44018 Human Trafficking: The Role of Healthcare Providers

Course overview

Discussion of the human trafficking crisis including descriptions of different forms, the prevalence of human sex trafficking in the U.S., the healthcare-related issues commonly seen among human trafficking victims, how to recognize red flags and general indicators of human sex trafficking, and the role of healthcare providers in reporting and making appropriate referrals for human trafficking victims. Every year, millions of men, women, and children–in the United States and worldwide–are victims of human trafficking, which is a serious crime, public health issue, and violation of human rights. Traffickers often target at-risk populations, luring them with false promises of well-paying jobs, but instead are forced or coerced into prostitution, domestic servitude, farm or factory labor, or other types of forced labor. Sexual exploitation is by far the most commonly identified form of human trafficking (79%) followed by forced labor (18%). The International Labor Organization estimates that worldwide, there are 20.9 million victims of human trafficking, equating to a $150 billion industry. While everyone can play a role in combating human trafficking, healthcare providers are often in a unique and optimal position to help identify trafficking victims when they are receiving care within healthcare systems. However, many nurses and other healthcare providers have not been trained to recognize the red flags and general indicators of human trafficking, causing these victims to go unnoticed. This program provides an introduction to human trafficking for healthcare providers, discussing forms, prevalence, healthcare related issues, assessment tools and techniques, red flags, as well as their role in human trafficking recognition, reporting, and referrals for additional services.