Human trafficking is a rapidly increasing public health and safety issue in the United States. It is the fastest-rising commerce in the world, with over 200,000 minors at risk in the United States.
People are forced into labor or sexual exploitation with deception and intimidation. It is reported that up to 80% of victims are seen by a healthcare provider while captive. Often, victims will not identify themselves as such due to the fear of being further abused by their captors.
Dental care providers are perfectly positioned to identify the signs and report suspected human trafficking. By educating dental clinicians, victims of trafficking may be more likely to be rescued and receive the appropriate resources for recovery. This course will define types of trafficking, differentiate between sex trafficking and sex work, identify at-risk populations, describe how to identify and report trafficked patients, and discuss trauma-informed care.
This course is approved by the Texas Health and Human Services.
By attending this webinar you will learn how to:
- Analyze the definition of human trafficking, populations at risk, recruitment techniques, and the various types of trafficking.
- Differentiate between sex trafficking and sex work, as well as trafficking and smuggling, using key legal and contextual distinctions.
- Evaluate clinical indicators and screening methods to detect potential trafficking situations, and determine when mandatory reporting is required.
- Apply appropriate reporting procedures for suspected trafficking cases in accordance with legal and institutional guidelines.
- Apply and integrate principles of Trauma-Informed Care into interactions with individuals who may have experienced trafficking.
- Assess and prioritize local and national resources to support and refer individuals affected by trafficking.
