The Role of Occupational Therapy in Human Trafficking
Kimberly Kohl & Kathleen Gorman | September 10 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Room 2582
This presentation seeks to inform participants of the possibilities for successful interventions using occupational therapy frameworks to treat survivors and combat human trafficking.
Objectives:
1) Participants will be able to identify basic principles and philosophy of occupational therapy.
2) Participants will be able to identify specific needs of victims and survivors of human trafficking.
3) Participants will be able to identify potential roles of occupational therapy to treat survivors and combat human trafficking
The profession of occupational therapy has an extensive history of improving the lives of individuals affected by various types of trauma. Occupational therapy practitioners frequently provide client centered care to populations with similar needs as survivors of human trafficking. Occupational therapy research shows effective intervention with musculoskeletal and psychological diagnoses, traumatic brain injury, and domestic violence using occupation based treatment strategies. The domain of occupational therapy involves improving engagement and performance in daily life activities to positively impact health, wellbeing, and personal satisfaction (AOTA, 2014). Occupational therapy can play a unique role in the prevention, advocacy, and treatment of survivors of human trafficking. Occupational therapists can help combat human trafficking by providing individualized trauma specific intervention using occupation based techniques; consultation services to improve organizational outcomes; improve and/or develop programming for survivors; and further develop and investigate trauma specific interventions.