Using Academic-Community Partnerships to Address Priority Public Health Topics: A Human Trafficking Intervention in Tennessee

Author: Cunnington, Stacey; Mitchell, Ami & Greece, Jacey

Abstract: Human trafficking is a significant public health issue in Tennessee, yet disclosure during healthcare encounters remains rare. Using Practice-Based Teaching principles and Intervention Mapping, an academic–community partnership between the Tennessee Department of Health and an academic public health program developed a clinic-based disclosure intervention. The Red Dot to Disclose intervention enables patients to discreetly signal for help during clinic visits. The intervention integrates into existing workflows, requires minimal resources, and has expanded beyond its initial pilot. Low-cost, workflow-aligned interventions may strengthen public health responses to human trafficking within routine clinical care. This article contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by describing a scalable, low-cost intervention that supports identification and response to human trafficking in public health settings. The Red Dot to Disclose intervention provides public health agencies and policymakers with a practical strategy for integrating trafficking response into routine clinical care, strengthening referral pathways, improving access to supportive services, and enhancing protections for vulnerable populations in resource-constrained communities.

Keywords: academic-community partnerships, human trafficking, intervention mapping, practice-based teaching, public health clinics