Juvenile runaway rescue program to expand in Cook County

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A program to rescue runaways is expanding in Cook County.

The Department of Children and Family Services is teaming up with the Cook County Sheriff's Office to locate and save runaway state wards for at least the next two years.

At any given time, there are around 100 young people missing in Cook County. And runaway teens are especially vulnerable to falling into the drug and sex trade.

The sheriff's office has made more than 520 juvenile rescues since starting the program in 2012.