Spotlight: Nurses United Against Human Trafficking (NUAHT)

An epidemic has been plaguing the world for far too long, one where vulnerable individuals are treated as commodities, and the very people trained to care for them are unknowingly missing critical signs of distress. This is the grim reality of human trafficking, and it’s a reality often shrouded in misinformation, media myths, and ignorance. The truth is that human trafficking does not discriminate, and this pervasive problem requires a collaborative, multi-faceted solution. Such a robust solution is precisely what organizations like Nurses United Against Human Trafficking (NUAHT) are working to provide. We are proud to shine a spotlight on NUAHT's incredible mission to educate and empower healthcare professionals to be the first line of defense in the fight against human trafficking.

“Everyone who works in law enforcement can attest to the fact that there are countless missing people who never get identified or found after falling victim to the cruelty of human traffickers, so using the education and resources provided by NUAHT literally saves lives. The majority of victims intersect with a healthcare professional at some point, and without proper training, they are too often overlooked. That’s what makes the work this organization does so incredible,” said Detective Chuck Still (Ret.), Founder of My Family ID.

Organizations like NUAHT are far more than run-of-the-mill educational spaces. These groups serve as community partners in fostering growth, resilience, and preparedness. We are proud to highlight their innovative approach. Keep reading to learn more about NUAHT.

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Who Does Nurses United Against Human Trafficking Serve?

Nurses United Against Human Trafficking is a professional association founded by two nurses, Dr. Francine Bono-Neri and Tammy Tony Butler, to do whatever they can in this space to educate, equip, and empower healthcare professionals to understand what human trafficking truly is, how to detect it, and how to respond.

“I’ve cared for patients for 33 years, but nothing shook me like the day a 16-year-old came into our trauma center: malnourished, with signs of prolonged abuse, and a stranger who shouldn’t have been there. Learning more about human and familial sex trafficking after that moment made me commit my career to protecting vulnerable young people. That was the beginning of Nurses United Against Human Trafficking. I’ve had a fire lit inside me ever since,” recalled Dr. Bono-Neri about what inspired her to dedicate her life to this work.

NUAHT’s website reads, “Nurses United Against Human Trafficking is an organisation founded in 2020 by two nurses who are driven to abolish modern-day slavery. NUAHT offers education modules, membership, resources, and consulting services for healthcare professionals, by building human trafficking protocols and community response teams.”

While its heavy focus is on healthcare professionals, NUAHT also serves a broad spectrum of professionals and community members who may encounter victims of human trafficking. Their comprehensive, robust, and accessible training modules are designed for:

• Healthcare Professionals: Physicians, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, social workers, and allied health staff who are often the first to interact with victims but may lack the training to identify the signs of trafficking.

• Law Enforcement: Modules created by members of law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels to help them identify and respond to trafficking situations.

• Parents and Educators: Training to help them recognize the warning signs of trafficking, especially in a world where perpetrators use technology and social media to groom and recruit young victims.

• The Global Community: NUAHT’s training is delivered on a learning management system that is accessible globally and keeps crucial conversations going with subtitles in multiple languages, including Spanish, French, and Italian.

“Nurses United Against Human Trafficking is a professional association founded by myself and my colleague Tammy Tony Butler. We are two nurses who have literally come together to do whatever we can in this space to help educate, equip, and empower healthcare professionals learning about human trafficking and what it truly is, not just what social media, news outlets, and Hollywood films depict it as,” said Dr. Bono-Neri.

NUAHT's approach recognizes that human trafficking is not a standalone crime but is often intertwined with other criminal enterprises. By providing discipline-specific and general awareness modules, they are building a collective force to combat this complex problem.

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What Does Nurses United Against Human Trafficking Do?

NUAHT’s core mission is to bridge the significant gap in knowledge about human trafficking among healthcare professionals.

Dr. Bono-Neri said, specifically with pre-licensure RN students, among a nationwide sample of 644 participants, 91.4% reported minimal to zero minutes being taught human trafficking content, with less than 1% reporting full confidence in how to identify it and less than 5% reporting full confidence in how to respond.

This lack of training and knowledge, ultimately, is at the heart of everything NUAHT does.

NUAHT’s core mission is "eradicating human trafficking by raising awareness, providing education and resources, and participating in advocacy efforts, all for the hope of emboldening and empowering healthcare professionals, by establishing best practices and standards of care for this vulnerable and invisible population,” per their website.

NUAHT provides a comprehensive, nine-hour training program that goes far beyond typical one- or two-hour, state-mandated courses that just skim the surface.

The training is delivered asynchronously on a learning management system, allowing learners to access it on their own time, from anywhere in the world. Key initiatives include:

• Comprehensive Training: Their in-depth program provides a robust foundation for identifying, responding to, and locating resources for human trafficking victims.

• Knowledge Checkpoints: The training includes interactive elements, such as questions and hyperlinks to other resources, to ensure full engagement and retention of the material.

• Strategic Partnerships: NUAHT recently partnered with Texas A&M University and won a bid to provide training to the Indian Health Service, with a special focus on tribal lands and the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

Since its founding, NUAHT has grown exponentially and has expanded its reach globally. This growth is a testament to the urgent need for the education they provide and the effectiveness of their delivery system. You can watch a video here for an overview of their global impact.

“Our training has reached more than 3,000 members around the world, thanks to a model that is flexible yet deeply engaging. We built in checkpoints, questions, and resource links so learners can’t just ‘hit play and walk away.’ With subtitles in multiple languages and accessibility features, we’re removing barriers to this vital education. Partnering with Texas A&M and Indian Health Service has allowed us to extend our reach to tribal lands, where communities face unique vulnerabilities to trafficking,” said Dr. Bono-Neri.

Click here to watch an example of the kind of educational material they provide on their YouTube channel,

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Partner with My Family ID to Support Learning, Safety, and Peace of Mind

First and foremost, we strongly encourage you to learn more about Nurses United Against Human Trafficking and do what you can to contribute to their incredible cause. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a law enforcement officer, a parent, or simply a concerned community member, visit NUAHT's website to find resources, follow them on LinkedIn, learn about their training, and support their vital work.

For organizations dedicated to safety and community well-being like NUAHT, partnering with My Family ID ensures you are amplifying your impact by providing families with the tools they need to respond swiftly and effectively in an emergency. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient network of support and protection when you join our partners.

Partner with My Family ID today to help us in supporting safety, education, and family empowerment. Because we believe every individual deserves a world where their well-being is a top priority. Let’s create a safer world for everyone together.