About Nashia

Dear Web Site Visitor:

In 1990, NASHIA became the first and remains the only forum addressing State
government's significant role in brain injury. As no two brain injuries are
alike, no two States are alike in terms of how they are organized and how
they provide services and supports. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a
significant public health problem with more than 1.7 million Americans
sustaining a TBI each year. These injuries will result in deaths and
permanent disability for a substantial number of individuals. A TBI can
happen to anyone at any time and can cause a wide range of functional short-
or long-term changes affecting thinking, memory, language, behavior,
personality, emotions, sensory and motor skills. These resulting problems
can affect all aspects of an individual's life as he or she returns to
school, work, home and community after injury.

TBI is a complex disability that challenges States' ability to respond to
the needs of persons with TBI and their families. These individuals need
services that cross multiple programs including Medicaid, vocational
rehabilitation, employment, education, home health care, mental health,
substance abuse, and long-term care programs. Without coordinated systems of
care, individuals are often placed inappropriately into nursing homes or
left to the families to care for without much support or assistance. When
families are no longer able to care for these individuals, the families turn
to the State, which is generally the only resource for these crisis
situations. As the signature wound of the Iraq and Afghanistan War, TBI
presents additional challenges to researchers, clinicians, and public
programs.

Serving as the premier source of information and education for State Agency
employees who are responsible for public brain injury policies, programs,
and services, NASHIA provides information on national trends, best
practices, and State contacts to Federal governmental agencies, national
associations and TBI stakeholders. Through its membership, NASHIA provides
collective representation as the voice of State government in Federal TBI
policy issues.

NASHIA welcomes all State Agency employees who interact with individuals
with brain injury, as well as TBI advocates, professionals, and
organizations with an interest in State and local policy and service
delivery. Please feel free to contact me to find out how you can become
involved in NASHIA's activities.

Janice K. White,
NASHIA President