Webinar: Human Trafficking: What the Health Care System Can Do

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. Victims are subjected to force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of commercial sex or forced labor. Victims are children, teenagers, women and men. It is an issue globally and in the United States is increasingly being recognized as a public health problem.

Health care organizations and health care professionals can help victims of human trafficking by being alert to the problem and realizing patients they are treating may be victims. They can partner with public agencies and community organizations to raise awareness of the issue and to identify and help victims. They can also be aware of the “supply side” of human trafficking and avoid products – from electronics to chocolate – produced with slave labor. Finally, they can advocate for public policies that address human trafficking.

This session describes the overall problem of human trafficking and explores how health care organizations can and are addressing issues related to human trafficking in their institutions and communities.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the problem of human trafficking and its scope in our communities.
2. Recognize the signs that patients and others may be victims of human trafficking and learn appropriate actions to take to help victims.
3. Be aware of government and community efforts and resources to combat human trafficking.

Presenters:

• Colleen Scanlon, Senior Vice President, Advocacy, Catholic Health Initiatives
• MC Sullivan, Director, Ethics, Covenant Health Systems
• Roy Ahn, Associate Director, Division of Human Rights, Massachusetts General Hospital

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