COLUMBUS, Ohio - The state of Ohio has granted a Youngstown-based non-profit more than $199,000 to help meet the needs of human trafficking survivors.

The grant to Compass Family and Community Services is included in $4.6 million in funding to thirty victim service agencies in 14 counties around Ohio.

The Victims of Human Trafficking Grant Program, launched by Governor DeWine in September, aims to help serve the growing number of sex and labor trafficking victims in need of support.

Services funded through the program include but are not limited to mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, education and employment support, and residential placement.

The grant program was developed in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly with funding from Ohio's operating budget. Initially funded at $4 million, an additional $600,000 was added to the program in response to the significant number of quality grant applications.

“Human trafficking victims have unique needs and require intensive support to overcome their trauma,” said Maria Busch, state anti-trafficking coordinator for the Governor's Human Trafficking Task Force.

Nonprofit organizations that provide direct support to victims of trafficking and/or those considered at high risk of trafficking were eligible for grant funding. Priority consideration was awarded to applicants who demonstrated evidence-based and survivor-informed programming.