It’s imperative that healthcare and law enforcement professionals understand the ACE concept and how it’s interconnected with human trafficking. Because they are in an array of locations and circumstances where they encounter victims on a regular basis, they are in perfect positions to help victims and to also help prevent traffickers from continuing to get away with this heinous crime.
I’m retired from clerk positions I held for 27 years. Before that, I was sex trafficked for 18 years from the age of 15 to 33. I can clearly see what was missing when I encountered healthcare and law enforcement as a victim. There were many missed opportunities where they could have intervened on my behalf.
This is why I created 2 unique online training programs for (1) healthcare and (2) first responders and safety officers. These programs play a critical role in preparing our country’s medical and law enforcement communities to help victims break out of this abuse cycle.
The ACE study clearly states that consistent relational health builds resilience in children and victims. From my own experience as a child abuse and human trafficking victim, I also know healthy relationships empowers them to at least tell someone if they ARE assaulted, recruited or coerced by predators/traffickers. Healthcare and Law Enforcement are on the frontlines in fighting human trafficking and caring for victims. They too need to be trauma-informed and ACE aware to be part of victims’ and children’s’ healthy support system.
When these professionals understand how victims fall prey to HT and how the ongoing trauma affects those victims they become enthused to be part of the solution and are better equipped to avoid re-traumatizing them. Without this training, these professionals will continue to fail victims and traffickers will continue to get away with their heinous crimes.
My programs are comprised of 20 lessons each. In both programs, there is one lesson on the ACEs study. Each lesson contains:
- A compelling HT victim story that keeps participants engaged and builds compassion.
- A lesson based on research from their field (healthcare or law enforcement)
- One-two action points they can use on the job that day.
- A pocket guide that shows step-by-step how to engage with victims, what questions to ask and how to ask them.
- A built-in discussion forum, (kind of like FB), where colleagues can interact with each other about what they are learning (this is optional for participants but valuable for building teamwork around HT).
- A certificate of completion is issued upon completion
Got 3 minutes? Click hereto view three different 3-minute sample lessons of the healthcare program. Click hereto view three 3-minute sample video lesson of the first responders and safety officers program. See attached 10 Top Reasons of “Why Our Program?”More information is available on my website: www.humantraffickingelearning.com
Did you know human trafficking has finally been declared a public health issue? Did you also know that on June 11, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added new data collection fieldson human trafficking for the federal fiscal year 2019? Also, the State of Michigan mandated all healthcare professionals take human trafficking training to get their licenses renewed. I’m a governor-appointed member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board (MHTHAB) and this year our board is trying to push the awareness of the ACEs study. In Michigan, it’s mandated that all healthcare workers take human trafficking training to get their licenses renewed.
In order to change how victims are being treated, we need to change hearts and attitudes towards them. This is exactly what my program does. It teaches empathy.
Three great features of my program, (that made me fall in love with it) are:
- No one has to take time off the job to take our training. They watch a 3-minute video lesson once a day, for 20 days. Getting information in bits and pieces helps retain the information being given.
- They can take it in the privacy of their own home, office or even patrol car. It beats sitting for hours in training that makes them feel uncomfortable.
- The program has a built-in discussion forum where colleagues can interact with each other about what they are learning. It builds teamwork.
Let’s face it, HT is a dark subject and learning about it and/or hearing the dark stories can evoke personal emotions in the learners which can really cause people to continue to look the other way. Many healthcare and law enforcement professionals tell me they are not social workers and that learning about human trafficking, ongoing trauma, and the ACEs is just another added responsibility they really don’t want to take on. But after taking my training I hear them ask more questions. They become enthused to help victims, they’re empowered and better equipped to recognize and help them. I know my program will play a critical role critical role in preparing our country’s medical community and law enforcement to help victims break out of this abuse cycle.
Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI)offers CEs and CMEs nationally to healthcare professionals. The cost for participants to take the healthcare training depends on the discipline. MPHI,my co-author Patti Hathaway and myself,were able to keep the pricing low enough to actually make it cheaper than free programs (because taking staff off the job can be very costly and stressful for staff).
MPHI offers CEs for 7 healthcare disciplines including 1.0 CME and 1.50 CNE. They offer CEs for Law Enforcement but only in Michigan but are willing to apply in other states if a large enough group wants to take it. All the research sources and paperwork is ready – we merely need to apply. However,anyone in the nation can take the First Responder & Safety Officer for $20.00 per participant. All participants get a certificate of completion at the end of the training and they can self-report for their CE. For each program, there may be discount opportunities available if a whole department takes the training together. We encourage all staff, departments, and agencies take the training together to take advantage of the discussion forum. For more information, you can contact Sherri Hines at MPHI Phone: (800) 339-0973 or click on "contact us" at the bottom of the screen.
Both programs meet Michigan HT training requirements. It covers trafficking of adults, minors, male, female, LBGTQ community, in both sex and labor trafficking. Again, one lesson is devoted to the ACEs.
I'm confident you will appreciate the experience.
See attached for a full description of both programs.
Numerous free articles and resources on FB page: Ruth Rondon on Human Trafficking
Amazon: Book and Kindle - The Realities of Human Trafficking: From the Inside Out to Freedom
How Understanding the ACEs Helped a Human Trafficking Survivor "Reach the Other Side"
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