The EnRiCH Community Resilience Framework for High-Risk Populations

We present the EnRiCH Community Resilience Framework for High-Risk Populations, which describes an integrated, upstream-downstream approach combining principles from health promotion, community-based participatory research, complex adaptive systems, group dynamics, organizational behaviour and disaster management. Following an explanation of the empirical methods and core components of this framework, we present strategic areas for intervention that can be used to enhance resilience amongst high-risk groups in a community. Finally, we discuss broader implications of adopting this asset-based approach for disaster preparedness, both from a policy-perspective, as well as practical aspects of championing this type of participatory approach. However, before introducing the framework, we start by clarifying who we are referring to when we say ‘high-risk populations’ and ‘upstream’ or ‘downstream’ interventions, and what we consider to be key aspects of an asset-approach.
The term ‘vulnerable’ is widely used in the disaster and emergency management literature as a label to describe people with functional limitations who require specific supports when an adverse event occurs. However, Enarson and Walsh8 suggested the term ‘high-risk’ be used as an alternative, notably in the context of preparedness and resilience9 to move away from deficit-oriented language. This recommendation is based on work by Kailes and Enders10 who proposed a function-based approach may be ...

Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - October 2, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tracey O'Sullivan Source Type: research