Holly Austin Gibbs (above), who experienced trafficking firsthand, shared her story with session attendees. Austin Gibbs today is human trafficking response program director at Dignity Health.

What would you do if a potential human trafficking (HT) victim presented in your emergency department or clinic? What are your health care organization’s policies and procedures regarding suspected trafficking victims? What resources have you secured and aligned to help combat this growing issue? These and many other questions were discussed during the HASC sponsored program, Human Trafficking: Health Care’s Response to a Growing Issue, held on Thursday, April 26 in Montebello.

Dignity Health’s Human Trafficking Response Program took center stage illuminating factors that led two sex trafficking survivors into “the life” and their experiences navigating through a variety of health care settings. Dignity’s Wendy Barnes opened the day with a harrowing account of her own experience as a survivor of HT. As a member of Dignity’s team Barnes supports efforts to recognize and respond to trafficked persons who present in the health care setting. 

Holly Austin Gibbs, Dignity’s Human Trafficking Response program director, introduced participants to their model of victim-centered and trauma-informed response. Potential victims are guided through the PEARR Tool—key steps to a trauma-informed approach to education and intervention; currently under peer-review. 

P—Provide Privacy
E—Educate
A—Ask
RR—Respect and Respond

First, the necessary patient privacy is secured. Patients are then informed of the limits of confidentiality and embark on an explanation of the educational information that is given to all patients; such as the sharing of pamphlets or resources that may help an individual experiencing abuse, neglect or violence.

Intervention is the focus of the two next steps. If a patient is showing significant risk factors or indicators of victimization. Health care providers should respect the patient’s wishes, even if help is not requested during the visit. If help is desired, providers should respond to the patient’s request by connecting them with a local victim advocate and the proper authorities. Providers should work to build rapport with the patient; and understand that just because a potential victim does not request help at a current visit, does not mean that they will not do so in the future.

It is important that hospitals and providers also begin developing relationships with community resources. The Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST) has put together a roster of human trafficking resources throughout California. They are also available to identify potential HT victims, field calls with their 24-7 hotline and provide emergency response services.

Austin Gibbs led a group discussion through triaging various human trafficking case scenarios and how victims often present in health care settings. Noting, that it is important to provide abuse, neglect or violence victims a quiet room to keep them safe. Health care providers should “look beneath the surface and see people on the other side of their victimization.” HT victims are often trauma bonded to their abuser.  The case scenario segment of the program was followed by a panel discussion of health care HT response teams throughout the state of California.

Our esteemed panel was comprised of Tauny Sexton, RN, senior director of emergency and trauma services, Dignity Health Marian Regional Medical Center, Anne Lemaire, administrator, Providence St. Joseph Health—San Pedro; and Iris Cruet-Rubio, director of trauma recovery center services, Southern California Crossroads.

Panel takeaways:

• Leveraging story sharing
• Debrief after trauma cases
• Onboard employees with human trafficking 101
• Participate in community HT taskforce
• Identify champions, local nuances and priorities
• “Impact the head and the heart”
• Use existing resources
• Listen for keywords, “I have no one but my auntie…uncle…godmother”
• Look for visual cues
• When a potential victim is under age, DCFS is required to come out within two hours

For more information on how your facility can be involved contact Karen Ochoa, HASC Education Manager, Human Resources Services.

Contact:
Karen Ochoa
(213) 538-0765
kochoa@hasc.org