CANTON, Ohio (Oct. 27, 2016) – Aultman Hospital has been awarded a grant of $434,443 through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) program administered by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for 2017. The grant will expand Aultman’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program, which helps male and female victims of sexual assault, ages 14 and older.

The funds will allow Aultman to continue to build and improve upon additional staff and training from a previous VOCA grant which provided Aultman the ability to start. In addition, Aultman Emergency Department nurses will receive training to bring the total of SANE-certified nurses to 24.

The International Association of Forensic Nursing will provide the specialized training and certification. Training incorporates classroom, online and clinical practicum for certification. Topics include comprehensive physical assessment of patients; forensic and DNA terminology; collection and preservation of forensic evidence; documentation and photography; and preparation for court testimony.

The grant provides funds for 80 percent of the total program expansion budget. The remaining 20 percent is matched with contributions raised from local entities, per federal guidelines attached to the funding.

The SANE program has been in existence for nearly 15 years. Aultman’s SANE nurses are available 24/7 to respond to cases in the Aultman Emergency Department, and they care for more than 50 victims each year. The SANE nurse collects evidence from every victim – including clothing worn during the assault, DNA and hair samples, photos of injuries and swabs of any area that may have the perpetrator’s DNA. The chain of evidence is maintained to protect the validity of that evidence. Once the examination is complete, a law enforcement officer who works in the jurisdiction where the assault took place picks up the materials.

The Ohio Attorney General Office administers the Crime Victims Grant Program and distributes funds provided by the federal 1984 Victims of Crime Act, which helps victims and victim service providers with program funding.

For more information about Aultman’s SANE Program, call 330-363-6788.