Social stigma

A new report from the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, the first "State of Human Trafficking in Cuyahoga County" analysis, finds that more than 700 people were identified as trafficking victims last year — but officials say that figure likely represents no more than 10% of actual cases. Collaborative CEO Kirsti Mouncey said data remains fragmented across schools, hospitals, courts, and law enforcement, with no coordinated system to track victims, many of whom are counted multiple times as duplicates across agencies.

The report challenges common myths, noting trafficking more often involves manipulation by trusted people — family, partners, employers — rather than stranger abduction, and typically occurs locally rather than abroad. Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne has formed a Leadership Council that has introduced school curricula on coercion and control, with a unified screening tool planned for next year. Officials caution that identifying more victims may cause reported numbers to rise before conditions improve.