December 11, 2018
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Attorney General’s office has awarded a $2.1 million grant to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Program.
This funding is part of $111.8 million in grants to more than 400 crime victim service providers across Ohio announced earlier this year by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding was awarded to Ohio from the U.S. Department of Justice, financed by federal settlements, fines and fees.
“Expanding the capacity of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s STAR program helps ensure victims of crime have support they need, often when they are feeling the most vulnerable and alone. By providing services beyond traditional care, we can help reduce the impact of trauma and care for the whole person,” said Attorney General DeWine. “The program’s goal of expanding access in traditionally underserved parts of the community will positively affect victims, as they work to rebuild their lives.”
The STAR Program’s Trauma Recovery Center was initially funded in January 2017 when the Ohio Attorney General’s office awarded $2.6 million to establish five Trauma Recovery Centers across the state. With this funding, Ohio became the second state in the nation with a network of Trauma Recovery Centers.
“This crucial new funding will enable growth of the STAR Trauma Recovery Center, which offers specialized services to survivors of crime and their families across central Ohio,” said Dr. K. Craig Kent, dean of Ohio State’s College of Medicine. “We’ll create new survivor support service options and broaden community outreach efforts to enhance access to care in traditionally marginalized and underserved parts of our community.”
The STAR Trauma Recovery Center, which is also part of Ohio State's Neurological Institute, will hire additional clinical staff to provide case management, therapy and medication management that help patients rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a traumatic experience.
The program also supports survivors of crime in creating victim statements and providing transportation to appointments for court hearings.
“With this new round of funding, we’ll increase access to our program that facilitates healing for adult survivors of trauma, violence, and loss through an innovative, evidence-based model of comprehensive trauma-informed care, advocacy, and outreach,” said Ken Yeager, director of the STAR Program.
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Media Contact: Eileen Scahill, Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, 614-293-3737, Eileen.Scahill@osumc.edu