Human trafficking prevention through interdisciplinary faculty education

Human Trafficking is a complex public health crisis. Interdisciplinary healthcare education that increases awareness of human trafficking is required to combat modern day slavery. Faculty need assessment and a review of a college-wide curricula determined that human trafficking was absent from every course and was a need. This presentation will illustrate how an innovative victim-centered, human trafficking, education program motivated faculty from multiple healthcare professions to address this public health crisis by integrating human trafficking into their existing curricula. The presenters developed human trafficking curriculum grounded in adult learning theory and the transtheoretical model of change (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983). Experts on human trafficking from medicine, law enforcement, victims support agencies, and farmworkers' advocates presented four training modules. These included: human trafficking overview, victims' healthcare needs, developmental and cultural factors in the screening of victims, and instructional strategies for faculty. Modules post-test scores showed a measurable increase in facultys' awareness of human trafficking. Outcome surveys revealed that 100% of the participants were willing to change their existing curriculum by including human trafficking. Qualitative data corroborated the findings that faculty gained knowledge of human trafficking and learned new skills to identify victims of human trafficking. In order for healthcare professionals to help victims of human trafficking appropriate training is needed. Current and future healthcare professionals knowledgeable in the signs and symptoms of human trafficking can reduce the criminalization of victims and refer victims to appropriate health and social services. This educational program was designed specifically to address that healthcare training need.