Mandated Continuing Education Requirements for Health Care Professional State Licensure: The Texas Model

Abstract

It is well acknowledged that persons who have experienced human trafficking and persons at risk for victimization often present for health care services. It is also extensively documented in scientific literature that awareness of trafficking among clinical providers remains relatively low. Well-intentioned but poorly executed trainings spread misinformation, aid propulsion of stigma and bias, and often neglect to provide individualized and practically actionable messages for specific clinical audiences. Widespread adoption of standards to ensure evidence-based, patient-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care is lacking. The state of Texas recently passed legislation requiring direct health care providers to complete one hour of continuing education on human trafficking to qualify for licensure renewal. Advocates guided the implementation of this law based on lessons of previously enacted legislation in other states. Texas can serve as a regulatory policy model for adhering to evidence-based standards in human trafficking educational state or federal mandates.