Resources from CHA to Combat Human Trafficking

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, with National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Jan. 11. Catholic health care is a leader in educating its associates to identify and provide compassionate, quality care to the victims whom they encounter in clinics, emergency departments and other facilities and community outreach endeavors. 

To help bring attention to Jan. 11, the Catholic Health Association (CHA) has several new resources to offer:

• A reflection for your use. Access the reflection.
• A FREE webinar, A Medical Safe Haven for Victims — A CHA Human Trafficking Webinar, Jan. 17, 2018, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET. Register and learn more.

Feb. 8, International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, is a continuation of this important awareness activity. Designated by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superiors General, it is an annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. Feb. 8 is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once Josephine was freed, she became a Canossian nun and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. She was declared a saint in 2000.

Here is a prayer you can use Feb. 8

CHA, in support of this ministry commitment, is a partner in working to end human trafficking and identifying ways Catholic health care can advocate on behalf of and help support victims. Through our campaign, Faithfully United Against Human Trafficking, we...

• Convene members for twice annual networking conference calls
• Collect and share the ministry's wealth of resources online
• Provide prayers and reflections on this and many other topics

For additional information and resources, go to:
CHAUSA.org/humantrafficking
USCCB anti-trafficking program
Pontifical #EndSlavery resources