the social fabric – of a people. In British Columbia, salmon species are recognized as cultural keystone. However, salmon populations have plummeted over the last few decades. While the psychosocial consequences of this decline have been explored in the literature, research is scarce as to how such a disaster can be a lever for social-ecological change. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders (n=10), this research demonstrates how the decline in salmon populations in British Columbia has proven to be a catalyst for social-ecological resilience in some communities impacted, and how the adversity caused by this disaster transformed those communities in innovative ways and permitted them to "leap" forward. Focusing on community narratives identified by the participants, this research analyzes what conditions promoted or hindered such change. Three case studies are identified: 1) the eviction of fish farms in the Broughton Archipelago by local First Nations and their allies; 2) the creation of the Cowichan Watershed Board following a major drought and 3) the responses to the Big Bar Landslide on the Fraser River. Furthermore, the author also reflects on the role of social workers in social-ecological change, arguing that the expertise of social workers in intervening at the junction of people and their environment must include the ecological context.

Keywords (separate with commas)

biodiversity, community mobilization, cultural keystone species, ecological conservation/restoration, environmental justice, Indigenous knowledge, narratives, resilience, social-ecological systems

Summary

Since the 1960s, sustainability has emerged as a significant topic in academic literature and political discourse, providing an opportunity to bridge social justice concerns with environmental issues. Within the realm of social work literature, the concept of sustainability has become a prominent subject of discussion, primarily through the line of research affiliated with eco and green social work (Matthies et al. 2001; Dominelli, 2012; Boetto, 2017). In this context, involving and engaging service users appears to be a valuable methodology for social work to achieve sustainability, as highlighted by Cuthill (2010).To gain a deeper comprehension of the topic, we carried out a systematic literature review using the PRISMA method. The central research question that directed this review was: How does participation contribute to enhancing the sustainability of social work? The selection of the 94 contributions, downloaded from Scopus and top SW journals, was based on specific criteria: the publication timeframe (from 2000 to June 2023), language (English), and publication following a blind double peer review process. Furthermore, the inclusion criteria extended to encompass exclusively articles based on empirical research to elucidate the existing empirical evidence.\\\ To conduct the paper’s analysis, a data extraction table was devised to accommodate the content of the selected articles. The findings, which will be presented during the conference, revealed the following aspects: 1) The study's type and employed methodology; 2) The definition of participation and/or sustainability; 3) The role attributed to service users; 4) What is acknowledged to service users’s participation by social workers? ; 5) The underlying motivations prompting social workers to encourage participation; 6) The level of intervention (individual, group, community) addressed; 7) The specific area of intervention. The literature review highlights the necessity for empirical research that assesses the mechanisms and specific dimensions through which participation enhances the sustainability of social work.\\\ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

sustainability, eco-social work, participation, involvment.

Summary

Displaced migrants as a vulnerable population have limited access to resources in their host country. The reasons many have migrated from their homeland may be due to the culminating events of political unrest, violence, poverty, lack of access to healthcare and economic opportunities. This experience coupled with the migration journey experience (e.g., human trafficking) can make migrants susceptible to mental illness, substance abuse, as well as worsening health conditions. Once relocated to a new land with different cultures, language and customs, if the host country does not have adequate social services that can feed, house, teach and provide healthcare, the migrant will feel even more isolated and marginalized which makes their tangible concerns ignored or minimized. In small island developing states where resources are limited yet in high demand, tending to a displaced migrants’ needs is a daunting task. \ Public social service agencies are overwhelmed, leaving non-profit organizations and United Nations agencies responsible for most of the migrants’ needs. Considering climate change, and the changing weather patterns with sudden earthquakes or hurricanes, migrants may face the devastating experience of being displaced again. This chapter will examine small Caribbean island’s social services agencies’ capacity to provide services to displaced migrants if there is a natural disaster. It will address the inadequacies in current social service \ agencies to address migrants and the recommendations needed to assist this population with dignity and worth of the person.\ \ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

migrants, climate change, social services\