Stearns County Attorney’s Office Receives $955,000 Grant for Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force

Saint Cloud, MN, USA / KNSI

Jennifer Lewerenz

Apr 13, 2026 | 5:57 AM

Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force

Stearns County

(KNSI) — The Stearns County Attorney’s Office has been awarded $955,000 to support the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force.

The funding comes from the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs’ 2026 Sex Trafficking Investigations Task Force Grant Program. The two-year grant runs from May 1st, 2026 through April 30th, 2028.

Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall says the money will enhance investigative resources, expand training, and support victim-centered practices. The task force works to identify victims, disrupt trafficking operations, and prosecute offenders.

The CMHTTF includes nearly 20 partner organizations spanning law enforcement, social services, healthcare, and legal aid, among them the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, St. Cloud Police Department, CentraCare, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and Catholic Charities.

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