Daybreak Partners with Dayton Police for Human Trafficking Initiative

New 2-year pilot program aims to connect runaway youth with services and support.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:08am

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Daybreak, a local nonprofit organization, has been selected by the state of Ohio to lead a new initiative in collaboration with the Dayton Police Department to combat human trafficking. The program will provide non-police response efforts for youth runaways who have escaped trafficking or are vulnerable to traffickers, with the goal of connecting them to housing, support services, and resources to help them avoid continued runaway behavior.

Why it matters

Human trafficking is an underreported crime that disproportionately affects vulnerable youth. This new initiative aims to identify more children who are being trafficked and provide them with the comprehensive services and support they need to recover from their trauma and avoid further exploitation.

The details

Through the 2-year pilot program, which is funded with over $500,000 from the state, Daybreak will work closely with the Dayton Police Department to respond to cases of runaway youth. The goal is to either reconnect them with caring individuals who can provide housing and support, or to screen them for potential sex trafficking victimization and then provide wraparound services to help them return home safely and avoid continued runaway behavior.

  • The new initiative is a 2-year pilot program that began in March 2026.

The players

Daybreak

A local nonprofit organization that has been selected by the state of Ohio to lead the new human trafficking initiative in collaboration with the Dayton Police Department.

Dayton Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that is partnering with Daybreak on the human trafficking initiative to provide non-police response efforts for runaway youth.

Governor Mike DeWine

The Governor of Ohio who announced the new initiative, stating that it will help identify more children who are being trafficked and provide them with the necessary support and services.

Courtney Patel

The CEO of Daybreak, who explained the goals of the new program to connect runaway youth with housing, support, and resources to avoid continued runaway behavior.

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What they’re saying

“The goal is to connect them either back with a caring individual that can provide them housing and support or also to screen them for potentially being victims of sex trafficking and then also providing services to wraparound those young folks, so that they can return to their home and hopefully avoid continued runaway behavior.”

— Courtney Patel, CEO, Daybreak

“Unfortunately, we know that human trafficking is underreported. By implementing these efforts, we will identify more children who are being trafficked and help them recover from their trauma.”

— Governor Mike DeWine

What’s next

If the 2-year pilot program is successful, the initiative may be implemented in other Ohio cities to combat human trafficking and support runaway youth.

The takeaway

This new partnership between Daybreak and the Dayton Police Department represents a proactive and compassionate approach to addressing the critical issue of human trafficking, particularly as it affects vulnerable youth. By providing non-police response and comprehensive support services, the initiative aims to identify more victims and help them recover from their trauma, ultimately preventing continued runaway behavior and further exploitation.