Human Sex Trafficking

Clinical Pathways promote evidence-based, safe, and high-value patient care by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by a methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members.

Clinical Pathway:

• Human Sex Trafficking: Screening Algorithm

• Human Sex Trafficking: Scoring and Follow-up Algorithm

• Human Sex Trafficking Synopsis (provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway)

Additional tools associated with this Clinical Pathway:

• Child Sex Trafficking Screening Tool

• Child Sex Trafficking Scoring Guidance

Exclusion criteria:

• Pre-adolescents or children < 11 years

• Adolescents with significant cognitive disabilities

Committee members involved in the development:

• Rachel Whitfield, MSN, APRN, FNP-C | Adolescent Medicine | Committee Co-Chair 

• Danielle Horton, MD | SCAN – Child Adversity and Resilience | Committee Co-Chair

• Kimberly Randall, MD | Pediatric Emergency Medicine – Adele Hall | Committee Member 

• Sarah Lee, LCSW, LSCSW | Social Work | Committee Member 

• Danica Harris, LSCS, LSCSW | Social Work | Committee Member 

• Michelle Lockard, LSCS, LSCSW | Social Work | Committee Member 

• Alicia Susana Ponte, SMI CHI^TM-Spanish | Language and Accessibility Services | Committee Member

• Kristen Smith, APRN | Pediatric Emergency Medicine – CMK | Committee Member

• Lisa Post-Jones, MSN, RN, CPN, SANE-P | SANE | Committee Member

Patient/Family Committee Member:

• Tracy Gay | Patient Family Advocate | Committee Member 

• Sarah Steenblik | Patient Family Advocate | Committee Member 

EBP Committee Members:

• Kathleen Berg, MD, FAAP | Evidence Based Practice

• Andrea Melanson, OTD, OTR/L | Evidence Based Practice

 Publication dates:

• Finalized date: November 2025

• Next expected revision date: November 2028

Concerns with content:

If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu. 

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.