Contact:
Justin Worsley
917.746.8299 * jworsley@napnap.org
First of Three Continuing Education Courses Human Trafficking of Children Launched by
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
NAPNAP Partners for Vulnerable Youth seeks to end labor, sex trafficking of youth with education and awareness
New York, Jan. 31, 2018 – Pediatric healthcare providers in primary and urgent care clinics and hospitals in the U.S. frequently encounter children who are at risk for recruitment by human traffickers. Yet many times nurses, physicians and others providers are unaware of how these red flags differ from other adverse childhood events, such as abuse and neglect. NAPNAP Partners for Vulnerable Youth is launching its child trafficking education and awareness campaign by introducing the first of three continuing education modules for all types of pediatric healthcare providers.
“Up to 87 percent of human trafficking victims have encountered a healthcare professional without being identified,” said NAPNAP Partners Director Jessica Peck, DNP, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC, CNE, CNL. “We’re launching these courses because we want to provide as many resources as possible related to identifying and intervening with victims, especially since the average age of entry for human trafficking is between 12-14.”
The first course, Human Trafficking 101, educates participants about this $32 billion criminal industry and its prevalence in all sectors of U.S. society and nearly all communities. Participants will learn how to recognize the signs of human trafficking in child victims and understand situations and challenges that make kids susceptible to trafficking predators. Human Trafficking 101 is currently available on PedsCESM.
Pediatric healthcare providers receive little to no formal education on human trafficking in their academic programs. The second CE module will dive deeper into the role of the pediatric healthcare provider in identifying and treating human trafficking victims. It will be released in summer 2018. Module three will cover healthcare provider interventions and preventive efforts, and will be released in the fall of 2018. Advanced practice registered nurses and nurses currently receive CE credits. NAPNAP expects approval of its continuing medical education (CME) application in February. Human Trafficking 101 is available on-demand.
“Our Alliance for Care Coordination of Children in Human Trafficking is NAPNAP Partner’s first initiative,” said NAPNAP President Tresa Zielinski, DNP, RN, APN-NP, CPNP-PC. “The Alliance is a multi-year, multi-disciplinary effort focused on ending human trafficking of youth, improving prevention efforts and reacting to the dramatic shift of recruitment tactics in the U.S.”
For more information, visit napnappartners.org.
About NAPNAP Partners for Vulnerable Youth:
NAPNAP Partners for Vulnerable Youth is dedicated to the health and well-being of all children but especially the most vulnerable children in the U.S. Its partners include pediatric nurse practitioners, fellow pediatric-focused advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and nurses, pediatricians, child health and wellness specialists, generous philanthropists, foundations and organizations, dedicated caregivers and other stakeholders. NAPNAP Partners feels a special responsibility to lead a broad array of colleagues and partners in developing and delivering focused initiatives to improve the lives of the most vulnerable infants, children, adolescents and young adults in the U.S. The needs of these children are as different as their unique challenges. NAPNAP Partners is a 501(c)(3) organization, and was founded by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP). NAPNAPpartners.org * (917) 746-8305 * info@napnappartners.org. 5 Hanover Square, Ste. 1401, New York, NY 10004
About the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners:
The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) is the nation’s only professional association for pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) and their fellow pediatric-focused advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who are dedicated to improving the quality of health care for infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Representing more than 8,800 healthcare practitioners with 20 special interest groups and 50 chapters, NAPNAP has been advocating for children’s health since 1973 and was the first NP society in the U.S. Our mission is to empower pediatric-focused PNPs and their interprofessional partners to enhance child and family health through leadership, advocacy, professional practice, education and research. NAPNAP.org