Tools & Resource Library

This report surveys current scholarly literature on health care and human trafficking to illuminate the critical role that health systems play in anti-trafficking activities. It provides an evidence base from which States and health systems can shape intersectoral policy and their efforts to prevent and respond to trafficking. The health effects of trafficking and the health needs of trafficked people, particularly women, adolescents and children, are well documented and urgent, yet by 2015 there was still little in the way of evidence-informed research that indicated the health consequences of trafficking or the best practices for serving trafficked people.

Co-hosted by HEAL Trafficking and the American Hospital Association, this webinar provides insights on legal aspects and resources available to human trafficking victims.

Dr. Susie Baldwin recounts stories of trafficked people to illustrate the importance of teaching health professionals to recognize the invisible signs of human trafficking and provide trauma-informed care to patients suffering from this hidden crime.

This educational video from HEAL Trafficking highlights the experiences of labor trafficking survivors and their interactions with healthcare professionals. It emphasizes the critical role of these encounters in supporting survivors' journeys toward safety and recovery. The video serves as an essential resource for healthcare, public health, and anti-trafficking organizations, raising awareness and providing valuable insights into labor trafficking. Special thanks to Give Way to Freedom and the Lush Foundation for their generous sponsorship of this project.

Human trafficking is a devastating crime, where a human being’s labor is exploited through force, fraud, or coercion, for someone else’s profit. For survivors, connecting to support in the community can be incredibly difficult, and may come at the expense of their personal safety. The emergency department (ED) is a rare exception, with some studies estimating that over 60% of trafficked persons will present at some point during their exploitation to the ED. Unfortunately, less than 5% of emergency physicians report feeling confident in their ability to identify a trafficked person, citing confusion around patient characteristics and their role as a provider. By learning more about human trafficking, ED providers can better prepare themselves to identify and provide appropriate support to those who experience human trafficking.

This training series by the Office for Victims of Crime provides a foundational understanding of human trafficking through five interactive online modules. It emphasizes trauma-informed and victim-centered approaches, designed to benefit a wide audience including victim service providers, allied professionals, and the general public.