COLUMBUS – Gov. Mike DeWine has announced details of a new grant program to help victim service agencies meet the needs of survivors of human trafficking.
The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services will distribute $4 million to nonprofit organizations to help them serve sex and labor trafficking victims.
The program is part of Ohio’s new operating budget, which includes a total of $9 million dedicated to combating human trafficking, DeWine said.
The application period for the grant program opened Wednesday and applicants must submit proposals online through the Online Grants Management System by 5:00 p.m. EST on Nov. 8, DeWine’s office said. Awards are expected to be announced in January 2024.
Nonprofit organizations that provide direct support to victims of trafficking and/or those considered at high risk of trafficking will be eligible for grant funding. Eligible direct services include mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, education and employment support, and residential placement, DeWine’s office explained.
The $9 million expenditure in the budget will also be used toward additional local and statewide projects and to expand the Governor’s Human Trafficking Task Force, which identifies gaps in prevention, victim services, and prosecution.