Building Community Resilience Research Articles

Community engagement in rural and urban marginalized communities in Jamaica: Building community resilience in crisis

ABSTRACT In the Caribbean, Jamaica mobilized strategies to ensure that the most vulnerable were protected against the threats and fears of COVID-19 and other crises over time. One strategy involved wide-scale collaboration with public and private sectors, non-governmental and community-based organizations, and volunteers. This study describes the approach taken by stakeholders in response to the needs of vulnerable residents in marginalized communities, and to highlight the experiences building community resilience during COVID-19. Three questions guided the research: 1) What major issues that affected the community during the COVID-19 crisis? 2) What measures have been implemented to help communities manage and adapt coping mechanism during this crisis? and 3) How has the community shown resilience and recovery in mitigating crises? A descriptive research design was employed comprising focus groups and interviews. We sampled 28 participants from 7 non-governmental organizations and 12 communities in rural and urban Jamaica. The analysis generated policy recommendations.

Women’s Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture: Preserving Traditional Knowledge Through Home Gardens in Santa Maria Jacatepec, Oaxaca

Rural communities in Oaxaca face challenges such as food insecurity, economic instability, and the loss of traditional agricultural knowledge. Home gardens, once essential for food production and income generation, have declined due to migration, environmental degradation, and modern agricultural pressures. This study evaluated how community-driven models, supported by crowdfunding, can revitalize home gardens to improve food security, build community resilience, and promote economic empowerment. A mixed-methods approach, including household surveys, interviews, and focus groups, was used to assess the impact of these gardens. The results showed that over 70% of households experienced improved food security and reduced reliance on external food sources. Home garden production also led to a 20% reduction in food expenses, and the sale of surplus crops provided additional income, enhancing household economic stability. Women’s involvement in agricultural decision-making increased, fostering empowerment within both family and community contexts. Traditional practices, such as seed saving and organic pest control, were maintained, contributing to the ecological sustainability of the gardens. Crowdfunding was an effective tool for financing home gardens, boosting community engagement and strengthening social bonds. The findings highlight the potential of integrating traditional knowledge with modern funding strategies to create resilient, sustainable agricultural systems in rural Oaxaca.

Building Healthy, Equitable, and Resilient Communities: Lessons Learned From Multisector Community Partnerships Addressing the Social Determinants of Health.

Multisector community partnerships play a pivotal role in public health strategy for understanding and addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and promoting health equity. The work of these partnerships is well aligned with building community resilience. The Year 2 Improving Social Determinants of Health-Getting Further Faster (GFF) retrospective evaluation was designed to gather practice-based evidence that can inform future community-driven partnerships to improve chronic disease outcomes and advance health equity by addressing social determinants of health (SDOH). This paper sought to determine how the efforts of multisector community partnerships could also support community resilience. Guided by CDC's Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health and health equity principles, the GFF evaluation engaged 14 Multisector Community Partnerships to better understand how their SDOH interventions contribute to community changes that improve chronic diseases and advance health equity. Data collection included qualitative discussions along with additional quantitative analyses of SDOH outcomes, costs, and prevention impacts. This paper focuses on insights gathered from qualitative discussions (2 virtual 60-minute discussions with members of each of the 14 Partnerships) around community resilience. Results from qualitative discussions demonstrate how Partnerships' SDOH efforts created parallel opportunities for nurturing community resilience. For example, Partnerships engaged community members in the design and implementation of SDOH interventions in ways that nurtured a sense of belonging and empowerment to shape their community. To further build community resilience, Partnerships mentioned the importance of sustained and flexible funding, help building stronger partnerships, and a shared goal to build resilience and engage community members. Findings indicate that community partnerships working to address SDOH can drive reciprocal improvements in community resilience-contributions that are critical for advancing health equity. Partnerships suggested that health departments may have opportunities to enhance community resilience through their role as funder, facilitator, and convener.

The MINT Program: A Mixed-Method Approach to Identifying Nature-Based Resources to Promote Adolescent Parent Social and Psychological Well-Being.

