DATA COLLECTION
& DISTRIBUTION
In order to facilitate a comprehensive approach, reliable data is needed to determine how many victims are encountered within the healthcare system, how they are identified, whether the education they are providing to staff is accurate and effective, which responses and services are provided, and which are effective both short term and longitudinally. Data gathering and distribution are critical components to combating human trafficking. Data gathering requires an organizational, institutional approach and collaboration with community organizations to track these occurrences.
Until we have a national centralized database for tracking these occurrences, healthcare institutions must work more cohesively, have insight into who is identified, how often they encounter the healthcare system, where these encounters occur, how their care progresses, what services are effective, and where gaps and failures exist. A comprehensive data tracking system can (a) minimize burdens on healthcare providers and institutions, (b) maintain victim confidentiality, and (c) allow for easy generation of reports on individuals with lived experience, their service acquisition, and individual institutional responses to help facilitate improvement in comprehensive care.