Health Care Providers' Training Needs Related to Human Trafficking: Maximizing the Opportunity to Effectively Screen and Intervene

Human trafficking is a complex and multifaceted problem that takes the form of economic, physical and sexual exploitation of people, both adults and children, who are reduced to simple products for commerce. Human trafficking in the United States also has both a domestic and an international aspect. Health care providers are in a unique position to screen for victims of trafficking and may provide important medical and psychological care for victims while in captivity and thereafter. Trafficked persons are likely to suffer a wide spectrum of health risks that reflect the unique circumstances and experiences in a trafficked victim’s life. Although trafficked victims typically have experienced inadequate medical care, once contact is made by the victim with the health care professionals, the opportunity then exists to identify, treat, and assist such victims. The range of services and supports required to appropriately respond to human trafficking victims once identified is broad and typically goes beyond just what is immediately provided by the health care professional and includes safe housing, legal advice, income support, and, for international victims, immigration status related issues. An informed and responsive community is necessary to serve both the international and domestic victims of human trafficking, and needs assessments demonstrated a number of barriers that hindered the delivery of effective services to human trafficking victims. One of the consistent needs identified to combat these barriers was enhanced training among all professionals who might come in contact with human trafficking victims. We highlight the efforts of the Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition (HRRC), a local grassroots non-profit organization whose mission focuses on raising awareness of human trafficking in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. HRRC responded to the consistent recommendation from various community needs assessments for additional training of front line professionals who would have the opportunity to identify human trafficking victims and supported the design and pilot testing of a health professions training program around human trafficking. Dissemination of this type of training along with careful evaluation and continued refinement will be one way for health care professionals to engage in a positive manner with human trafficking victims.

Federal regulation of human embryonic stem cell research

President George W. Bush's 2001 statement, which laid out guidelines for research that uses human embryonic stem cells to qualify for federal funding, intends to prevent new embryonic stem cell lines from being developed, by prohibiting the federal funding of research that uses embryonic stem cell lines other than those that existed at the time of the policy's inception and were approved by the National Institutes of Health. This policy raises questions of medical and technological ethics and the governments' role in making decisions regarding the advancement of science based on moral and political opinions. Federal stem cell usage policy directly affects scientific research efforts that are currently on the path to understanding the mechanisms of cell differentiation and could potentially offer answers and therapies for disabilities and many chronic diseases. By reviewing the current literature on the background information on human embryonic stem cells, including what they are, where they come from, how they are used for research purposes, and the ethical controversy surrounding their use, I have researched and reported the impact of the 2001 policy on medical research. ^ Both those who support the current policy on human embryonic stem cell research and those who are advocates for policy change have relevant arguments and varying opinions on human embryonic stem cell usage itself. The ethical implication of how embryonic stem cells are obtained has led to fierce debate. This paper presents many arguments for and against hESC research in addition to the policy governing their use. This analysis concludes that the current policy on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research should be revised to allow research using new stem lines to be eligible for federal funding under specific guidelines. Supporting evidence for this recommendation is provided.^

A framework for demonstrating the value of human services

Tanto profesionales como quienes tienen a su cargo diferentes servicios están de acuerdo en que la evaluación es importante. Sin embargo, los orientadores rara vez evalúan su trabajo de manera de hallar una relación causal entre los servicios que los usuarios reciben y los cambios a los que acceden. Se ha desarrollado un marco teórico para evaluar los cambios en los conocimientos, habilidades, actitudes y creencias del usuario y examinar el impacto que dichos cambios han hecho en su vida y en la sociedad en la que se desenvuelve. El marco incluye también un sistema de seguimiento de las intervenciones realizadas y de los recursos necesarios para poder implementar exitosamente estas acciones. Ha sido empleado en diversas situaciones orientadoras, establecimientos educativos y acciones de orientación vocacional, con el objeto de proporcionar evidencia de que el servicio brindado realmente produce un impacto sobre la vida del usuario.

A framework for demonstrating the value of human services

Tanto profesionales como quienes tienen a su cargo diferentes servicios están de acuerdo en que la evaluación es importante. Sin embargo, los orientadores rara vez evalúan su trabajo de manera de hallar una relación causal entre los servicios que los usuarios reciben y los cambios a los que acceden. Se ha desarrollado un marco teórico para evaluar los cambios en los conocimientos, habilidades, actitudes y creencias del usuario y examinar el impacto que dichos cambios han hecho en su vida y en la sociedad en la que se desenvuelve. El marco incluye también un sistema de seguimiento de las intervenciones realizadas y de los recursos necesarios para poder implementar exitosamente estas acciones. Ha sido empleado en diversas situaciones orientadoras, establecimientos educativos y acciones de orientación vocacional, con el objeto de proporcionar evidencia de que el servicio brindado realmente produce un impacto sobre la vida del usuario.

A framework for demonstrating the value of human services

Tanto profesionales como quienes tienen a su cargo diferentes servicios están de acuerdo en que la evaluación es importante. Sin embargo, los orientadores rara vez evalúan su trabajo de manera de hallar una relación causal entre los servicios que los usuarios reciben y los cambios a los que acceden. Se ha desarrollado un marco teórico para evaluar los cambios en los conocimientos, habilidades, actitudes y creencias del usuario y examinar el impacto que dichos cambios han hecho en su vida y en la sociedad en la que se desenvuelve. El marco incluye también un sistema de seguimiento de las intervenciones realizadas y de los recursos necesarios para poder implementar exitosamente estas acciones. Ha sido empleado en diversas situaciones orientadoras, establecimientos educativos y acciones de orientación vocacional, con el objeto de proporcionar evidencia de que el servicio brindado realmente produce un impacto sobre la vida del usuario.

Types of work performed using resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and reconstruction federal highway funds : report to the chairman, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Committee on Public Works and Transportation, U.S. House of Representatives /

"B-212809"--Prelim. p. [1].

The Federal minority business development effort : an approach to increasing the effectiveness of minority business development /

"A policy position report prepared for the Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C."

Characteristics of state plans for aid to the blind /

Mode of access: Internet.

Illegitimacy and its impact on the aid to dependent children program /

Bibliography: pages 61-66.

Library Services and Construction Act long range program.

Description based on: 1991/94; title from cover.

Federal role in child care [microform] : hearing before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, One Hundredth Congress, second session, September 22, 1988.

CIS Microfiche Accession Numbers: CIS 89 S361-25

Caring for people with severe mental disorders : a national plan of research to improve services.

"Printed 1991"--P. [4] of cover.

Action plan to improve access to immunization services : report of the Interagency Committee on Immunization.

"May 1992."

Mental health and aging [microform] : call for federal action : hearing before the Select Committee on Aging, House of Representatives, One Hundredth Congress, second session, March 2, 1988.

"Comm. pub. no. 100-678."

HIV/AIDS work group on health care access issues for Asian and Pacific Islanders, May 9-10, 1994.

Shipping list no.: 96-0070-P.