Adolescent parents are at an increased risk for loneliness and mental health challenges compared to childless peers. Nature-based interventions are shown to promote social connectedness. To identify elements of a nature-based intervention to reduce loneliness and foster nature connection among pregnant and parenting adolescents. Sequential exploratory mixed methods. In 2020 and 2021, we piloted the 8-week MINT program at a school for pregnant and parenting teens. Our qualitative approach (n = 17) included online and in-person group meetings with nature-based educational content, discussion, park excursions, mindfulness activities, journaling and nature photography. Subsequently, we recruited 131 young mothers at a children's hospital for a cross-sectional survey based on qualitative school findings. Qualitative results from the school-based intervention showed a preference for meditative and contemplative activities and for spending time in nature with extended family. Participants typically accessed nature close to home. Our clinic-based teen parent survey illustrated that participants' access to nature were most limited by lack of time (25% of responses), company (18%) and energy (28%). While participants showed a close nature connection (mean NR-6 score = 3.9 (SD = 0.84)), they also showed moderate levels of loneliness (mean UCLA Loneliness score = 4.78 (SD = 1.60)). Walking, hiking and/or running were the most preferred nature activity. These findings provide key details to define nature-based activities to address loneliness and psychological well-being among teen mothers. Nature-based health interventions can address loneliness and nature disconnection by building community resilience, improving provider and patient well-being and motivating environmental stewardship. We identify key features of a nature-based intervention for adolescent mothers. These findings support teen mothers in the US and abroad and may serve as a foundation for using nature-based solutions for vulnerable mothers and for adolescents facing loneliness and mental health challenges. No patient or public contribution.

Chiefs and floods: hybrid governance and co-production of flood risk adaptation in Tamale, Ghana

ABSTRACT Climate change is changing physical and social risks facing people in African cities. Emerging awareness is beginning to stimulate a wide range of adaptive responses. These responses are playing out in a complex institutional and governance context which shape their effectiveness and legitimacy. Employing a hybrid governance approach, we investigate the development of flooding and flood protection in the context of urban development in Tamale, Ghana. We argue that the interplay between traditional and state-based authority shapes the market for land, the regulation of land use and the provision of urban services, including flood protection. Hybrid governance influences the types of knowledge applied to urban problem-solving, the legitimacy of choices made, the human and other resources that can be deployed in building community resilience and the willingness to act in the provision of public goods by communities. We suggest how the existing hybrid governance setting could be strengthened to achieve more effective and legitimate adaptation to dynamic flood risks under climate change in Tamale, with lessons for other West African contexts.

Thriving in the Anthropocene: Building Community Resilience to Combat Climate Change

Thriving in the Anthropocene: Building Community Resilience to Combat Climate Change

Building community resilience to extreme heat: Lessons learned from Spokane, WA community conversations

Abstract Heat is the primary cause of weather-related mortality in the United States. The 2021 Northwest heat dome highlighted this susceptibility. In Washington State, 159 excess deaths were attributed to the 7-day period of unprecedented extreme heat between June 26th and July 2nd. This impact was felt even in some of the more acclimatized parts of the state, like Spokane County, where 19 heat-related deaths were reported. As climate change increases the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme heat events, creating and sustaining heat-resilient communities has become an urgent public health priority. On 6 June 2023, Gonzaga University, in partnership with the University of Washington, hosted the Spokane Extreme Heat Risk Intervention Stakeholder Synthesis Symposium. The goals of the symposium were to debrief from recent heat events, identify extreme heat risk reduction interventions used in the region, and characterize remaining practice-relevant research priorities. The symposium convened 45 stakeholders including representatives from local and state agencies, academia, and community-based and Tribal organizations. Symposium participants engaged in small group discussions using the World Café MethodTM. Notes from each discussion were coded using a content analysis approach. Symposium participants identified strengths, barriers to heat resilience, and solutions to reduce risk throughout the Spokane community. We present these findings by practice topic, including risk communication, intervention, collaboration, policy, and research. Additionally, we utilize the socio-ecological model as a conceptual framework to illustrate the complex interplay of factors that govern an individual’s experience of, and ability to respond to, extreme heat events. Given extreme heat’s impact on global public health, the methods used to increase community resilience in Spokane, WA, USA could be used by other communities worldwide to increase their own heat-resilience.

