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 staff and dedicated volunteers into the streets and strip clubs of Stark, Summit, and Cuyahoga Counties to build relationships, offer support, and share the love of Jesus with 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 teams go out on a weekly or monthly basis to build consistent relationships and bring light into dark places.

Jail Ministries

RAHAB’s staff and dedicated volunteers connect with incarcerated women by leading group Bible Studies, conducting 1:1 video calls, and in-person visits in correctional facilities in Summit and Stark Counties. Although Bible studies are optional, it is not unusual for more than half of the women in a facility to choose to attend and the women have frequently requested to have our Jail Ministry teams visit more often! This ministry provides a unique opportunity to build relationships with women during their incarceration that can transition with them upon their release, providing critical support for re-entry. 

Drop-In Homes

RAHAB’s Drop-In Homes are intentionally located in Akron and Canton in neighborhoods where crime, prostitution, and other activities that lead to trafficking are prevalent. Open on weekdays, adult women can stop in for family-style meals, Bible Studies, encouragement, and intentional community. They are able to shop the free boutique for clothing and hygiene items, can take a shower, receive referrals for additional services specific to their needs, and build a support network. The homes are a safe haven, a respite, and a place where staff and volunteers connect and build intentional relationships with women who visit.

If you believe the Drop-In Home would be helpful for you and your circumstances, please click here for more information on visiting!  

Adult Mentoring

RAHAB partners with the RISE court program at Akron Municipal Court to provide 1:1 mentoring services to adult women who have experienced sex trafficking and/or exploitation. Women who attend the Drop-In Home on a regular basis and are looking for additional accountability and depth on their healing journey can also be paired with a mentor. 

Minor Mentoring

RAHAB provides Minor Mentoring for youth aged 12-17 who have been directly affected by sex trafficking. RAHAB primarily serves youth in Summit and Cuyahoga Counties. Youth are paired with a healthy adult mentor who meets with them weekly for at least one year utilizing RAHAB’s own expertly-written and science-backed Hope Curriculum. This program is designed to give youth strategies to deal with difficult circumstances, habits to support a healthy lifestyle, fond memories, and a journal of goal-oriented hope. Youth in Minor Mentoring meet with their mentor in the community or at one of RAHAB’s youth centers, both named Selah’s Place, located in Akron and Cleveland. At these centers youth have access to the free clothing closet and hygiene supplies, food, and fun activities.

RAHAB receives referrals for Minor 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 at large to provide Minor Mentoring to youth who have been sex trafficked. To refer a youth to Minor Mentoring, please click here.

Education and Training

Education and training are key to preventing and identifying human trafficking. RAHAB representatives have spoken at faith-based churches and events, 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 Community Trainings throughout Northeast Ohio that are open to the public for those who want to learn more about sex trafficking in our local community and related topics. 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 for your event or organization, please click here.