Alexandria, VA. (March 5, 2020)– Newly published research by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) and global colleagues identifies multiple ways that health care providers and organizations can improve the quality of care provided to trafficked children.
Jordan Greenbaum, MD, Medical Director of ICMEC, has co-edited a special issue of Child Abuse & Neglect, a journal published by the International Society on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. The special issue focuses on the health needs of, and service provision for trafficked and exploited children. In addition to research studies, it features a number of innovative programs around the globe that use a holistic approach to address the medical and mental health needs of this population. The goal is to facilitate scientific research and discussion of child trafficking and health.
Dr. Greenbaum also co-authored one of the articles featured in the issue, Systematic review of the barriers to, facilitators of, and recommendations for improving health services to trafficked and exploited children. The review identifies 45 facilitators and 118 barriers to high-quality health care to this population, the vast majority of which fall under the locus of control of the healthcare provider and healthcare organizations. Prominent among the barriers are lack of health professional training on human trafficking and trauma-informed care, lack of health facility protocols and guidelines on human trafficking, and lack of multidisciplinary collaboration between health providers and community service providers.
The review also identifies 52 recommendations for medical and mental health service provision to trafficked children. These recommendations provide a road map of actionable steps that can be taken at multiple levels, from individual providers to large-scale social and structural changes, to improve care.
Greenbaum’s co-authors include Karen Albright, PhD, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Sherry A. Edwards from Emory University School of Law, and Carmelle Tsai, MD, from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Drs. Greenbaum and Albright have also developed an assessment tool for healthcare professionals and administrators to assist with the process of identifying gaps in care for trafficked persons. The tool is part of a comprehensive toolkit designed to improve health services, and is currently being piloted in two countries through the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (www.icmec.org).
The special issue can be accessed and free to download at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/child-abuse-and-neglect/vol/100/suppl/C.
About the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC)
The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) (www.icmec.org) is making the world safer for children by eradicating child abduction, sexual abuse, and exploitation. We advocate, innovate, train and collaborate for every child so that no child stands alone.