Core Competencies for Human Trafficking Response in Health Care and Behavioral Health Systems
These core competencies highlight skill sets for health care professionals to identify, respond to and serve individuals who have experienced or are at risk of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Research has shown individuals experiencing trafficking are likely to seek health care during or around the period of their exploitation. Health care is a critical access point for help, yet health care institutions and providers may not know how to respond. The core competencies were developed over a three-year consultation period with, health care, behavioral health and social service experts as well as survivors, all of whom identified the need for a strategy to improve health systems and providers’ response to human trafficking. These experts represented a broad range of disciplines, including general practice, psychiatry, pediatrics, emergency medicine, child protection, nursing, behavioral health, research, health science and administration.
Client: US Department of Health and Human Services National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center
In Collaboration with International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and HEAL Trafficking