A systematic review of the international disaster case management literature in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Among the many influences Hurricane Katrina had on emergency management, the influence on disaster case management processes, practices, and policies was significant. The recovery challenges imposed by the event prompted a number of reform activities related to disaster case management in the USA. While these reforms led to notable improvements, the problems of weak capacity and poor integration continue to hinder effective program development. These lingering problems have shifted attention to the international domain as means to not only understand how Hurricane Katrina has impacted disaster case management on a global level but also identify lessons learned from international disaster events. As such, a systematic review of the international literature on disaster social work and case management was conducted. These results shed light on the roles and processes of social work, the use of psychosocial interventions, and the barriers to service delivery in the international disaster context.