Brain Injury Resource Facilitation Programs in the United States
This map was developed to recognize where non-Medicaid brain injury resource facilitation services exist in the US. The provided services vary among states at this time, including but not limited to information & referral, assessments of needs and determination of goals, advocacy, support groups, classes and workshops, peer support, and community outreach. The service delivery also varies widely among states and is often defined by available funding (e.g., some states are only able to offer brain injury resource facilitation to individuals experiencing homelessness or domestic and sexual violence). This map does not include states with Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waivers. It also does not specifically feature brain injury trust fund programs. The service offerings within states are subject to change and this map is updated annually. Please contact info@nashia.org for necessary updates and feedback.
Access Regulation: State Self-Assessment
The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA), in partnership with the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services, ADvancing States, National Association of Medicaid Directors, and National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors are excited to share a new self-assessment tool to support states in determining their current level of compliance with requirements in the final Access regulation and identifying areas where action steps are needed to achieve compliance.
The Self-Assessment Tool is available in both Word and Excel versions.
CHATS Screening Tool
Ohio Domestic Violence Network has a new enhanced version of their CARE CHATS tool, a brain injury “screening”/identification tool developed in 2019 and designed to be used as a part of the CARE (Connect, Acknowledge, Respond, Evaluate) framework.
Enhancements include:
Additional question under C to capture other types of events that could cause brain injuries through oxygen deprivation to the brain, including overdoses and medical issues
Additional question under H to capture other types of events to the head, neck and face that could cause brain injuries,, including accidents, shaking, or while using substances
Additional questions under T to capture troubles related to social determinants of health, which are often of primary significance to DV survivors.
The Intersection of Deflection, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Substance Use Disorders Podcast Series
In this podcast series, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) team explores the interconnectivity between brain injury, behavioral health, law enforcement, and the justice system. Through the episodes, the team interviews experts and discusses the prevalence, impacts, and best practices for law enforcement to engage in successful interactions with those living with brain injury and behavioral health conditions.
Beyond Checking the Box: Full Engagement Strategies for Improving Participation of Persons with Lived Experience
This resource highlights strategies for engaging participation of individuals with lived experience on state advisory boards/councils. The TBI TARC, with support from two members of the TBI Advisory Leadership Group, hosted meetings with state program managers and staff members and with individuals with lived experience from eight states to discuss challenges for engagement of individuals with lived experience on advisory boards/councils. Based on the discussions, a set of strategies for full participation were developed which are discussed in the document.
TBI/ABI HCBS Waiver Programs
This resource provides an overview of Traumatic Brain Injury/Acquired Brain Injury (TBI/ABI) Medicaid Home and Community-Based (HCBS) waiver programs and other State options for long-term services and supports (LTSS) for individuals with brain injury who are Medicaid eligible.
Brain Injury Resource Facilitation: A Consensus of Best Practices
In 2023, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) was awarded a grant from the Moody Foundation to develop consensus related to the practice of resource facilitation. Elements for consideration included the name, core components, principles and approaches, evaluation and measurement, and data collection.
To accomplish these objectives, NASHIA implemented a Delphi Consensus process with brain injury leaders across the country.
Six-month Post-release Outcomes for Inmates With Traumatic Brain Injury in Supported Community Programming
The latest publication supported by the NASHIA team! Judy Dettmer, NASHIA’s Director of Technical Assistance and Special Projects assisted with this resource related to tracking outcomes of individuals released from the justice system with TBI.
The goal of this study was to examine the effectiveness of case management services for a population of justice-involved individuals with TBI history. The data suggests that receiving services can prevent an escalation of psychosocial needs.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries and Risk for Affective and Behavioral Disorders
A recent publication from Pediatrics focused on the potential long-term effects of mTBI in children. The study found that children who sustain an mTBI are at increased risk of having a new affective or behavioral disorder within 4 years of the injury.
The study’s findings have important implications not only for health and development of children with a history of mTBI, but also for the management of students with mTBI in schools. These findings are compelling support for the National Concussion Surveillance System and having at least one school professional at every school trained on TBI.
Competencies for Training Juvenile Services on Justice-Involved Youth with Traumatic Brain Injury
Article published in the Journal of Applied Juvenile Justice Services, January 2024.
ABSTRACT
Research indicates young individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in juvenile justice settings lack essential support, mainly due to staff members' insufficient knowledge and skills in TBI-related areas stemming from a lack of relevant professional development. This study aimed to improve services for justice-involved youths with TBI in juvenile correction facilities by establishing empirically validated core competencies tailored to their needs. Through a Delphi study involving experts in juvenile services, juvenile corrections, TBI, transition services, and professional development, we identified and refined a set of 44 competencies distributed across six domains: knowledge (12 competencies), screening (6 competencies), eligibility (3 competencies), assessment (4 competencies), intervention (10 competencies), and community reentry (9 competencies).
