The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health will hold the “Not For Sale: Human Sex Trafficking Symposium” for its fifth consecutive year. The event is scheduled for October 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry Hodge School of Pharmacy.
Collaboration to Educate Healthcare Providers
The Institute is collaborating with the TTUHSC School of Medicine and the Northwest Texas Healthcare System Behavioral Health to educate healthcare providers about identifying human sex trafficking cases in clinical settings.
Angela Knapp Eggers, senior director of the Laura W. Bush Institute, explained that many victims of human sex trafficking end up in healthcare settings, including clinics, dental offices, and psychiatric care facilities. Unfortunately, healthcare providers often do not know how to respond.
“There were many instances where human sex trafficking victims were showing up in healthcare clinics, and we had providers who didn’t know what to do,” Eggers said. “They might not recognize the signs or understand what resources to offer. We felt it was crucial to train our healthcare providers.”
Expert Speakers and Live Simulations
The symposium will feature several guest speakers, including keynote speaker Julie St. John, an associate professor at TTUHSC.
“Julie is highly knowledgeable about human sex trafficking and brings vital information to our healthcare providers,” Eggers stated. “One exciting aspect of the symposium is that we will conduct a live simulation. We will create a clinic environment and demonstrate how to handle situations that may arise.”
Eggers emphasized that trafficking victims still require medical attention for various issues, including injuries, unplanned pregnancies, or diseases.
“They may need dental care or psychiatric support,” she noted. “They come to clinics for care, and they just need someone who understands how to help them.”
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