Daily HealthBeat Tip - September 11, 2007

Look beneath the surface

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

They may live among us but we don’t notice. People held against their will, in forced labor, trapped in homes in which they are servants, businesses in which they are workers, or in the sex trade.

It’s called human trafficking. HHS’ Administration for Children and Families – ACF – is working on a campaign called Look Beneath the Surface. The goal is to help authorities spot and reach victims of human trafficking.

ACF’s Vanessa Garza says authorities might not be able to tell:

``It is up to the next door neighbor to recognize that there is a person in the house next door that is not able to leave.’’  (6 seconds)

Some key signs to look for: Workers who are not being paid, can’t come and go as they please, and someone has taken their identification or documentation from them.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September, 11 2007