Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) has been awarded a grant from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to support sexual assault victim assistance services available to the community.

The grant was issued from the Crime Victims Fund, available thanks to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which utilizes fines and penalties paid by convicted federal offenders to support victim assistance programs.  

The grant, which totaled $192,880.58, will be used to support a part-time sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) coordinator position, SANE nurse training, medical equipment, and 24/7 SANE nurse coverage at BVHS. 

“We currently have three SANE nurses as part of our Emergency Services team,” said Michelle Stratton, SANE program coordinator. “Through this grant we will be training five additional nurses to allow us to provide 24/7 SANE nurse coverage.

We will also be purchasing equipment to ensure we have the tools available to examine and care for those who have experienced a sexual assault.”

BVHS sexual assault nurse examiner services are available through both the Blanchard Valley Hospital and Bluffton Hospital Emergency Departments.