The Importance of Trauma-Informed Child Welfare

New Links Between Foster Youth Runaways and Human Trafficking

Ohio is home to one of the highest human trafficking case numbers in the nation. With 90% of Ohio’s victims reported as runaway foster youth. Spread awareness and learn how to become a trauma-informed foster parent to lower this statistic and affect real change today.

Human Trafficking Awareness

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Ohio is home to one of the highest case numbers in the nation. Ohio is the fifth-highest in the country, behind California, Texas, Florida, and New York. The National Human Trafficking Hotline has received 11,224 reports in Ohio since its launch in 2007. 3,102 reported Ohio cases identified 6,013 victims during this time. According to the World Population Review, Ohio has a human trafficking rate of 3.84 victims per 100,000 state residents. Making Ohio the fourth worst human trafficking victim-to-population ratio, far above the 2022 national average of 2.82 victims.

Foster Youth Runaways At Higher Risk of Victimization

New data found links between human trafficking victims and youth runaways. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) found, “over 365,348 missing children across the nation last year and 16,332 were in Ohio.” The NCMEC also found 90 percent of human trafficking victims are runaways. However, the actual percentage of victims could be higher since many runaway youth are never reported missing.

“Kids who are in the foster care system, who typically run away regularly, are our most vulnerable population, are the ones that are at most risk for being exploited by traffickers,” Sergeant Dana Hess, the director of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking task force is quoted in a news article by Dayton 24/7 Now.

Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Saves Lives

According to a study by Child Trends, “More than two-thirds of children in the United States experience a traumatic event or circumstances—such as abuse or neglect, death of a loved one, or community violence—by the time they turn 16.” Answering this need, NewPath Child & Family Solutions (formerly St. Joseph Orphanage) ignites hope and changes futures by providing access to and results from expert, specialized, and comprehensive trauma-informed care.

What is Trauma-Informed Care?

Trauma-informed care consists of a therapeutic approach that understands the impacts of trauma, recognizes the signs and symptoms of those affected, and actively utilizes expert knowledge to create a path toward recovery and healing.

5 Ways Trauma-Informed Care Supports Children’s Development by Child Trends

1. Helps service providers, parents, and systems recognize and respond to the needs of children who experience trauma.
2. Enhances the effectiveness of child-serving systems by promoting a common language.
3. Everyone in a child’s life has a role to play.
4. Supports the capacity of adults to cope with their own responses to trauma.
5. Receiving increased attention and recognition from policymakers about the importance of promoting these practices.

Become a Trauma-Informed Foster Parent with NewPath

NewPath supports children, from birth to age 21, who have experienced trauma and require placement in a stable home. NewPath’s exceptional network of foster families in counties across Southwestern Ohio consists of both therapeutic and traditional foster homes. Therapeutic foster parents receive special training to learn how to help children heal from mental and behavioral disorders stemming from past trauma.

As a NewPath trauma-informed foster parent, you will provide a nurturing, stable home for the youth who need you most. Make a difference in their lives by restoring their hope and sense of stability. Watch them grow, recover, and thrive in your home and experience one of the most rewarding aspects of fostering.