What we do

Mission Statement:

RAHAB Ministries provides Christ-centered transformational services to those directly affected by sex trafficking.

For more information about any of our programs, which serve Northeast Ohio, please contact us.

Outreach

RAHAB Ministries started with one woman who went into the streets of Akron to meet women who were being trafficked, offering kindness, prayers, and any possible assistance. Today, more than twenty years later, RAHAB carries on this work by sending teams of trained volunteers into the streets and strip clubs of Stark, Summit, Cuyahoga and Mahoning Counties to build relationship and share the love and hope of Jesus with the women in these spaces.  The women we encounter often ask for prayer from the female volunteers who interact with them, while men on the teams wait, pray, and guide our teams. RAHAB volunteers go out regularly, on a weekly or monthly basis, to build consistent relationships and bring the light of Jesus into these dark hidden places.

Jail Ministries

RAHAB’s trained volunteers connect with incarcerated women through writing letters, jail visits, and leading group Bible Studies in three facilities in Summit County. Although the studies are optional, it is not unusual for more than half of the women in a facility to choose to attend.

Drop-In Homes

Our adult Drop-In Homes are intentionally located within Akron and Canton where many survivors are being trafficked. Open on weekdays, women can stop in for family-style meals, Bible Studies, encouragement and friendship. They are able to shop the free clothes closet, receive donated hygiene items, and can even take a shower. The homes are a safe haven, a respite, and a place where staff and volunteers connect and build intentional relationships with women who visit. The women who attend the Drop-In Homes also have access to Adult Mentoring services if they choose.

Minor & Adult Mentoring

RAHAB provides Minor & Adult Mentoring for youth and adults in RAHAB’s services. Volunteer mentors commit to spend time each week with a RAHAB mentee. RAHAB believes the presence of a loving, consistent adult can bring healing and the Hope of Jesus into the lives of survivors. Weekly programming and mentoring instill self-esteem and coping skills as staff and volunteers strive to reflect the love of Christ to youth and adult mentees.

We receive referrals for mentoring through our partnerships with Summit County Juvenile Court’s Restore Court docket, the first juvenile human trafficking docket certified by the Ohio Supreme Court, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court’s Safe Harbor Docket, and Akron Municipal Court’s Rise Court for adult survivors. We also accept referrals from the community to provide Minor Mentoring to youth who have been trafficked, or are at high-risk for trafficking. To refer a youth to Minor Mentoring, please click here.

RAHAB also has two juvenile mentoring centers named Selah’s Place, in Akron & Cleveland, for youth to come with a staff member or volunteer mentor to spend time, receive clothing or hygiene items, and enjoy a volunteer-prepared meal. Selah’s place is made possible by our partnership with Restore Court and by the generosity of donors like you throughout the community.

The Willows – Minor Community Based Programming

The Willows program offers wrap-around support for youth (ages 12-17 in Summit, Stark, Cuyahoga and Portage Counties) and their families during the healing process. Youth in this program are provided with a case manager, and a mentor through our Minor Mentoring program. The family is also provided with case management services, respite care opportunities, and a 24/7 hotline should any need arise.

To refer a youth to The Willows, please click here.

Education, Training, and Inspiration

Education and training are key to preventing and identifying human trafficking. RAHAB representatives have spoken at faith-based retreats, state-wide conferences, large corporations, top hospitals, law enforcement and first-responder organizations, school in-services, businesses, civic organizations, and many others.

RAHAB is proud to provide free Community Trainings throughout Northeast Ohio that are open to the public. To see a list of training topics, upcoming dates, and register, please visit our Community Trainings page.

To request a speaker to provide specialized training or updates on RAHAB’s programs for your event or organization, please click here

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Human Trafficking 101

Duration: 1 Hour

What it is: HT 101 is an essential teaching on the realities of human trafficking. In this course, we will illuminate the issues of sex trafficking, explain a generalized process for how someone becomes involved in trafficking, and provide practical insight of how trafficking takes place. We will also highlight what we know about traffickers, how someone becomes vulnerable to trafficking, and how demand for commercial sex fuels sex trafficking. By the end of this course, you will be able to articulate the needs and vulnerabilities of trafficking survivors and have knowledge of practical solutions

Who it is for: This course is offered to all members of the community who would like to understand human trafficking and is required for all of RAHAB’s volunteers and staff 

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