In Gainesville, Florida, Katelyn Watts’ graduate student project has already made a significant impact. In just three months, her project managed to rescue multiple victims of human trafficking and has even been incorporated into a hospital system’s screening process.
According to Watts, the issue of human trafficking is not something that only happens far away, but it is actually occurring right in our own communities. The heartbreaking reality is that children are increasingly becoming victims of this heinous crime, and what makes it even more disturbing is that often the perpetrators are their own family members.
During the late spring project period, nurses were able to identify five victims, including children. As a result, three suspected traffickers were apprehended by the police in North Florida.
Watts, a recent graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Florida College of Nursing, shared that her project was inspired by her supervisor at Baptist Health who attended a conference focused on human trafficking.
Healthcare workers utilize the template to assess hospital patients effectively. By inputting information into the system, they can easily identify any potential victims through the flagged alerts.
“Observation plays a crucial role in identifying potential victims of trafficking,” explained Watts. “It’s important to pay attention to their behavior, personal hygiene, tattoos, and whether they have a cell phone. These details can provide valuable clues. That’s why education is key. We dedicate a significant portion of our training to teaching individuals how to interact with suspected traffickers. We use scripts and practice various steps to ensure they are prepared to handle escalating situations.”
Watts has the hope that this project will contribute to combating the escalating issue that affects tens of thousands of children and adults each year in the United States.