Samuel Merritt University launches state-funded human trafficking training institute
Samuel Merritt University has received $1 million from California to establish an institute that will train health care professionals to recognize human trafficking and violence. The new SMU THRIVE Institute in Oakland was backed by state Sen. Jesse Arreguín.
California has provided $1 million to Samuel Merritt University to create an institute that will prepare health care professionals to identify human trafficking and violence. The new SMU THRIVE Institute is in Oakland, and state Sen. Jesse Arreguín supported its establishment. The effort is state-funded and centers on training as a way to help health care workers recognize these issues.
The new institute could improve how health care professionals in California recognize human trafficking and violence, potentially leading to earlier referrals and better support for affected patients. Its reach may depend on how many clinicians it trains and how the training is implemented. Survivors, health care workers, and communities served by Oakland-area providers could be affected, and the effort may inform broader discussions about training requirements in health professions.