HEAL Essentials: Trauma-Informed Screening and Assessment

HEAL Essentials Certificate in Anti-Trafficking Response

The HEAL Essentials Certificate in Anti-Trafficking Response is a live, structured learning program designed to build foundational knowledge and practical skills for professionals responding to human trafficking across healthcare, public health, and allied systems.

Grounded in a public health and survivor-centered framework, the program is designed as a cohesive learning arc, moving participants from core concepts to ethical engagement, trauma-informed practice, and coordinated systems response.

Participants may enroll in an individual training or complete the full certificate program.

Featured Training: Trauma-Informed Screening and Assessment

September 29 | 1:00–4:30 PM ET

This interactive training equips participants with practical approaches to screening and assessment that prioritize safety, consent, dignity, and survivor choice.

Participants will examine how trauma can affect survivors’ health, behavior, communication, and interactions with services. Through multidisciplinary discussion and scenario-based activities, the training will explore how professionals can recognize trauma responses, conduct screening and assessment without causing additional harm, and build trust across systems.

Topics include:

• Trauma, resilience, and their impact on health, behavior, and engagement
• Trauma-informed screening and assessment that prioritize safety, consent, and survivor choice
• Practical strategies for trauma-informed communication, documentation, and use of the PEARR framework
• Cross-sector collaboration to build trust and reduce harm
• Collective care practices that sustain professionals and multidisciplinary teams

This training is discussion-based, scenario-driven, and designed for multidisciplinary professionals seeking practical tools to reduce harm, support survivor autonomy, and strengthen trust during screening, assessment, and coordinated response.

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Recognize how trauma affects survivors’ health, behavior, and interactions with services
• Examine trauma-informed approaches to screening and assessment
• Engage in cross-sector approaches that reduce harm and build trust

Continuing education approval information will be added once confirmed.

Full Certificate Program

Participants who enroll in the full program will complete the following live trainings:

• September 29, 2026 — Trauma-Informed Screening and Assessment
• December 8, 2026 — Multidisciplinary and Supportive Responses to Trafficking
• March 9, 2027 — Public Health Approaches to Human Trafficking
• June 8, 2027 — Culturally Responsive and Ethical Engagement with Survivors

These trainings are designed to work together as a cohesive learning experience while still allowing flexibility.
Courses may be taken in any order and are offered annually by HEAL.
Completion of all required trainings results in the HEAL Essentials Certificate in Anti-Trafficking Response.

Recommended: Foundational Knowledge

We strongly recommend that participants have a baseline understanding of human trafficking before attending these trainings.

For those newer to this topic, HEAL offers:

Human Trafficking: Foundations for Recognition and Response

Upcoming sessions:

• September 1 | 10:00–11:30 AM ET
• November 10 | 3:00–4:30 PM ET

This optional introductory course covers key definitions, indicators, and foundational response principles and may be taken at any time.

Complimentary registration is included with the full training package. A discounted rate is available for participants who have already completed Foundations.

How to Register

You may choose one of the following options:

Single Training

Register for Trauma-Informed Screening and Assessment on September 29.

Full Training Package — Recommended

Enroll in the full HEAL Essentials Certificate program, which includes all four core trainings and Foundations at a bundled rate.

Participants who select the full package will receive additional details on how to access the remaining trainings after registration.

Important Notes

• All trainings are delivered live and require active participation
• Recordings are not provided
• Each training includes a certificate of completion
• The HEAL Essentials Certificate is awarded upon completion of all four core trainings
• Participants may complete remaining trainings in future offerings if needed