11-22-2025 7:27pm

Atrium Medical Center Receives $50,000 Grant to Continue Warren County Traffic Safety Efforts

Beth Callahan Editor

Ann Brock, trauma outreach coordinator at Atrium Medical Center and coordinator of the Warren County Safe Communities Coalition, shares information about safe driving at the Lebanon Healthy Living Market. CONTRIBUTED/PREMIER HEALTH

MIDDLETOWN, OH -- Atrium Medical Center’s Level III Trauma Center has been awarded $50,000 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 2026.

This marks the 15th 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.

“Every life lost on our roadways represents a family forever changed,” said Ann Brock, trauma outreach coordinator at Atrium Medical Center and coordinator of the Warren County Safe Communities Coalition. “Through this grant and our strong community partnerships, we can continue helping drivers make safer choices and ultimately saving lives across Warren County.”

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.

The Warren County Safe Communities Coalition meets regularly to review local crash data and trends. During its most recent fatal review on October 1, 2025, the committee analyzed five fatal crashes in Warren County. Two involved motorcycles, two involved unrestrained occupants, and one was due to a vehicle traveling left of center. As of that date, eight fatal crashes had occurred in the county this year.

The coalition will continue offering outreach campaigns, safety events, and educational programs throughout 2026 to promote safer roads for all residents and visitors.