Meridian Health has an extraordinary potential to combat human trafficking in our communities and to be a leader and example in health care to other agencies nationwide.
Though their situations are complex, victims of human trafficking show identifiable “signs and symptoms” of their plight in much the same way a patient with an MI presents with chest pain. Still, health care providers are not catching the signs. A 2005 study based out of San Francisco found that 28% of the trafficking survivors surveyed came into contact with a health care provider while they were enslaved*. Unfortunately, none of the health care providers recognized that they were victims of human trafficking. If the trend is similar in New Jersey, nurses and other health care providers could have the opportunity to help almost one third of trafficking victims get started on the road toward restoration! That is an incredible, untapped potential, and the key lies in equipping and empowering New Jersey’s health care providers –especially nurses, who spend the most time with patients.
Nurses, "sign" your name to urge Meridian to take the lead in New Jersey in equipping and empowering their nurses.

* refers to: Family Violence Prevention Fund. Turning pain into power: trafficking survivors' perspectives on early intervention strategies. San Francisco; 2005 Oct.