Study on factors affecting resilience behaviours of residents in coastal rural community management in response to typhoons

Coastal rural areas are highly vulnerable to a variety of climate-related disasters, including severe typhoons, extreme temperatures, and other environmental changes, each significantly damaging their ecosystems, economies, and communities. To more effectively predict, respond to, and recover from adverse events, and to maintain community stability and prosperity in these areas, building community resilience has become a central objective in coastal management. A comprehensive understanding of residents' resilience behaviours is essential for bolstering community resilience. Existing research primarily focuses on the causes and intervention strategies associated with residents' resilience, yet it neglects the mechanisms underlying residents' resilience behaviours. This study focuses on typhoon disasters in coastal rural areas, applying the Rural Coastal Community Resilience framework for the first time to expand typhoon resilience behaviours among coastal rural residents from five dimensions. It utilizes the widely recognized Theory of Planned Behaviour model, incorporating three critical variables essential for resilience building-risk perception, trust in community agencies, and community support-to analyse the mechanisms of resilience behaviours. The findings indicate that perceived behavioural control is the foremost predictor of resilience behaviours during typhoons and contrary to traditional views, trust in community agencies did not impact behavioural intentions positively. Moreover, community support, acting as a moderating factor, significantly facilitated the transformation from intentions to behaviours, highlighting the importance of external support. These innovative findings provide valuable strategies and insights for resilience building in coastal rural areas.

Mapping vulnerability to climate-related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation: A feasibility study

BackgroundLocal authorities have a crucial role in building community resilience to the health effects of a changing climate. Support in achieving local action can be provided through improving available public health intelligence to inform decision making. We aimed to co-develop with a local authority a tool mapping vulnerability to climate related hazards. MethodsWe conducted a feasibility study, exploring through stakeholder engagement local priorities and levers for action in adaptation that could be informed by provision of increased intelligence. This informed co-development of a proof-of-concept tool. ResultsStakeholders reported needs in better understanding the intersection between vulnerability and hazard to facilitate partnership working, decision making, and targeting of interventions. We developed a mapping tool, using nationally available data, overlaying a vulnerability index with hazard (heat and flooding) exposure. ConclusionsMapping tools are feasible methods by which public health intelligence to support climate change adaptation planning can be shared. Barriers to action may result from the complexity of vulnerability, concerns of unintended consequences, and resource constraints. Co-development with local expertise is necessary to ensure that outputs add value to local response. This tool will now be piloted to gather feedback on useability, usefulness, and potential improvements.

How Does Small-Scale Mining Stabilize Rural Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa? The Case of Mozambique

This paper examines the linkages between subsistence farming and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) – low-tech, labor-intensive mineral extraction and processing – in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the case of Mozambique. While the body of literature on this subject is burgeoning, it is comprised mostly of conceptual pieces and country case studies that rely heavily on qualitative data. Focusing on Manica Province, long an epicentre of small-scale gold mining activity in Mozambique, the paper showcases the value of including complementary quantitative data in analyses of ASM-farming linkages in rural sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, quantitative data that provide detail on the demographical composition of communities engaged in both ASM and agriculture, and which shed light on the spending patterns of households involved, could go a long way toward enriching dialogues on this subject, and, in the process, yield more effective (and, indeed, representative) rural development and poverty alleviation strategies in the region. The data gathered in Manica Province provide a more nuanced picture of how the ages and educational levels of household heads, and the sizes of their families, shape views on ASM and agriculture in gold-rich sections of Mozambique. Studies exploring the linkages between ASM and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa that feature both qualitative and quantitative data provide greater clarity on the role each activity could play in tackling some of the region’s broader development challenges, including food insecurity and (building) community resilience.

