Advisory Boards/Councils

Did You Know?

One important component of a strong, viable system to serve persons with brain injuries is the development of an Advisory Board/Council. Such boards/councils are created to facilitate interagency collaboration and citizen participation in policy formulation and program implementation.

Currently, 48 States have Advisory Boards/Councils. About one-third of the States established Boards/Councils prior to 1996. Early on, the purpose of the boards/councils was often to provide input into trust fund distribution, Medicaid Waiver applications, or statewide program operations. The majority of States – approximately 60 percent – formed Advisory Boards/Councils in response to the TBI Act of 1996, which provided funds through the Federal TBI Program for the development of such boards/councils as one of four required components for core capacity in each State.

Each Advisory Board/Council is unique in its structural development and its relationship to governmental bodies. Of the 48 Boards/Councils in place in 2004, ten have responsibility for another constituency, most often spinal cord injury or developmental disabilities, and in two States, the Advisory Board/Council is actually a subcommittee of a broader, cross-disability advisory body.

In 24 States the Advisory Board/Council is designated by statute. The Advisory Board/Council was initially established by executive order of the governor in six States, four of which are now included among those designated by statute. In the remaining States, the TBI Act is sometimes cited as the authority for the entity.

In most States, the Advisory Board/Council is located within the State’s Lead Agency. Five of the 48 bodies, however, are housed elsewhere. In two States the board/council is located in the executive branch; in two States the body stands independently; and in one State the entity is affiliated with a university. Forty-five of the 48 Advisory Boards/Councils have assigned staff.

Advisory Boards/Councils may be appointed by the Governor, commissioner or department head, legislature, or a combination. In most situations member composition is dictated by the executive order or statute that establishes the council.

The size and composition of Advisory Boards/Councils varies greatly. The fewest number of members is eight; the greatest is 54. The nationwide average is 22 members. In one State agency employees account for 85 percent of the Board/Council membership; while in another State, consumer and family representation is 62 percent. Across the country, consumer and family representation averages 39 percent, while agency staff and community/other participation make up 30.5 percent each.

For service on Advisory Boards/Councils, State employees are most likely to be recruited from the departments of vocational rehabilitation, special education, injury prevention, mental health, developmental disabilities, Medicaid/medical assistance, and special health care needs. Very few advisory bodies recruit from aging, corrections, insurance, or transportation agencies.

Forty-two of the 48 Advisory Boards/Councils have a chairperson. In 24 States the members elect their chair. In seven States an agency staff member serves as the chair. In the remaining States the chairperson is named in legislation, is appointed, or is self-selected.

Thirty-four of the 48 Advisory Boards/Councils reimburse members for travel and necessary expenses. Four advisory bodies compensate members for their time. In 15 States the agency staff provides pre-meeting coaching to maximize member participation.

Functional roles of Advisory Boards/Councils vary from State-to-State. Roles can be affected by a variety of factors including the relationship to State government, level of funding, and staff support. Every advisory body is involved in needs assessment and planning and most engage in collaboration, education, and advocacy activities. Eighteen of the 48 Advisory Boards/Councils participate in funding decisions. Forty-one boards/councils address systems coordination issues, and 38 are involved in long-term service and support matters. Thirty-six of the 48 boards/councils address medical and/or rehabilitation concerns, while 35 are involved in prevention topics.

Advisory Boards/Councils funded under the TBI Act are responsible for producing a Needs and Resources Assessment and a TBI State Action Plan. Other common products of advisory bodies include annual reports, legislative recommendations, and information brochures.

In 25 States the Advisory Board/Council reports to an agency administrator or director. In 15 States the Board/Council reports to the governor and/or legislature. In five States the body reports to a department secretary or commissioner. In two States the Advisory Board/Council is not accountable to anyone.

Click here to order a copy of our latest “Guide to State Government Brain Injury Policies, Funding and Services” to learn more about Advisory Boards/Councils and other State systems components.

Legislation/Regulations

• Arizona Governor's Council on Spinal and Head Injuries Statute [PDF 72KB]

• California's TBI Statewide Advisory Council Statute [HTM]

• Colorado's Traumatic Brain Injury Board Statute [HTM]

• Florida's Advisory Council on Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries Statute  [HTM]

• Hawaii's Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board Statute [HTM]

• Hawaii's Neurotrauma Advisory Board Statute  [HTM]

• Illinois' Advisory Council on Spinal Cord and Head Injuries Statute  [HTM]

• Idaho's TBI Regional Advisory Council Charters [PDF 55KB]

• Iowa's Advisory Council on Brain Injuries Statute [PDF 45 KB]

• Kentucky's Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund Board Statute [PDF 27 KB]

• Louisiana's Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board Statute [HTM]

• Maryland's State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board Statute (See Title 13, Subtitle 21, §13-2101 to 13-2105.) [HTM]

• Minnesota's Advisory Committee Statute  [HTM]

• Mississippi's Advisory Council on Spinal Cord Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries Statute  [HTM]

• Missouri's Missouri Head Injury Advisory Council Statute  [HTM]

• Nevada's Advisory Committee on Traumatic Brain Injuries Statute  [HTM]

• New Hampshire's Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Advisory Council Statute  [HTM]

• New Jersey's Advisory Council on Traumatic Brain Injury Statute  [PDF 85 KB]

• New Jersey's Council on TBI Executive Order [Word 24KB]

• New Mexico's Brain Injury Advisory Council Statute  [HTM]

• New York's Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council Statute  (See Public Health Article 27-CC, §2744.) [HTM]

• North Carolina's Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council Statute: Part 1  [HTM] and Part 2  [HTM]

• Ohio's Brain Injury Advisory Committee Statute  [HTM]

• Oregon's Task Force on Brain Injury Executive Order
  [Word 29KB]

• Rhode Island's Advisory Commission on Traumatic Brain Injuries Statute  [HTM]

• Tennessee's Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council Statute: Part 1  [HTM] and Part 2  [HTM]

• West Virginia's Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Fund Board Statute (See WVC 18-10K-3.) [HTM]

Products

• Traumatic Brain Injury Statewide Advisory Board/Council Wellness [PDF 337 KB] 

• Brain Injury Systems of Care Matrix [Word 58KB]

• Conducting Statewide Needs Assessments for Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury

• TBI Statewide Advisory Board Mission Statements (PDF 89KB)

Resources

Iowa’s TBI Statewide Advisory Board/Council Nomination Tracking Grid [Word 145KB]