Atrium Medical Center Receives Federal Grant to Continue Warren County Traffic Safety Efforts
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (Nov. 12, 2026) – Atrium Medical Center’s Level III Trauma Center has been awarded $46,200 in federal funding from the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office to support local traffic safety initiatives for federal fiscal year 2027.
This marks the 16th consecutive year Atrium has received the competitive grant, which funds the hospital’s coordination of the Warren County Safe Communities Coalition, a collaborative effort to reduce crashes and fatalities through education, enforcement partnerships, and community engagement.
Coalition members include Warren County law enforcement agencies, local governments, the Warren County Career Center, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Together, they promote safe driving habits and raise awareness of issues such as seat belt use, impaired and distracted driving, motorcycle safety, and teen driver education.
“This funding helps us turn local crash data into education that connects with people,” said Ann Brock, trauma outreach coordinator at Atrium Medical Center and coordinator of the Warren County Safe Communities Coalition. “Whether someone hears from a crash survivor whose seat belt saved their life or experiences an impaired-driving simulator, we want that lesson to stay with them every time they get behind the wheel.”
Grant funding supports the coalition’s coordination of traffic safety efforts with community and law enforcement partners. Examples include Click It or Ticket activities; a virtual reality impaired-driving simulator at community events; and sober-driving outreach throughout the year at schools and community events. Quarterly fatal crash reviews help the coalition identify local trends and guide education and prevention efforts.
As of Nov. 2, Warren County had recorded 18 fatal crashes in 2026, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Of those, 13 involved impairment and 12 involved an unrestrained victim, underscoring the importance of the coalition’s efforts to promote sober driving and seat belt use.
The Ohio Traffic Safety Office administers National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds statewide to support local initiatives addressing priority areas of motor vehicle safety. Grant proposals are competitively reviewed and awarded to agencies and organizations that demonstrate measurable impact on reducing serious and fatal crashes.Contact Us
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