Human Trafficking Awareness

Course Summary

Please Note: This course is an elective course, and does not meet the recent 1-hour human trafficking course requirement at this time. To see our Board-Approved 1-hour human trafficking course, click here.

We all know human trafficking is a problem in Florida. Just this year, after a nine-month investigation, over 100 people were arrested for their involvement in a possible human trafficking ring occurring within several licensed massage establishments in Florida. Often, human trafficking is hidden (or not so hidden) in licensed and unlicensed massage establishments.

Detectives in the above case said “It was clear that multiple women were working and living inside the spas. They were cooking on the back steps of the business. They were sleeping in the massage parlor on the massage tables.”

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. Most victims have temporary work visas and are indebted to the brokers who helped them get to the United States with the promise of jobs that do not exist. Once they are here, they are then trapped and coerced into sexual servitude. Their passports may be taken, they often have a language barrier, and do know where to turn for help.

Human trafficking is a difficult subject. However, massage professionals are in a unique position to spot human trafficking, report it, and help victims. This course will help massage therapists do just that: recognize and report human trafficking.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to do the following:

1. Define human trafficking, sex trafficking, and labor trafficking
2. Differentiate between human smuggling and human trafficking
3. List four myths and misconceptions about human trafficking
4. List five indicators or warning signs of human trafficking
5. List two places to report suspected cases of human trafficking
6. List two resources to help human trafficking victims