Staff report and press release
news@wbcowqel.com
Some of the $90,000 awarded statewide to prevent human trafficking is coming to Crawford County. Sisters in Shelter will receive $15,000. Sisters in Shelter provides safe emergency housing for adult female survivors of both labor and human trafficking.
In conjunction with Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund (OCTF) and the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force have awarded $90,000 in grant money to fund nine human trafficking prevention programs across the state. Each project will identify and assist at-risk youth populations and provide them with information and resources to prevent human trafficking.
“I congratulate these organizations for their initiative and commitment to reducing and preventing human trafficking,” said OCTF Executive Director Kristen Rost. “This essential prevention work signifies Ohio’s commitment to providing timely, high-quality and comprehensive human trafficking prevention services.”
The following nine organizations will receive funding to provide services to community members, professionals, families and at-risk youth in 25 Ohio counties:
• A Caring Place Child Advocacy Center, Jefferson and Harrison Counties ($8,380)
• Asian American Community Services, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton and Summit Counties ($15,000)
• Children’s Lantern, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam and Williams Counties ($5,200)
• Delaware County Against Human Trafficking Coalition, Delaware and Morrow Counties ($3,346)
• Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services, Franklin County ($13,516)
• First Step Family Violence Intervention Services, Inc., Coshocton County ($8,827)
• Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office – RANGE Task Force, Montgomery County ($15,000)
• Shelby High School, Zoetic Zinnias Student Organization, Richland County ($5,731)
• Sisters in Shelter, Crawford, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Huron, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams, Wood and Wyandot Counties ($15,000)
“Human Trafficking Awareness Month represents an opportunity to recognize and support the important human trafficking prevention programs and services undertaken by organizations across Ohio,” said Elizabeth Ranade-Janis, Ohio’s anti-human trafficking coordinator. “The Governor’s Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force is committed to supporting community-based prevention programs, and we are grateful for the local advocates who are working tirelessly to prevent the exploitation of children.”