What is human trafficking?
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Human trafficking is the illegal exploitation of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of labor, services, or commercial sex. Victims are manipulated or controlled—often through threats, deception, or violence—and forced to work against their will for the financial benefit of others.
The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking began in 2007 and was built on the understanding that a multifaceted human rights and public health issue like human trafficking cannot be solved by one organization or system alone.
We recognized that only when we bring people together to unlock our collective potential can we create solutions that break the cycle of human trafficking.
Upcoming Education & Training
Thursday, May 15th from 5:30PM to 7PM, join us for a FREE learning session on human trafficking via Zoom. This training earns 1.5 CEUs.
Human trafficking affects communities everywhere, and awareness is the first step to prevention. Spend a little over an hour with us for an engaging VIRTUAL Fundamentals of Human Trafficking training designed to educate, empower, and equip you with the knowledge to recognize and respond.
This 90 minute training is for individuals, teams, HR departments, classrooms, and community groups. Bring a colleague, invite your students, or encourage your workplace to attend together.
Carolyn Arny, Director of Education & Training for the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking and a member of the Collaborative’s Survivor Advisory Council will teach this session. Carolyn brings 20+ years of experience as a trauma-informed instructor, offering both foundational learning and specialized training to organizations, ensuring they are equipped with the tools to identify and support survivors of human trafficking.
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Recent News
The Land: How one Cleveland professor’s innovative research is fighting sexual assault around the nation
By Christopher Johnston – The Criminology Research Center (CRC), one of Cleveland’s most effective crime-fighting tools, is a bit of a secret weapon because most Clevelanders don’t know it exists.
However, the Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Collaborative to End Human Trafficking and Cleveland Rape Crisis Center know it well.
Located at Cleveland State University, the CRC was founded in 2008 and is led by Rachel Lovell, Ph.D., who was recently promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Criminology and Sociology. Her nationally recognized team performs and publishes comprehensive, in-depth research pertaining to a range of crimes and public safety issues, including car jackings, gun violence, human trafficking, rape and sexual assault.
The Roots of Human Trafficking: Child Abuse, Sexual Violence & the Need for Prevention
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month—two deeply connected issues that lie at the heart of our work to end human trafficking.
Human trafficking doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It thrives on unaddressed trauma, system failure, and societal silence. Research and lived experience confirm what survivors have long said: childhood sexual abuse and early trauma are among the strongest predictors of future exploitation. To end trafficking, we must address its roots.
The Critical Role of Schools in Preventing Human Trafficking
Human trafficking doesn’t just happen to older teens or adults. Traffickers target vulnerability at any age—including children in grade school and middle school. That’s why schools, educators, counselors, and prevention programs can work together to build strong, protective networks that help keep kids in Cuyahoga County safe. Across our region, a coordinated effort is growing to ensure students receive the education, support, and trusted relationships they need to recognize and avoid exploitation.
Our Mission
