Second Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Month Panel Discussion

The Human Trafficking Research Lab together with Set Free Macon County hosted our second annual panel discussion for Human Trafficking Awareness Month at Millikin University. This year we discussed the intersections of human trafficking and healthcare because research has found that 88% of trafficking victims have used health care in one way or another during their trafficking situation. We believe that this demonstrates that health care professionals are on the front lines of identifying potential victims at different health care facilities.

We had four excellent panelists:

Sara Sefried, Director of Human Trafficking Services at the Center for Prevention of Abuse

Junette Kennedy, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and Human Trafficking Coordinator at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital

Kimberly Palermo, Health Policy Specialist at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Sue Eversole, Advanced Practice Nurse at Decatur Memorial Hospital Shelbyville Medical Center.

A number of our local organizations and community partners including include The Set Free Movement - Macon County, Growing Strong Sexual Assault Center, Dove, Inc. and the Human Trafficking Research Lab at Millikin hosted information tables at the panel discussion where attendees can learn more about what they do to combat human trafficking in our area and provide assistance to victims.

The event was well attended despite freezing cold temperature and WAND even aired a news story about the event available here.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests

HTRL Tote Bags

Human Trafficking Awareness Month Panel Discussion on Education