Before School Starts, Northeast Ohio Is Taking a New Approach to Preventing Child Trafficking

One Evidence-Informed Curriculum. One Common Language. One Shared Goal.

Twelve organizations are joining forces to bring nationally recognized, evidence-informed prevention education to more than 1,500 youth across Cuyahoga County. 

CLEVELAND, OH — July 16, 2026 — As students prepare to return to classrooms this fall, something unprecedented is happening behind the scenes. Twelve youth-serving organizations from across Cuyahoga County are joining together around a shared belief: the best way to combat child exploitation is to prevent it before it begins. 

From July 21–23, twenty-two professionals representing twelve organizations will participate in an intensive three-day facilitator certification for Not a Number, Love146’s nationally recognized, evidence-informed child trafficking prevention curriculum. Hosted by the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Trafficking in Persons National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC), the initiative will create a network of certified facilitators expected to reach more than 1,500 children and youth across Cuyahoga County during the 2026–2027 school year.  

This represents one of the first coordinated community-wide efforts in Northeast Ohio to implement a single, evidence-informed child trafficking prevention curriculum across multiple youth-serving organizations. By training facilitators together and using a shared curriculum, participating organizations are creating a common prevention language that will strengthen collaboration, reinforce consistent messaging, and expand access to high-quality prevention education for young people throughout the county. 

Unlike traditional awareness campaigns that focus primarily on recognizing trafficking after it occurs, Not a Number helps young people build the knowledge and skills that protect them before exploitation begins. The curriculum teaches healthy relationships, online safety, recognizing grooming and manipulation, identifying trusted adults, and how to seek help when something doesn’t feel right. 

The initiative also comes at an important time for Ohio schools. As districts continue implementing Ohio’s prevention education requirements, including child sexual abuse prevention in elementary grades and dating violence and sexual violence prevention in grades 7–12, communities are increasingly recognizing the value of comprehensive, evidence-based prevention education. Not a Number complements these requirements by helping young people build skills related to healthy relationships, digital safety, recognizing grooming and exploitation, identifying trusted adults, and seeking help when something doesn’t feel right. Together, these efforts strengthen a continuum of prevention that equips children and adolescents with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe throughout their development. 

“For years, communities have worked hard to respond to trafficking after it occurs,” said Kirsti Mouncey, President & CEO of the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking. “This initiative represents a different way of thinking. Twelve organizations are making a shared commitment to prevention by using one evidence-informed curriculum, one common language, and one shared goal: ensuring every young person has the knowledge, skills, and trusted relationships they need to recognize exploitation, seek help, and thrive.” 

Growing research demonstrates that effective prevention extends beyond raising awareness. By strengthening protective factors, including healthy relationships, trusted adults, resilience, and help-seeking behaviors, communities can reduce opportunities for exploitation before it occurs. This initiative reflects that growing understanding and represents a shift toward prevention strategies grounded in evidence rather than fear. 

“Communities create lasting change when they invest in prevention together,” said Erin Williamson, Chief Programs & Strategy Officer at Love146. “Seeing twelve organizations unite around one evidence-informed curriculum demonstrates a shared commitment to ensuring young people have the knowledge, skills, and supportive relationships they need to stay safe. We are honored to partner with the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking and the many organizations leading this effort across Northeast Ohio.” 

The three-day certification includes education on child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, modeling of the Not a Number curriculum, facilitation coaching, guidance on responding appropriately to disclosures, and participant teach-backs. Upon successful completion, participants become certified facilitators through their organizations.  

While the immediate goal is to reach more than 1,500 youth during the coming school year, organizers believe the initiative’s greatest impact will be building a coordinated prevention network across Cuyahoga County. 

“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up safe, supported, and empowered,” said Nicole McKinney -Johnson, President & CEO at Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. This partnership reflects what is possible when organizations come together with a shared commitment. By investing in prevention education today, we’re helping young people recognize their value, build healthy relationships, and develop the confidence to seek help when they need it. Together, we’re creating a stronger, safer future for children across our community.” 

The initiative reflects a broader evolution in Ohio’s response to human trafficking—from reacting after exploitation occurs to investing in evidence-informed prevention that strengthens children, families, and communities before exploitation begins. 

As Northeast Ohio prepares for another school year, these twelve organizations are demonstrating that protecting children is not the responsibility of one agency or one profession. 

It is a shared community commitment. 

By the Numbers 

• 12 youth-serving organizations  

• 22 certified facilitators  

• 1 nationally recognized, evidence-informed prevention curriculum  

• 1,500+ children and youth expected to be reached during the 2026–2027 school year  

• 3 days of facilitator certification  

• 1 shared goal: Protect children before exploitation begins.  

Participating Organizations 

• Asian Services in Action 

• A Place For Me 

• Beech Brook 

• Bellefaire JCB 

• Canopy Child Advocacy Center 

• Cleveland Rape Crisis Center 

• Collaborative to End Human Trafficking 

• Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services 

• Murtis Taylor 

• Northern Ohio Recovery Association  

• The Centers H.O.P.E. Child Wellness Campus 

• The Village Network 

Media Invitation 

Members of the media are invited to attend the opening of the facilitator certification training on July 21 at Cuyahoga Community College. Interviews with local organizers, participating organizations, and representatives from LOVE146 can be arranged in advance.

About the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking

The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking works to empower individuals and communities to prevent human trafficking and support survivors through coordinated services, education, research, and policy advocacy. For more information, visit collabhumanstg.wpenginepowered.com/.