Climate Resiliency in Action: Building Community Resilience To Reduce Wildfire Smoke Exposure in British Columbia, Canada

Climate Resiliency in Action: Building Community Resilience To Reduce Wildfire Smoke Exposure in British Columbia, Canada

What is the potential of creative practice for building community resilience in flood-prone communities in the UK?

This paper critically explores the potential of creative practices to support community resilience in relation to flooding, coastal erosion and inundation in the UK. We argue that imaginative ways of thinking, communicating, and working are necessarily required to better engage publics and manage the entangled and far-reaching environmental problems that we face today. The social impacts of intractable challenges like flooding present a conundrum that requires novel approaches to their resolution. We start from the position that creative practices could offer us a fresh and powerful way to confront these impasses. However, the relations, dispositions, geographies and political dynamics involved in socially engaged creative processes remain to be more fully explored. In order to begin this process, the paper unpacks the concept of community resilience as a series of intersecting place-based elements rather than as a universal capacity. It then examines the social processes intrinsic to creative practice based on publicly-focused engagements. It outlines how these might address key elements of community resilience in terms of the social processes they perform. The paper argues that this unpacking is a prerequisite for any attempt to think more systematically about how creative practices might facilitate building community resilience in place. It concludes by turning to the notion of community itself and explores how thinking developed through the paper might have informed two located case studies.

Engaging Community Health Workers in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 Public Health Response to Address Health Disparities and Build Community Resilience.

In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) funded community health workers (CHWs) for COVID Response and Resilient Communities (CCR). CCR is a 3-year, $350 million initiative to implement CHW strategies aimed at reducing COVID-19 impacts, building resilience, and improving health equity by addressing health-related social needs. This paper describes the CCR initiative and experiences to date, underscoring CHWs' critical role in CDC's pandemic response. CCR funds 67 recipients to reach communities who are disproportionately affected by long-standing health disparities (hereafter, priority populations). CCR aims to decrease the impact of COVID-19 and increase community resilience to respond to COVID-19 and future public health emergencies. Recipients implement three strategies: train CHWs to support the COVID-19 response, increase the workforce of CHWs to manage the spread of the disease, and improve utilization of community and clinical resources to engage CHWs to help strengthen communities' resilience to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. We funded three additional organizations to provide technical assistance to CCR recipients and collaborate with us on a national evaluation of the program. CCR recipients hired about 950 CHWs and integrated these CHWs into over 1,000 organizations and care teams. At the end of the second program year, CHWs made over 250,000 referrals to social services and over 150,000 referrals to address specific health conditions. CCR demonstrates that CHWs can be quickly mobilized to participate in a public health emergency and reach those most affected by COVID-19.

Lesson Learned from Post-Disaster Psychosocial Support for Children in Palu, Central Sulawesi—Indonesia

In the aftermath of the devastating Palu disaster in September 2018, communities, especially children, suffered deep psychological trauma. At the request of faith leaders, local NGO Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), in partnership with Krida Wacana Christian University (UKRIDA), conducted a psychosocial support training program for volunteers, including Qur’an recitation teachers and Sunday school teachers in Palu. These trained volunteers then initiated a psychosocial support initiative for children in the area. Years later, WVI and UKRIDA conducted a reflective study of the program, collecting data from 40 volunteers through focus group discussions and surveys. The study identified key themes, including the effectiveness of the training, reflections on program implementation, lessons learned, and recommendations for future programs. The study underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder involvement, particularly that of faith-based organizations, in providing psychosocial support in disaster-affected areas. Given the recurring threat of disasters in the region, the study advocates for transparent collaboration among various social stakeholders. To build community resilience, disaster management strategies need to be widely disseminated, and the need for continuous training to strengthen community preparedness is emphasized. In addition, the development of culturally sensitive training modules tailored to the community’s language, age, and religious background is essential. Such a comprehensive commitment will ensure the community’s ability to deal effectively with future disasters. Detailed findings are discussed further in this paper.

