TriHealth’s CARES forensic program seeks sustained funding, expands services in Oxford

TriHealth and McCullough Hyde Foundation representatives told Oxford City Council on Monday that the Center for Abuse, Rape and Emergency Services (CARES) offers forensic exams and trauma-informed care for survivors and currently depends on philanthropy to cover program costs not reimbursed by state or federal sources.

“We serve survivors age 14 and up, but really what sets us apart is that we’re the only health care system in this area with a forensic program,” Christine Hassert, CARES coordinator at TriHealth, told council during a presentation on program services and community outreach.

Hassert described specialized photographic equipment known as the Cortex Flow (branded in remarks as “Flow”), which the program uses to enhance documentation of injuries on darker skin tones. “What Cortex Flow … does is she has contrast software photography where we can give better definition to the injury that we see with the naked eye,” she said, and noted the technology has aided prosecutions in nearby Butler County.

Program scope and costs: TriHealth’s Andy Swallow said the program provides forensic exams that can take two to four hours and are free to survivors, including HIV prophylaxis and preventive antibiotics. He told council that reimbursement for sexual-assault evidence kits through the attorney general’s criminal kit program is limited (a figure cited in the presentation was $632), and there is currently no reimbursement mechanism for forensic exams tied specifically to domestic-violence incidents. “It is really not a sustainable program on its own,” Swallow said, describing philanthropy’s role in bridging the funding gap.

Outreach and evidence questions: Hassert and other staff said CARES conducts outreach to universities, police departments, first responders and prosecutors to improve evidence preservation, trauma-informed care and strangulation recognition. In response to council questions about drug-facilitated assault testing windows, staff explained that the standard kit testing is capped by state protocols: blood and urine testing windows (blood and urine within 48 hours; urine alone up to 96 hours). The program does not currently have an approved process to collect or test hair samples through state channels, staff said.

Why it matters: Council members praised the clinical team for providing services locally and pressed for clarity about surveillance, evidence preservation and how the program’s work meshes with law enforcement investigations. Councilors suggested looking at retention policies for private venue surveillance and other preventive measures alongside CARES’ post‑incident services.

Council questions and staff responses: A council member asked whether drugs are tested on site; Hassert responded that drug testing is performed by a crime lab and chain of custody is maintained outside the hospital. On whether a broader time window could allow hair testing, Hassert said the state of Ohio has no current process to collect hair samples in this program and widening the window would raise policy and funding questions.

Closing: TriHealth representatives thanked council for city funding through the community assistance program and for partnership on outreach efforts. “Your investment in this program is important,” Swallow said, and the presenters said they anticipated demand would grow as outreach expands.

Ending: Councilors thanked the presenters and noted interest in integrating prevention and surveillance questions into public‑safety planning.