Ohio has taken new steps toward halting human trafficking, with the addition of several initiatives throughout the state.

The initiatives' pilot programs will first target the Dayton, Cincinnati and Cleveland areas, according to Governor Mike DeWine, the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Department of Children and Youth (DCY).  The pilot program will "embed caseworkers with anti-human trafficking expertise in three public children services agencies" in the areas. Human trafficking cases will be those caseworkers' sole focus. They will also serve as "subject matter experts" and bolster the agencies' work with vulnerable youth.

"Embedding these workers in children services agencies in communities with active anti-trafficking networks will enhance collaboration and ensure survivors are connected to the supports they need," the governor's office said in a Wednesday statement.

In addition to the pilot programs, Ohio agencies will also be focusing on the "root causes of numerous runaway reports of missing children." A Montgomery County nonprofit is set to lead non-police response efforts in the county for youth who "repeatedly run away or go missing from care." The project comes directly from Governor DeWine's Missing Persons Working Group which had previously recommended communities assign trained advocates with social work backgrounds to help support families and connect missing youth back to their families.

The governor's office says a "human trafficking screening tool" and other "trauma-informed services" will be used to assist the efforts. On it's website the state of Ohio lists several trafficking screening and identification tools that it keeps at its disposal. 

"Unfortunately, we know that human trafficking is underreported," DeWine said in a statement. "By implementing these efforts, we will identify more children who are being trafficked and help them recover from their trauma."

Screening is a critical piece to human trafficking intervention according to officials.

"The best way to stop human trafficking is to intervene early and support at-risk children before they can be victimized," DPS Director Andy Wilson said.

The $400,000 caseworker pilot program will be funded by the Department of Public Safety's Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS). The two-year Runaway, Outreach, Notification and Intervention project based in Montgomery County will be funded through an OCJS and DCY partnership.