Programs
Mississippi
TBI Lead Agency
Dept. of Rehabilitation Services
PO Box 1698
Jackson, MS 39115
Anita Naik
Director of Program Administration
601-853-5324
601-853-5301 (Fax)
Service Delivery
In Mississippi any resident of Mississippi, regardless of age, who has a severe disability as a result of a traumatic spinal cord injury or a TBI, is eligible for services from the TBI/SCI Trust Fund Program. Individualized services can be provided to medically stable individuals. (Medical stability is defined as the absence of (a) an active, life threatening condition (e.g., sepsis, respiratory, or other condition requiring systematic therapeutic measures); (b) IV drip to control or support blood pressure; and (c) intercranial pressure or arterial monitoring.) Individuals seeking services contact the Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS), designated by the Legislature to administer the TBI/SCI Trust Fund Program. The MDRS Office of Special Disability Programs coordinates the direct services to eligible consumers, and a full-time program coordinator oversees the coordination of services. A variety of community-related integration programs are also provided through the TBI/SCI Trust Fund via contracts with community organizations and agencies.
The Trust Fund Program is the payer of last resort. An individual must seek assistance from all available resources prior to the trust fund's participation in a service. The trust fund was established via statute 37-33-261 in 1996 and is supported by a $25 surcharge on DUI violations and $4 surcharge on other moving vehicle violations. It assists individuals who are severely disabled by traumatic spinal cord injury or TBI to transition from a medical setting and reintegrate into the community and resume activities of daily living with as much dignity and independence as possible. Transitional Living and Recreational Projects focus on increasing physical functioning, cognitive retraining, behavior modification, socialization, recreational activities, and adjustment to disability.
Individuals with TBI who are Medicaid eligible may receive services under the Traumatic Brain Injury/Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (TBI/SCI) Waiver implemented in 2001. This home and community-based services program is operated in partnership with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid. The program utilizes matching dollars from the TBI/SCI Trust Fund to draw down Federal dollars to extend services to more individuals with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Individuals enrolled in the TBI/SCI Waiver may receive attendant care, respite, limited home modifications and medical equipment and supplies. All services are provided pursuant to an individualized plan of care.
Mississippi has a Model Systems Federal grant which provides about $300,000 to the State. Funding is administered by Mississippi Methodist Rehab Center. Forty-four individuals with TBI were provided services through this project in the most recent fiscal year. More information is available by contacting Risa Thompson - Nakase@aol.com
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
Mississippi received a Planning Grant in 1997 to accomplish the four core capacity components: convene a statewide TBI Advisory Board, identify and designate a Lead Agency for the coordination of the State's TBI services and supports, conduct a statewide Needs and Resources Assessment, and develop a TBI State Action Plan to establish a comprehensive community-based, coordinated, culturally-competent system of care for individuals with TBI.
Find more information on this State's project in its current grant profile.
Promising Practices
Click here for a summary of the State's Brain Injury Training Portfolio
