Victims of human trafficking face significant barriers to healthcare access, including stigma, fear, and complex trauma-related needs. The Patient Health Navigator Model at Coastal Family Health Center (CFHC) is designed to bridge these gaps by providing trauma-informed, survivor-centered care coordination. This model ensures that trafficking survivors receive comprehensive healthcare while addressing social determinants of health. The Patient Health Navigator Model is an innovative, trauma-informed approach that connects trafficking survivors to essential medical, mental health, and social services. By integrating patient advocacy, care coordination, and trust-building practices, this model improves health outcomes and enhances survivors' long-term well-being. In this session, the presenters will talk about how navigators guide survivors through healthcare systems, providing culturally responsive support tailored to individual needs. They act as liaisons between patients and providers, ensuring continuity of care. Trafficking survivors often struggle with fear of authorities, legal concerns, and psychological trauma. This model overcomes these barriers through survivor-centered engagement, trauma-informed care, and partnerships with community resources. CFHC has observed improved health engagement and well-being among survivors. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of training healthcare providers and integrating multidisciplinary approaches. The model has the potential for replication in other healthcare settings. Healthcare providers should implement Patient Health Navigator Models to improve access to survivor-centered care. Policy changes and funding support are essential to scale this model nationwide. CFHC’s success highlights the need for expanding survivor-informed healthcare solutions to foster long-term recovery and empowerment.
Bridget O'Neil is currently pursuing her master’s in counseling psychology and is the graduate assistant for the Center for Human Trafficking Research and Training. While working for the center, Bridget has been able to work with community partners, lived experience experts, and healthcare professionals, to build a continuum of care for survivors of human trafficking around the lower nine counties of Mississippi.
Melissa Perrien is a current Human Trafficking Patient Navigator at Coastal Family Health Center in Mississippi. She provides essential intake, case management, and coordination of services for adult and child victims of human trafficking within the continuum of care.
Kimberly Hogan is the Director of the University of Southern Mississippi Center for Human Trafficking Research & Training and is the Primary Investigator for SOARing in Mississippi. Her research work spans the prevention, detection, identification, and treatment of minor and adult sex trafficking victims.