Pilot Project: Utilization of Pediatric Health Care Facilities by Trafficked Youth in Philadelphia

An Exploration of the Utilization of Pediatric Health Care Facilities by Trafficked Youth in Philadelphia
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Carmelle Tsai, MD
CO-INVESTIGATOR: Cynthia Mollen, MD, MSCE
 

Health care services provided to minors who are being exploited by traffickers in Philadelphia is the focus of this work. While survey data has shown that a majority of trafficked victims are able to access medical care during their exploitation, this survey data has primarily come from adults; fewer studies focus on minors exclusively. This one will. Little is known about the interaction of trafficked minors with the health care system during their period of exploitation. Two goals of this work are to understand which pediatric health care settings are seeing minors during their period of exploitation, and to explore how pediatric health care providers can safetly and sensitively assist in identifying and intervening on behalf of trafficked minors.