Healthcare Subcommittee
Pillar 1: Education and Training
P1 Education & Training | P2 Policy & Protocol | P3 Screening & Implementation | P4 Referral & Response
Public Health Statements from Healthcare Providers
American Academy of Nursing
"The Academy supports the importance of nurses as frontline health providers in assessing and treating human trafficking victims. Human trafficking is a public health crisis that will need more forensically trained nurses to help identify and treat victims. The Academy supports the inclusion of forensically trained nurses and nursing workforce development with expertise on human trafficking on task forces and committees that may influence health policy related to human trafficking and advocate for justice for its victims."
American Academy of Nursing. Policy Brief on the Nursing Response to Human Trafficking.
American Psychiatric Association
"The American Psychiatric Association recognizes that human trafficking is a public health issue with profound mental health consequences impacting individuals of all ages and genders both domestically and internationally. Human trafficking is an issue with legal, social, economic, and educational impacts."
American Psychiatric Association. Position Statement on Human Trafficking.
American Nurses Association
"Human Trafficking: To help solve the public health crisis of human trafficking, ANA believes that nurses must have increased education on the use of effective patient screening tools; advocate for human trafficking protocols in all 50 states and U.S. territories; promote Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) education; provide trauma-informed care for victims and survivors; support awareness and preventions campaigns."
American Nurses Association. American Nurses Association Takes Action on Critical Public Health Issues.
American Medical Association
"The American Medical Association encourages the education of physicians about human trafficking, including how to identify and report cases of human trafficking to appropriate authorities, and how to address the victim's medical, legal and social needs. AMA policy adopted at the 2019 AMA Annual Meeting acknowledges the unique and critical role physicians have in preventing human trafficking."
American Medical Association. Preventing Human Trafficking: Resources for Physicians.
About the Education and Training Pillar
Knowledge through Education and Training is an instrumental first step in eliminating human exploitation and trafficking. Recognizing risk identifiers and engaging in trusted, trauma-informed conversations with those who are being exploited rely on professionals receiving accurate, comprehensive, ongoing, and updated education and training that include trauma-informed care, risky behaviors, dating and intimate partner violence, and sex and labor trafficking.
Without accurate education and training, persons being exploited, or at significant risk, will remain unidentified and without possible supportive intervention by their medical providers, and the exploitation and violence may very well continue. We aim to recommend education and training for healthcare professionals and institutions that are up to date and accessible to multiple disciplines, and can be utilized to assist in creating a comprehensive approach to eliminating violence and exploitation.
