NASHIA News
August 16, 2005
Greetings NASHIA Member!
This has been an exciting time for NASHIA and the past six months since my last message have been very busy. NASHIA has expanded its role as the key voice in Washington, DC for improving state systems for individuals with TBI and their families. This increased role has been critical as we face reauthorization of the TBI Act and obtaining the appropriations to meet the promise of the Act. The political environment for domestic programs has been a difficult one with the reductions proposed by the President in his FY '06 budget.
Public Policy
With the President eliminating all funding for the HRSA TBI Program (State and Protection and Advocacy grants) in his budget, NASHIA has been working to include appropriations in both the House and Senate. In March, NASHIA co-sponsored with the Brain Injury Association of American (BIAA) and National Brain Injury Research Treatment and Training Foundation (NBIRTT) a successful reception on Capitol Hill to kick off our efforts towards reauthorization and appropriations. Given the importance of HRSA appropriations, NASHIA retained Jean Berube as a lobbyist to assist Susan Vaughn in strategy development and establishing necessary contacts on the Hill.
The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force under the leadership of Rep. Pascrell and Rep. Platts has played a vital role in the House appropriating funds for the program The Task Force made a huge impression by sending a letter with 70 signatures to appropriators underscoring the need for all TBI Act Programs. The Task Force also hosted a hearing for members of Congress and staffers. Bill Ditto, Chair of the NASHIA Public Policy Committee presented on state issues.
With this effort, along with those of Susan Vaughn, Jean Berube and our collaborators at the BIAA and the National Disability Rights Network (formerly the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems), the House inserted nine million dollars for the HRSA TBI Program. Senate Committee appropriators has added 9.279 million dollars. While this does not represent all the funding that we requested, given the restraints in the budget this year, it is a significant accomplishment.
Work continues on the reauthorization of the TBI Act. At the recommendations of our Congressional supporters, the focus has shifted to reauthorizing the Act with minimal changes in order to get it passed. More significant changes would risk the perception that the Act was being substantially expanded and changed; possibly resulting in a prolonged review and debate in committee. We are hoping that we can reduce the amount of match required by States to participate in the HRSA State Grants, and we are still calling for a new section relating to grants of national significance.
Much work remains to be done for both the TBI Act reauthorization and appropriations. Please watch for Action Alerts as we continue to work towards these goals. Your help is essential as we will need every voice to get the HRSA TBI Program funded in FY '06 and the TBI Act reauthorized.
I want to take this time to thank the NASHIA Public Policy Committee, chaired by Bill Ditto, the NASHIA Staff, especially Susan Vaughn and Jean Berube for exemplary work in this area. As always, my thanks to all the stakeholders that were, and continue to be, such an integral part in this effort.
NASHIA's Direction and Development
NASHIA continues to grow as it reaches out and develops relationships and collaborative agreements with other national organizations and agencies. Most recently NASHIA signed a letter of understanding with the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) and was invited by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the process of redesigning the 1915(c) waiver application.
To support this growth, to continue to be an important voice on Capitol Hill, and to enhance membership services, NASHIA's Board has recognized the need to increase revenues from existing sources and to develop additional sources of revenue. Towards this end, the Executive Committee met, at personal cost to its individual members, on June 25-26 in our NASHIA offices. The focus of this retreat was to renew our vision to become a national presence and leader for State Government TBI Programs and to review and increase current revenue sources and to develop additional revenues. The Executive Committee developed three, six, and 18 month goals and as we continue to work and develop these goals we will keep you informed.
One item I would like to speak to now is our goal of developing and expanding NASHIA's product line. To do this NASHIA will be establishing a Product Committee. The Product Committee will guide the development and the ongoing management of NASHIA's product business to maximize NASHIA's product revenue base. This will build NASHIA's reputation among associations, professional groups and other constituencies. Issues that may be addressed will include product line additions, inventory assessment and acquisition, product pricing and evaluation. NASHIA is looking for members to be a part of this committee and I ask those interested to become involved and join this committee. If interested please call Rebecca Zeltinger at 301-656-3436. You will be hearing more about this at our upcoming State of the States Conference in Denver.
NASHIA Staff
The NASHIA Office has undergone some significant staff changes. With the resignation of Susan Connors as our Executive Director, the Board appointed Ken Currier as Acting Executive Director. Over the past six months he has reorganized NASHIA operations and staff and strengthened NASHIA's financial performance. Given the excellent work that he has done, Ken was appointed the Executive Director of NASHIA at our most recent Board meeting. In addition, Jeff Henderson was recently hired as our Finance and Administration Manager and is currently developing more sophisticated mechanisms for tracking NASHIA's finances. Jeff has been an excellent addition to our staff and has already secured a line of credit with Washington First Bank. And finally, to address the large amount of materials being developed through the TBI Technical Assistance Center, NASHIA is also in the process of hiring a Communications Specialist.
Membership Services
You should have received one of your membership benefits - a complimentary copy of the "Guide to State Government Brain Injury Policies, Funding and Services" (Second Edition). Many of you are to be thanked for taking the time to contribute data and other information to produce this guide that identifies service system trends and informs advocates and policymakers as to the status of the TBI field. Along with the Guide, you received a member survey. For those of you who haven't done so already, please take a few moments to complete the survey (online at http://www.nashia.org ) by August 24, 2005 and tell us how we can better serve you. Complete the survey by the deadline and win a chance for a discount on your 2006 membership dues. One name will be drawn from all who complete the survey and that person will win a discount on his or her 2006 NASHIA membership equal to the return rate. So, if 50% of you complete the survey, the drawing winner will receive 50% off his or her 2006 NASHIA membership dues.
Under Colleen Ryall's leadership, the Membership Committee is undertaking a membership drive to increase State Agency and other memberships. We are always looking for new members. Be sure to consider promoting NASHIA to your colleagues in TBI. Those members who are state employees, if your state does not have a State Membership please consider a state membership.
SOS Meeting
Manfred Tatzmann and his State of the States (SOS) committee have assembled an impressive program for our September 7-10 16th Annual State of the States in Head Injury meeting in Denver. To register now, simply go to http://www.nashia.org/sos.htm and choose "Register Online". I hope to see you all in Denver!
TBI TAC
The TBI Technical Assistance Center at NASHIA is perfecting its identification, capture and dissemination of promising trends and practices. This should accelerate and provide a rich source of information to NASHIA to use and position itself as a national leader in moving best practices in state systems for individuals with brain injury and their families to standard practice. As part of the HRSA TBI Grant program, HRSA has contracted with the Institute on Medicine to perform an evaluation on the TBI program. This is a critical juncture for the program and NASHIA and its members have been very involved to date. At a recent meeting of the IOM Evaluation team many NASHIA members and staff presented to the committee on behalf of the program.
If you have ideas and/or concerns about NASHIA's role or potential opportunities, please don't hesitate to contact me at 603-371-5035 or Ken Currier at 301-656-3145. I look forward to working with you all to assist state government in promoting partnerships and to build systems to meet the needs of individuals with brain injury and their families.
Sincerely,
John
