These are items found in one of the bags available for areas that deal with children and human trafficking cases, Safe Harbour representatives said approximately 100 were created and any entity interested in receiving one may reach out to Kathy Clemens at (607) 337-1656 for more information. (Photo by Zachary Meseck)

CHENANGO COUNTY – Representatives of the Chenango County Youth Bureau have announced that the county has received $23,000 for the year of 2021 in Safe Harbour grant funding which is to be primarily spent on supporting at risk youth vulnerable to human trafficking.

Chenango County Youth Bureau Director Kathy Clemens said Safe Harbour is a New York State program that attempts to assist existing child welfare and allied youth-serving systems, including runaway-homeless youth programs, probation, persons In need of supervision, youth bureaus, and other critical partners.

According to New York State Police Troop C Public Information Officer Aga Dembinska, the most common type of human trafficking that is reported in Troop C involves teenagers running away from home and visiting someone they met online.

Dembinska said from there the victim can be held against their will or find it difficult to get back home.