Daybreak has announced a new partnership with the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth to support a new initiative to combat human trafficking. The initiative will focus on addressing the root causes of runaway reports of missing children.
Daybreak will lead non-police response efforts for youth who repeatedly run away or go missing from care, using a human trafficking screening tool and other trauma-informed services.
“Unfortunately, we know that human trafficking is underreported,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “By implementing these efforts, we will identify more children who are being trafficked and help them recover from their trauma.”
For 50 years, Daybreak has served the Dayton community by caring for youth ages 10-24 who have no place to call home.
“This partnership allows us to expand the work we are already doing for vulnerable youth. Early intervention is critical to help us understand why young people go missing and to connect them quickly with the right services,” said Courtney Patel, CEO of Daybreak.
The missing youth initiative is modeled after Denver’s Runaway, Outreach, Notification and Intervention (RONI) Project to support at-risk youth and reduce repeated departures from home or congregate care. DCY, the Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), the Dayton Police Department, and Daybreak will partner to implement the program.
By investing in early identification, coordinated response, and trauma-informed care, Ohio is taking meaningful action to prevent human trafficking and help vulnerable youth find safety and stability.
Written by Tina Rezash Rogal
