HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT

Course overview

Human trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing crime in the world. Nearly all victims of human trafficking will require some level of healthcare. They will often be escorted under duress to healthcare facilities. Given this reality, there exists a window of opportunity for healthcare professionals to intercede to aid these victims. Providers need to be able to identify the indicators of possible human trafficking, but they are often so very subtle and innocuous that they are casually dismissed and escape notice, causing victims to be hiding in plain sight. In addition to identifying victims, providers need to be able to appropriately intercede and provide aid without creating unintended consequences. After completing this course, providers/members of the healthcare team should be able to: describe what the problem and scope of human trafficking is globally and in the United States; distinguish what human trafficking is and what it is not; identify the indicators of possible human trafficking; and evaluate approaches and resources to intercede and provide aid for victims of human trafficking.