Rockwall ISD healthcare students are learning to recognize signs of human trafficking before they enter the workforce.

Dental and Medical Practicum II students at Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy (GBCCA) completed a Human Trafficking Case Study course led by Tiffany Parker, associate director of emergency management and fire marshal at the University of Texas at Dallas, according to a GBCCA announcement.

The course used real-world case studies and group discussions to walk students through warning signs of trafficking. It also covered the role healthcare workers play in spotting potential victims.

A central focus was documentation. Students practiced accurate, objective patient charting, including how to record observations and patient statements that could prove critical in identifying victims.

Parker introduced students to several Texas-specific resources. Those included the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Reclaim611, and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool (CSE-IT), a screening instrument used by more than 450 organizations across 30 states, according to developer WestCoast Children's Clinic. The CSE-IT is built for fast-paced healthcare settings and helps providers recognize exploitation indicators without relying on a patient's self-disclosure.

The training aligns with a statewide push. Gov. Greg Abbott proclaimed January 2026 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) encourages healthcare providers to learn trafficking warning signs. More than 109,000 Texas healthcare providers completed HHSC's free HEART training between September 2024 and August 2025, according to the agency.

Texas ranked second nationally in cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2025, with 1,487 cases, according to hotline data compiled by Virtual Addiction. That figure follows population and contact volume and does not indicate where trafficking is most common per capita.

Anyone who suspects trafficking or needs help can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733.