Every Step Toward Freedom Matters
Learn about human trafficking, recognize potential warning signs, and help raise awareness in Stark County, Summit County, and communities throughout Northeast Ohio.
What Is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is the exploitation of a person for commercial sex, labor, or services through force, fraud, coercion, deception, or abuse of vulnerability. When a minor is induced to participate in a commercial sex act, proof of force, fraud, or coercion is not required.
Trafficking can affect people of different ages, genders, races, and economic backgrounds. It can happen in cities, suburbs, and rural communities—including communities throughout Stark County, Summit County, Northeast Ohio, and across the state.
Awareness begins with understanding how exploitation occurs, recognizing possible warning signs, and knowing where to find help.
Types of Human Trafficking
Human trafficking may involve commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, debt bondage, domestic servitude, or the forced recruitment of children into armed groups.
Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is forcing a person into a commercial sex act by the use of force, fraud, or coercion. These victims often know their traffickers.
Labor Trafficking
Labor trafficking is forcing a person to work or provide services in captivity for little or no pay. Experts believe there are more situations of labor trafficking than sex trafficking.
Bonded Labor
Bonded labor is forcing a person to work, often in brutal conditions, for low wages to pay back an impossible debt. Bonded labor is used across a wide range of industries that produce consumer goods.
Domestic Servitude
Involuntary domestic servitude is forcing a person to work and live in the same place for little to no pay. These victims often work 12–18 hour days, with some working as much as 24/7.
Child Labor
Child labor is forcing a child into a system of domestic servitude or occupation that are mentally, physically, socially, and morally harmful. Roughly 1 in 4 human trafficking victims are children.
Child Soldiers
Child soldiers are boys, girls, and adolescents forced into an armed conflict or illegal armed groups through force or compulsory recruitment for military purposes.
Who Can Be Affected?
Anyone can be a victim. The targeted ages range from 8-18 years old, and even upwards of 60-70 years old. Statistically, girls seem targeted the most, however, there is no specific gender exempt from this tragedy. A large number of boys and LGBTQ+ people and teens are trafficked. Runaways, homeless, and foster children, as well as someone struggling with addiction or depression, are also victimized.
Who Are Traffickers?
A trafficker is any individual looking to profit from exploiting children, youth, and adults. Traffickers strategically prey on a mentally, physically, or economically vulnerable person, and target locations where vulnerable youth can be found. A trafficker can be a man or woman of any ethnicity, race, or walk of life.
Through the power of education, we are raising awareness to end human trafficking.
Education That Empowers Our Community
Not For Sale. One Step At A Time provides education about sex trafficking, labor trafficking, potential warning signs, common methods of exploitation, and practical steps parents and caregivers can take to help protect children.
Through presentations, media, community partnerships, and educational resources, we help equip schools, churches, businesses, organizations, parents, and community members throughout Stark County, Summit County, and Northeast Ohio.
Our awareness events provide opportunities to learn, connect with local organizations, support prevention efforts, and participate in events such as the Community Freedom Summit and One-Mile Freedom Walk.
There Is Strength in Working Together
We collaborate with Walsh University and work alongside local agencies, organizations, and law enforcement to educate the public, strengthen community awareness, and connect people with appropriate resources. Our primary focus is Stark County and Summit County, with broader outreach throughout Northeast Ohio and Ohio.
Ohio is ranked 5th in the United States for human trafficking cases.
Recognize Potential Signs of Human Trafficking
Anyone can experience trafficking in any community, just as anyone can be the victim of any kind of crime. Traffickers prey on people who are vulnerable and take advantage of victims by manipulating these vulnerabilities. People who live in poverty or foster care, or struggle with addiction, trauma, abuse, or unstable housing, are all at higher risk for trafficking.
POOR MENTAL HEALTH OR ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
- Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
- Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
- Avoids eye contact
POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH
- Lacks medical care and/or is denied medical services by employer
- Appears malnourished or shows signs of repeated exposure to harmful chemicals
- Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture
LACK OF CONTROL
- Has few or no personal possessions
- Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
- Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
- Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)
OTHER SIGNS
- Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
- Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or of what city he/she is in
- Loss of sense of time
- Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For additional reporting and support options, visit our human trafficking help and resources page.
Can You See Me?
Sex Trafficking Awareness
This awareness video illustrates how sex trafficking may remain hidden in everyday situations and encourages viewers to recognize possible warning signs.
Can You See Me?
Labor Trafficking Awareness
This awareness video explores how labor trafficking can occur behind familiar workplaces, services, and everyday transactions.
Human Trafficking Statistics
Review the infographic periodically and update any figures that no longer reflect current authoritative data.
Parents and Caregivers: Helping Protect Children
Open communication is essential. Build a relationship in which your child or teenager feels safe discussing uncomfortable situations without fear of immediate punishment or dismissal.
Establish age-appropriate expectations for internet, mobile-device, social-media, and gaming use. Talk regularly about privacy, online grooming, manipulation, requests for private images, and relationships that involve secrecy, pressure, gifts, threats, or isolation.
Learn about human trafficking and online exploitation together. Awareness should support healthy communication and safety—not create fear or suggest that every unfamiliar interaction is trafficking.
Internet and Social Media Safety Tips
Privacy and Passwords
Avoid sharing addresses, school information, schedules, passwords, financial details, or other sensitive information publicly. Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication where available.
Location Settings
Review location-sharing settings for apps, photos, games, and social platforms. Avoid posting a child’s real-time location, routine, school, or travel plans publicly.
Online Contacts
Teach children to be cautious when someone requests secrecy, personal information, private images, money, gifts, or an in-person meeting. Encourage them to tell a trusted adult when an interaction feels uncomfortable.
Online Gaming
Review game ratings, chat functions, friend requests, privacy controls, purchases, livestreaming, and webcam access. Discuss how online contacts may not be who they claim to be.
Monitor and Communicate
Use age-appropriate supervision and regular conversations rather than relying only on surveillance. Explain why safety rules exist and encourage children to ask for help without fear of losing your support.
Respond Without Blame
If a child reports a concerning interaction, stay calm, listen, preserve relevant messages or account information, and seek appropriate help. Avoid blaming the child for being manipulated or deceived.
Human Trafficking Help and Reporting
Help is available 24/7.
Use the resources below to seek support or report suspected human trafficking.
Are You in Immediate Danger?
Call 911 for emergency assistance.
Local Law Enforcement
Stark County Sheriff’s Office
330-430-3800
Summit County Sheriff’s Office
330-643-2154