The University of Florida College of Nursing is the first nursing college in the nation to partner with the Nurses United Against Human Trafficking, or NUAHT, organization to offer a specialized certificate in anti-human trafficking. This groundbreaking initiative represents a major step forward in equipping health care professionals in clinical settings with the tools and knowledge necessary to recognize, respond to and help prevent human trafficking.

Human trafficking remains one of the most pressing public health and human rights issues of our time, affecting an estimated 27.6 million people worldwide, according to the U.S. Department of State.

“Nurses are uniquely positioned on the frontlines of patient care, often encountering victims of trafficking without realizing it,” said Shakira Henderson, PhD, DNP, MS, MPH, MBA, IBCLC, RNC-NIC, dean of the UF College of Nursing and UF Health system chief nurse executive. “This new certificate program is designed to empower nurses with actionable training to identify signs of trafficking, understand the complexities of victim trauma and connect individuals to safety and resources.”

Beginning this fall, the certificate will be offered at no cost to all current College of Nursing students, faculty and staff, as participation is fully covered under the contract between NUAHT and the college. In future phases, it will be made available to Gator Nursing alumni, UF Health nurses and other health care and non-health care professionals interested in advancing their knowledge and impact in this area.

“We are proud to lead the way nationally in addressing this critical issue,” Henderson said. “By offering this specialized training as part of our nursing education, we are enhancing the skills of our students and faculty and ensuring they are better prepared to care for vulnerable patients. As we develop, we are looking forward to expanding the opportunity to others.”

Developed by NUAHT experts, the certificate program offers evidence-based content tailored specifically for nursing professionals. It covers topics such as trauma-informed care, legal considerations, cultural competency and multidisciplinary collaboration.

“Human trafficking is a crisis that infiltrates all demographics, cultures, societies and geographical locations,” said Francine Bono-Neri, PhD, RN, APRN, PNP, FAAN, co-founder and president of NUAHT. “It impacts every aspect of daily life. As members of society, each of us has a moral and ethical duty to participate in combating it. The UF College of Nursing is fulfilling that duty by properly educating, equipping and empowering its students, faculty and community to address this humanitarian crisis by providing comprehensive education to disrupt its evil cycle.”