Funded Projects

Healthcare Career Exploration for Trafficking Survivors

Project Year

2026

City & State

Dallas, Texas

Program Name

Resident

Topic

Adolescent Health

Program Description

Problem:  According to a 2022 UN report, 27.6 million people worldwide are affected by human trafficking (7). In the United States, 1 in 7 children reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children became victims of sexual trafficking (1). Risk factors for trafficking include homelessness, involvement with the juvenile justice system, substance use, and prior mistreatment (3). Given this complicated intersection of factors, youth who experience trafficking often have limited opportunities when it comes to accessing education and jobs.   Primary setting:  This project will take place in the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) area. In 2024, Texas ranked second in the nation for highest number of human trafficking cases (11). Additionally, 35% of commercial sexual exploitation cases in Texas originate in DFW, even though the area houses only 26% of Texas’s total population (6).  We plan to host our events at a space owned by Nomi Network, a local organization, with potential field trips to local hospitals. Nomi Network is a non-profit whose mission is to end human trafficking by creating pathways to safe employment that empower women and girls to break cycles of exploitation in their families and communities.   Number of children affected:  Each year, over 100,000 children in the United States are victims of trafficking.10 In Texas alone, close to 1,000 trafficking cases were identified in 2020, but this number is likely much higher given that many cases go undetected and unreported (5) In 2023, there were 7,323 confirmed allegations of sexual abuse in Texas, with 489 confirmed victims of child sexual abuse in Dallas County alone (2)   Project goal:  This project aims to provide adolescents and young adults (age 13-18) affected by human trafficking with exposure to different careers in healthcare, in collaboration with Nomi Network. Nomi Network has offered workforce experiences in other sectors, but it has not yet developed a healthcare sector-specific pathway. This grant would support the first steps in building that pathway by providing targeted exposure to healthcare careers.   Proposed intervention :  We specifically aim to partner with Nomi Network to provide 30-100 vulnerable youth with exposure to healthcare careers through workshops that introduce various healthcare careers through hands-on learning activities. Events will vary based on volunteers available. At these events, each volunteer healthcare worker will have a station where they conduct an age-appropriate and engaging activity, as well as provide a fact sheet or group discussion about their career journey and first steps for how to enter their field. We also plan to host virtual panels to make our program more accessible to youth who are unable to attend the workshops due to social barriers.     Anticipated outcomes:  We anticipate that participants will leave these events excited and empowered to explore careers in healthcare and educated on how to take initial steps to achieve those goals. We hope that this improves their futures by providing them with new opportunities for both career fulfillment and financial stability.

Project Goal

This project aims to provide exposure to different careers in healthcare to children affected by human trafficking. In doing so, we hope that this will lead to economic and educational opportunities for these children and young adults which may not have otherwise been accessible. 

Project Objective 1

By June 2027, at least 70% of participants (disadvantaged children 13-18 affected by trafficking who are involved with Nomi Network and attend the workshops) will demonstrate a >/= 30% increase in knowledge of diverse healthcare options, as measure by improvement in pre and post program career awareness surveys (covering at least 10 healthcare professions). 

Project Objective 2

By June 2027, at least 70% of participants (disadvantaged children 13-18 affected by trafficking who are involved with Nomi Network and attend the workshops) will be able to identify at least three concrete steps required to pursue one self-selected healthcare career, as assessed through a post-session knowledge survey.  

Project Objective 3

By June 2027, at least 70% of participants (disadvantaged children 13-18 affected by trafficking who are involved with Nomi Network and attend the workshops) will have improved confidence in at least two age-appropriate healthcare-related skills, as assessed through survey data. 

AAP District

District VII

Institutional Name

Children's Medical Center Dallas

Contact 1

Cameron Wynn, MD

Contact 2

Adiva Sahar, MD

Contact 3

Anna Henricks