Children's Hospitals Today - Summer 2022 - 27

5 MINUTES WITH... / VITALS
An anti-trafficking expert
Here's how children's hospitals are positioned to identify kids
at risk of or experiencing trafficking and exploitation.
BY KELLY CHURCH
G
SAFETY ALERT
RESOURCE FOR
IDENTIFYING VICTIMS
OF TRAFFICKING
Jordan Greenbaum,
M.D., partnered with
the Child Health Patient
Safety Organization
(PSO) to develop a
Patient Safety Action
Alert to help children's
hospital teams
identify victims of
child trafficking and
exploitation in a health
care setting. The alert
also includes national
resources, training
opportunities for staff
and tips for developing
an organizational policy
for trafficking protocols.
lobal
estimates suggest
4.5 million
children were involved in forced labor
in 2016, and approximately 1 million kids
experienced commercial sexual exploitation,
according to Jordan Greenbaum, M.D.,
medical director at the International Centre
for Missing and Exploited Children. She says
health care professionals have an important
role to play in recognizing children who are
at risk for being trafficked. She shares insight
into how children's hospitals can help.
Why are children's hospitals an ideal place
to identify children at risk of and experiencing
exploitation?
There is evidence that children who experience
trafficking seek care before, during or
after their period of exploitation. They may
be treated in hospital emergency departments,
or in outpatient or inpatient units,
including the intensive care unit, behavioral
health units, or at teen clinics. The reason for
accessing care may or may not be related to
the trafficking experience itself, such as a
sexually transmitted infection, work-related
injury or suicidal ideation. On the other
hand, it may be related to exacerbation of a
chronic disease, such as asthma or diabetes.
Read the patient safety alert
at childrenshospitals.org/
traffickingalert.
What are signs children's hospital staff
should look out for?
There are several nonspecific circumstances
that may serve as red flags of possible child
trafficking. The person accompanying the
child may appear domineering-not allowing
the child to answer questions, being
reluctant to leave the child alone or resisting
use of a professional interpreter. The child
may appear intimidated, afraid, depressed
or anxious. The chief complaint may serve
as a potential red flag if it involves a condition
commonly associated with human
trafficking, such as post-traumatic stress
disorder or teen pregnancy. Red flags may
be noted during an exam, such as signs of
substance use or injuries suggesting trauma.
Jordan Greenbaum, M.D., has spent years
medically evaluating exploited children.
What should providers do if they suspect a
patient may be a victim?
Using a nonjudgmental approach, ask openended
questions to assess the child's safety
and risk for exploitation. The goal is not to
elicit a disclosure of trafficking, but to assess
the level of risk and the need for resources.
Mandatory reporting laws require the professional
to report when
there is a " reasonable
concern " for human
trafficking; the provider
does not need to be certain
a crime occurred. In
addition to assessing risks and vulnerabilities,
providers should offer resources, and
ensure the child understands if they choose
to decline services, they may return for help
in the future.
Read the full interview
with Greenbaum at
childrenshospitals.org/
trafficking.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS TODAY Summer 2022
27
http://childrenshospitals.org/traffickingalert http://childrenshospitals.org/traffickingalert http://childrenshospitals.org/trafficking http://childrenshospitals.org/trafficking
Children's Hospitals Today - Summer 2022

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