Treatment Court Toolkit for Supporting Individuals w/ ABI
Each year, approximately 1.5 million Americans sustain a brain injury, and an estimated 5.3 million Americans are living with the effects of one. While the incidence of brain injuries in the general population is alarming, the prevalence among justice-involved individuals is staggering, so much so that the CDC recognizes brain injury in prisons and jails as an important public health problem.
All Rise's Justice for Vets has partnered with NASHIA to develop a new toolkit designed to help treatment courts better identify, assess, treat, and support individuals with acquired brain injury in their programs.
Building Capacity of Veteran Treatment Courts: Resources for Brain Injury Programs
The prevalence of brain injury among veterans is high, and especially so for those veterans who are engaged in the criminal legal system. Veteran treatment courts provide an ideal opportunity for a partnership between brain injury programs and the courts to ensure better outcomes for the veteran. This toolkit provides state brain injury programs an overview of what veteran court is, a video from a judge’s perspective designed to promote buy-in for the need for this support, tip sheets for a variety of audiences, and PowerPoint training slide decks to aid in training efforts.
A Report on Barriers to Community Integration of People with Traumatic Brain Injury in Ohio Nursing Facilities
Disability Rights Ohio and the Ohio Brain Injury Program collaborated on a project focused on community integration for people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) living in nursing facilities in Ohio. The purpose of the project was to identify major service gaps that are barriers to people with TBI living in the community and to use the information to inform changes in state support systems so that people with TBI are more integrated into their communities.
TBI Youth Justice Website
NASHIA is proud to be a project partner with McMaster University as they launch the TBI Youth Justice website, a freely available resource and toolkit for and about children and youth (up to <25 years) with TBI who intersect with the criminal justice system internationally. The work of this international collaboration aims to make a difference in the trajectory and outcomes for childen and youth in the justice system around the globe.
Strong Infrastructure Components for Brain Injury (BI): State Self-Assessment Tool
Building a strong state infrastructure takes time, effort, and planning from many individuals and organizations. There are several key components necessary to create a comprehensive state system of services, partners, funding, and policy. Infrastructure building is a process and requires routine assessment, regardless of the level achieved. This tool, Strong Infrastructure Components for Brain Injury (BI): State Self-Assessment Tool, produced by ACL's Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TARC) was created to assist BI partners and collaborators in determining which level best describes their state’s progress, and to give some guidance to what a more comprehensive system could include. It is designed to be a guide, and states should consider re-assessing routinely, or at various points to assist in state planning efforts, such as conducting a new needs assessment, developing, or updating a state plan, or applying for a grant opportunity.
Sex, Gender and TBI: A Path to Recovery and Care
NASHIA's partners at the KITE Toronto Rehabilitation Institute University Health Network recently disseminated an important resource for the brain injury community: Sex, Gender and TBI: A Path to Recovery and Care.
The materials (infographics packaged up in an easy to view "flip-book") can be shared widely. The authors of the resource hope that people with brain injury and their families find this educational material useful in helping them understand brain injury, what to expect, and the implications of sex and gender for their injury journey.
NASEM - Improving Systems of Care for Traumatic Brain Injury
The National Academies Forum on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) hosted a hybrid public workshop in May 2023 to explore what is needed to better serve adult TBI patients who require follow-up care in support of their recovery at home. Speakers discussed when and how to follow up with less-severe TBI patients who have been discharged to their homes after a brief period of acute care, and the varied needs, issues, and considerations that relate to outpatient care and at-home symptom management during the approximately 6-month period following injury. This publication summarizes the presentation and discussion of the workshop.
When TBIs in Children Become Chronic Health Conditions
This article, published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, is a product of the Moody Galveston Brain Injury Conference. The article describes how TBI in children might meet the criteria of a chronic health condition. They also explain how identifying a health condition can facilitate improved monitoring and care of children over time. The authors also hosted a webinar in conjunction with the Brain Injury Association of America.
Survivor Webpage - Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury
The Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury within the Ohio Domestic Violence Network has created a new webpage for survivors of domestic or intimate partner violence on how head injuries and strangulation can hurt your brain. The page contains an introductory video, and lists facts and challenges related to brain injury.
Online Brain Injury Screening and Support System
NASHIA’s OBISSS is an online screening system that determines a potential exposure to brain injury in someone’s lifetime and identifies any associated problems that are present. Watch the recording of our informational session and view the slide deck for more information.