Education and Research with the Health Sector: The CARES Model for Human Trafficking Education
Wendy Goldsmith, MSW; Aura Burditt, BA & Taryn Taylor, MD, PhD | September 18 | 11:15 am-12:15 pm
Topic: Healthcare, Direct Service | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
The London Abused Women’s Centre and Salvation Army Correctional Justice Services in London, Ontario, Canada have partnered with the tertiary care facility, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Canada, to deliver tailored training to medical residents, as well as specialty-specific training to pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, emergency department, and psychiatry. Other providers present include nurses and social workers who may come in to contact with a victim of human trafficking. Research shows that a victim’s first point of supportive contact is often through a health agency. Through CARES (Consortium of Anti Human Trafficking Research and Education), this model demonstrates the importance of using a wraparound approach to leverage the skills, knowledge, and abilities in each respective profession to be able to identify signs of human trafficking and to know how to intervene. The CARE team trains front line workers on how to be aware of the signs of trafficking, how to respond, who to report to, and how to manage vicarious trauma. The team relies on both front-line workers and lived experience experts to inform the process and to ensure the community is knowledgeable of, and responsive to, the growing plague of human trafficking. The call to action of the CARE team is to inform and educate every sector that may come into contact with a victim of human trafficking with the goal of prevention and early intervention. Attendees will understand the benefit of a cross-sectoral collaborative approach to networking, educating, and training about human trafficking for front line workers in medical and other human service industries.
Presentation Objectives:
• Discuss the importance of educating health professionals and other first responders
• Discuss risks and challenges for victims of sex trafficking who seek service, and what front line service providers need to know
• Discuss wraparound service model to meet the needs of victims of sex trafficking