UGA Haiti Expert Available to Discuss Hurricane Matthew’s Aftermath

In the aftermath of the devastation caused in Haiti by Hurricane Matthew, Ed Risler, University of Georgia professor of social work (retired), who studied the trauma of Haitians after the deadly earthquake in 2010, is available to add depth to stories about what the country is now facing.  Expertise: Over 20 years of experience in juvenile justice and working with families and troubled youth. While his research interests include poverty, juvenile justice and international social work, Risler has also served as a consultant for human service organizations in Haiti, Hong Kong and Canada. He is first author of the 2015 paper “Haiti and the Earthquake, Examining the Experience of Psychological Stress and Trauma,” one of one of the few studies exploring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by residents of that nation. Although retired, he continues to visit Haiti and provide consultation services to nonprofit agencies there. More background here. High resolution photo Contact: 706-296-3982, [email protected] Quote: “The big issue facing the people of Haiti at the moment pertains to the lack of infrastructure. The large amount of rain from the hurricane creates mud, and the available drinking water may become contaminated. When that happens, there is potentially a problem with cholera and the development of other diseases. Of course, with the standing water from the rain there will most likely be an increase in the mosquito population.”