Tanya was a young mom and college student when a trafficker began exploiting her. One evening, she presented at an emergency department with symptoms of a severe UTI. Tanya was alone and in excruciating pain. While her physical symptoms were treated, the red flags in Tanya's situation were unfortunately missed. She was not invited into a warm and normalizing conversation that could have offered her the space to explain how she ended up in the hospital. Tanya's story allows us to further appreciate the PEARR Tool and the guidance it offers our health care professionals in interactions with patients who may be experiencing human trafficking or other forms of violence.
 
Tanya's story serves as a reminder of how powerful and transformative each one of our roles is in our collective effort to respond to human trafficking in our communities.

Each year, we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, and we celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. We celebrate to recognize the achievements of champions who have inspired others to achieve great success.

Hispanic Heritage Month originally started with one week of commemoration and soon turned into a month-long celebration. This year, the theme for the heritage month is ‘Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.’ The theme serves as a reminder that together we can all ensure that all voices are represented and welcomed to help build stronger communities and a stronger nation. Click here to learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month.

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