Programs
California
TBI Lead Agency
Dept. of Mental Health
1600 9th St., Room 100
Sacramento, CA 95814
Peter Best
Project Coordinator
916-657-3487
916-653-0200 (Fax)
Service Delivery
In California, the Department of Mental Health is the designated State Agency that administers the trust fund, the primary source of funding for TBI programs. The department contracts with seven non-profit service providers to serve adults who have survived a TBI. Each provider conducts a functional assessment, identifies service needs, and develops an individual service plan with the individual with TBI. Services offered include: supported living, community reintegration, service coordination, vocational supportive services, information and referral, and public/professional education.
Three of the seven sites participate in the Interagency Agreement (IA) between the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Rehabilitation. The IA allows the participating service sites to draw down Federal rehabilitation funds to augment their vocational service programs.
Additionally, the Department of Mental Health administers the Caregiver Resource Center Program established in 1984 as the result of the Comprehensive Act for Families and Caregivers of Brain-Injured Adults (as amended in 1992). Services are available to all families caring for an individual with an adult-onset cognitive disorder, however, some services may require a share of cost depending on household income.
The program is designed to assist caregivers who provide long-term care for adults with adult-onset cognitive disorders including Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Parkinson's disease, TBI, and other chronic or degenerative cognitive disorders. There are eleven California Caregiver Resource Centers which serve every county in the State and provide assessment, family consultation, respite, counseling, legal and financial consultation, information and referral, support groups and psycho-educational classes to family caregivers of adults with cognitive impairment, including TBI. The law also established a Statewide Resources Consultant to operate a statewide informational and technical assistance clearinghouse on cognitive impairment, and to assist the department with training, consultation, research, and program assistance for the Caregiver Resource Centers. The Caregiver Resource Program is funded by State general funds.
In August 2004 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approved continuation of the Independence Plus Waiver extending services to 66,000 aged or disabled persons-the largest waiver ever approved. This waiver is part of the President's New Freedom Initiative and provides an opportunity for persons who are aged or disabled to live in a home of their choice and direct their care.
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
California received a HRSA TBI Planning Grant covering a two-year period. A Needs and Resources Assessment has been completed and the TBI State Action Plan has been finalized and is posted on the Web site.
Find more information on this State's project in its current grant profile.
Promising Practices
California has Caregiver Resource Centers for caregivers of individuals with adult onset cognitive and neurological impairments.
Currently, California is receiving grant funding from the Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services to conduct a feasibility study and implementation/evaluation plan on a Medicaid respite benefit for caregivers of adults with adult-onset cognitive disorders, including TBI. The study and plan are expected to be completed in the fall of 2005. California hopes to eventually pilot the new respite benefit for caregivers under Medicaid.
Click here for a summary of the State's Brain Injury Training Portfolio