Assessing livelihood dependency on forestry products during COVID-19 period

Background: The importance of forest in improving human welfare is recognized worldwide. Both natural and artificial forests provide basic needs such as fuel wood, timber, industrial wood and non-timber products. They also provide employment, income and foreign exchange hence contributing to social and economic development. Equally important are the environmental benefits of forest. But as covid 19 came people lost their job, their movement was restricted as a result an increase dependency on forest products for survival increases in developing countries. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to unearth impacts of covid 19 has on the forest products of people living around zomba plateau forest reserve. The general objective of the study is to assess livelihood dependency on forest product during covid 19 period. Method: Specifically, the study will identify and assess which forest products were frequently accessed during covid 19 and analyze the contribution of forest products on household income during the pandemic period. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used to collect data. The target population for the study consisted of residents of Mtendere village. The sample size was 59. Data were collected using self- administered questionnaire and interviews. Qualitative and quantitative data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and excel package respectively. Result: The results of the study indicate that there was an increase dependency of forest products during covid 19 period and such that the contribution the contribution of forest products to household income dwindles during this period. Conclusion: The study further recommends to build the resilience of forest- dependent communities to future shocks and crises. This can be achieved through the implementation of social safety nets, or savings and credit programs. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on community dependence on forest products and finds changes in forest resource use patterns during the pandemic. It provides new insights into the resilience of forest-dependent communities in the face of global crises. It offers practical recommendations for building community resilience through social safety nets and credit savings programs.

Harnessing Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT) for Building Resilient Communities: A Case Study of the NV Minority Health and Equity Coalition

Developing sustainable research and health equity partnerships is crucial for creating long-term solutions that address systemic disparities and improve community well-being. Coalition building, a fundamental strategy in this process, unites diverse stakeholders to collaborate on shared goals, amplifying collective impact. The importance of such an approach led to the development of the Nevada Minority Health and Equity Coalition (NMHEC). This study aims to achieve two primary objectives: first, to identify and integrate networked resources into the community coalition action theory (CCAT) framework to advance an understanding of community resilience; second, to share NMHEC strategies that incorporate community participation within each CCAT construct. The article outlines a generalizable process for establishing a robust health equity coalition through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach framed by CCAT and Community Resilience Theory (CR) principles. Documenting the narrative, facilitators, and barriers through an analysis of archival documents — including coalition recruitment materials, meeting minutes, and partnership and event evaluations — the study maps activities and resources to CCAT constructs. Findings highlight six foundational areas of NMHEC operations: 1) aligning fiscal agency with the coalition’s mission and vision; 2) implementing tiered membership to ensure participation equity; 3) co-developing operational norms to shape culture and interactions; 4) building capacity based on member feedback to assess available skills and resources; 5) sharing resources such as grant awards and staff time with coalition partners; and 6) seeking external advice from national experts to learn from other partnerships. This application of CCAT, CR, and CBPR illustrates effective strategies for fostering, maintaining, and sustaining partnerships to address health inequities.

Criticality assessment and cascading effects: impacts of COVID-19 disruptions in public transport on marginalized groups in Dortmund, Germany, São Paulo, Brazil, and Cape Town, South Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the interconnectedness of critical infrastructure systems and their profound impact on marginalized communities. This study investigates the cascading effects of reduced mobility and infrastructure disruptions caused by COVID-19 response strategies on marginalized households across three diverse urban settings: Dortmund, São Paulo, and Cape Town. Employing a criticality assessment, we examine disruptions in healthcare, food and nutrition, social work, education, and childcare sectors, highlighting interdependencies and their implications for marginalized communities. Our findings reveal that disruptions in one sector, such as public transportation, can trigger adverse consequences across interconnected systems, amplifying vulnerabilities and exacerbating social inequalities. Furthermore, limited digital accessibility compounds these challenges, particularly for marginalized groups who may lack access to necessary technologies or digital literacy skills. Addressing these disparities in digital access is crucial for ensuring equitable access to essential services and support networks, especially in times of crisis. The study underscores the importance of mobility and accessibility in addressing systemic vulnerabilities and advocates for comprehensive resilience strategies that prioritize the needs of marginalized communities. Recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, and community stakeholders are provided to enhance infrastructure resilience and mitigate the indirect effects of disruptions on marginalized groups. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of cascading effects within critical infrastructure networks and informs future research and policy initiatives aimed at building resilient communities in an interconnected world.

