Kelli Cary

Kelli Cary, MSSA, LISW-S has been a leader in the anti-trafficking space for 15 years. As a licensed independent social worker (LISW-S) her experience working with survivors in clinical and advocacy settings fuels her passion for this work.

Kelli is currently the State Anti-Trafficking Director at the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Office of Criminal Justice Services. In this role she coordinates the Governor’s Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, leading Ohio’s statewide response to human trafficking. Previously she held executive positions in anti-trafficking nonprofits where she developed programs providing direct services to adult and minor survivors of human trafficking. In these roles she led multidisciplinary teams, coalitions, policy efforts, and statewide working groups with the belief that collaboration at the local, state, and national level is how we will effectively combat human trafficking.

Kelli also serves on the steering committee for the National Compendium of State-Run Anti-Trafficking Initiatives. She is passionate about developing trauma-informed programs and elevating individuals with lived experience to ensure that services are truly restorative.