TODAY: Human Trafficking Identification Training for Health Professionals

The Dignity Health Foundation and Dignity Health have worked collaboratively to develop early identification protocols for victims of human trafficking. Over the last year, nationally known human trafficking advocate and survivor, Holly Gibbs joined Dignity Health to assist with this vital effort (learn more about Holly's personal story in the video below).

Upward of 88% of all human trafficking victims have some sort of health care encounter during the time they are being trafficked. 

Today, Holly Gibbs and Noriann Readdy are facilitating the Dignity Health Foundation's first training in a series for other health systems and professionals funded partly through a generous grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. 

Our involvement in this effort to educate other health systems and professionals is core to our mission: to partner with others in the community to improve the quality of life for all - to serve and advocate for the poor and undeserved - and to deliver compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care. Human trafficking affects us all and we have a responsibility to do our part to identify, intervene, and prevent such atrocities from happening in our communities and across the globe. Explore some myths/truths that Holly and Noriann will cover in today's session: 

MYTH: Human trafficking only happens overseas. 
TRUTH: Every country is affected by human trafficking, including the United States. In California alone, 979 cases in 2015 (781 were sex trafficking; 108 were labor trafficking; 56 weren't classified; 34 were classified as both). 

MYTH: Only foreign nationals are trafficked in the United States.
TRUTH: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are also at risk of victimization within the United States. In 2015 (5,500+ cases of human trafficking were reported to the NHTRC; At least 1,660 involved U.S. citizen/LPR victims.) 

MYTH: Human trafficking and human smuggling are the same crime.
TRUTH: Human trafficking is NOT the same crime as human smuggling (human trafficking is a violation of someone’s human rights. human smuggling is a violation of a country’s immigration laws.) 

MYTH: Victims will self-report and seek help.
TRUTH: Victims may not self-report for many reasons (self-blame; lack of knowing rights/options; fear of authorities; fear of threats/retaliation by the trafficker(s); trauma-bonding/Stockholm syndrome) 

MYTH: All sex traffickers are stereotypical pimps.
TRUTH: Anyone can be a trafficker (e.g. family members, friends, neighbors, gangs).

MYTH: Human trafficking refers only to sex trafficking.
TRUTH: Labor trafficking often does not get as much coverage in the media (victims may be lured to USA; victims may be charged a fee; victims may work 12+hours/day; victims may sleep in workplace; victims may not be in control of passports/documents; victims may not know their rights). 

 The myths/truths referenced above were compiled by Holly Gibbs and Noriann Readdy from national statistics and research. Today's training for health professionals is just the start of the Dignity Health Foundation's effort to help educate the entire health community about our role in early identification. If you or others wish to attend future trainings, please contact Lisa Peckler with the foundation at (415) 438-5527.  To support our efforts anti-human trafficking efforts, donate today.