Resilience in the face of ecological challenges: Strategies for integrating environmental considerations into social policy planning in Africa

AbstractAfrica faces severe ecological crises, such as climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss, undermining sustainable development efforts and exacerbating poverty and hunger. Integrating environmental concerns into social policy planning could help build community resilience and support sustainable development. This study employed policy analysis and stakeholder engagement to identify key environmental issues, policy gaps, and strategies for integrating environmental considerations into social policies across various sectors in Africa. The study found a significant lack of integration of environmental concerns into social policy across areas like disaster management, agriculture, urban planning, healthcare access, and infrastructure development policies. As a percentage of respondents, the top environmental issues were flooding (32%), drought/desertification (13%), and food security/agriculture (11%), with farmers (35.4%) and women (21.7%) being the most vulnerable to climate change. Most community stakeholders (87.5%) emphasized the importance of integrating environmental considerations into social policy, with 56.25% rating it a high priority. They underscored the need for more locally driven planning, ecological monitoring, land restoration, diversified livelihoods, and climate change adaptation support through social policies to enhance environmental sustainability. This study's novelty lies in its comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing the complex interplay between environmental challenges and social policy planning in Africa. The findings emphasize the urgent need for policymakers to develop cross‐sectoral national and local policies that use participatory processes to prioritize environmental sustainability, adaptation, community empowerment, and alignment with sustainable development goals while being responsive to continuing environmental uncertainty and change.

A “Notification” on The Use of Social Media as A Means of Community Resilience in Crisis Management

This comparative study explores the role of social media in building community resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on citizens' communication habits. Community resilience, defined as the ability to withstand, adapt, and recover from adverse situations, is crucial, especially in the face of crises like pandemics. Effective strategic communication with the target audience is vital for creating and maintaining community resilience. Strategic communication plays a key role in helping communities prepare, respond, and recover by providing clear information, encouraging cooperation, and fostering adaptable behaviors. In the digital age, where a significant portion of the population lives online, social media platforms serve as essential tools for collecting information, disseminating crisis-related news, mobilizing the audience, and contributing to crisis management efforts. This study, conducted between May 5-10, 2020, with 800 participants from Turkey and 800 from the USA, reveals that individuals in both countries spend a considerable amount of time online, utilizing at least 3-4 social media applications. Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter are identified as popular platforms. Most importantly, both Turkey and the United States demonstrate resilient societies, and there is a significant correlation between community resilience and the use of social media for obtaining information during the Covid-19 crisis. This emphasizes the critical role of crisis communication as a key success factor in building community resilience.

Collaboration with the Disaster Resilient Village Forum in Disaster Emergency Response Simulation in Ngelang Kartoharjo Village Magetan.

The problem faced by the Disaster Resilient Village Forum (Destana) in Ngelang Village, Kartoharjo District, Magetan is the difficulty in realizing community-based disaster preparedness, especially simulations of disaster emergency response. This community service activity is a follow-up to the results of research on priority parameters for realizing disaster preparedness using the Quadrant of Difficulty and Usefulness Preparedness method. The activity aims to improve the capabilities and skills of the Destana Forum in organizing disaster emergency response simulations, as well as building community resilience in facing disaster threats. The activity method is Participatory Action Research, which is applied through training and field practice. Participants were the administrators of the Destana Forum, elements of the Village Development Officer (Babinsa), Bhayangkara elements of Community Security and Order (Bhabinkamtibmas), and the community, with a total of 112 people. Activities were carried out on May 13 to May 17, 2024, in Ngelang Village, Kartoharjo District, Magetan. The results of the activity showed that the participants had succeeded in compiling and providing contingency plan documents, compiling threat scenarios, impact scenarios, and disaster event scenarios, as well as preparing operational rehearsal plans, conducting room rehearsals, and ending with a practical field rehearsal for disaster emergency response simulations. The conclusion from this activity is that strengthening community-based disaster preparedness needs to be realized through collaboration and participatory assistance.