Programs
Arizona
TBI Lead Agency
Dept. of Economic Security
Governor's Council on Spinal &
Head Injuries
10640 N. 28th Dr., Suite B-102
Phoenix, AZ 85029
Chrystal Snyder
Project Director
602-863-0484
602-863-0521 (Fax)
csnyder@azdes.gov
Service Delivery
In Arizona the designated Lead Agency for TBI is the Governor's Council on Spinal and Head Injuries which is housed within the Department of Economic Security. The Council manages a trust fund and supports client services through partner programs.
Adults with TBI can apply for vocational and/or independent living rehabilitation services through the Department of Economic Security, Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration. Clients with vocational needs would contact the local Vocational Rehabilitation office, where eligibility would be determined and a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor assigned. Arizona has four full-time and two part-time TBI Specialist VR Counselors. Clients with complex needs are referred to the TBI Specialists; others are served by general VR Counselors with consultation from the TBI Specialists. An individualized plan with specific vocational goals is developed by the client and VR Counselor working together. A wide variety of services, assistive technology, home and vehicle modifications may be provided by contractors based on the needs in the plan and financial eligibility criteria.
Clients with independent living (non-vocational) goals would contact the local VR office, where a referral is made to an Independent Living Rehabilitation Services (ILRS) Counselor. There are seven ILRS Counselors in Arizona. Clients and ILRS Counselors work together to identify goals for increased independence and the services needed to achieve them. Core ILRS services (e.g., independent living skills training, peer mentoring, information and referral, and advocacy) are available to all applicants with disabilities; additional services may be available based on financial eligibility criteria.
Client services for people with TBI in the VR and ILRS programs are supported by a blend of trust fund, VR, and ILRS funds. The Governor's Council on Spinal and Head Injuries also funds the Brain Injury Association of Arizona to provide information and referral for consumers with TBI, their families, caregivers, and service professionals.
Arizona began operating an 1115 demonstration waiver in 1982. All covered services are integrated into a single delivery package managed by program contractors. There are several components to this waiver including (1) Acute Care (2) Long Term Care (3) Behavioral Health. Medicaid health plans and long-term care plans provide medical, behavioral health, therapies, and long-term care services for people with TBI. Acute services are provided by regional managed care program contractors. Long term care services are also contracted through a managed care model and may be provided in nursing homes or through a variety of home and community-based services, including group homes, adult foster care, high risk behavioral health settings, supported residential living communities, and home health services in personal dwellings. Nearly 50 percent of all Arizona Long Term Care services are home and community- based.
Children and youth with TBI would access services through the Department of Health Services, Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs, TBI Service Coordination Program. This program offers service coordination and family support through contracted regional providers on a sliding fee scale based on financial eligibility criteria. OCSHCN has 18 service coordinators throughout the State which are funded with Title V monies. Their responsibilities include education/ prevention/service coordination for children with special health needs. They partner with the AZ Governor's Council on Spinal and Head Injuries to meet the needs of children with brain injuries. OCSHCN has set aside $300,000 from this Title V block grant specifically to address TBI statewide. Beginning in fiscal year 2005, this funding is supplemented by an additional $50,000 from the trust fund. Approximately 250 families have now made eligibility for services in this program.
The TBI Service Coordination program helps families identify and apply for appropriate services, such as Developmental Disabilities, Medicaid, Children's Rehabilitative Services, Social Security, School-to-Work programs and to transition to adult services such as VR and ILRS. Service Coordinators also provide family education and self advocacy support.
Find out more information on this State's services in its current profile by clicking here. [PDF 50KB]. You can also order a hardcopy of our latest "Guide to State Government Brain Injury Policies, Funding and Services" for profiles of all States and much more.
HRSA-Funded Projects
Arizona received one of the first Implementation Grants in 1997 followed by a Post-Demonstration Grant in 2001 to expand services to children with TBI. HRSA-funded resource cards ("When Your Child's Head Has Been Hurt") were developed by Arizona and have been replicated in many other States.
Find more information on this State's project in its current grant profile.
Promising Practices
Continuum of Care Teams have built referral protocols which link children and their families with resources. TBI Specialists in VR have a higher successful closure rate than the general VR program
Click here for a summary of the State's Brain Injury Training Portfolio
