Programs
Wisconsin
TBI Lead Agency
Dept. of Health & Family Services
Bureau of Developmental Disabilities
Services
1 W. Wilson, PO Box 7851
Madison, WI 53703-7851
Holly Fentress
Social Services Specialist
608-267-9258
608-261-6752 (Fax)
fentrhd@dhfs.state.wi.us
Service Delivery
In Wisconsin TBI is considered a developmental disability. People of any age with a brain injury regardless of age of onset access services through their local county human services system. The county sends in a request for a level of care determination to the Bureau of Long Term Support, Developmental Disabilities (DD) Section in the Department of Health and Family Services. If the required level of care is met the person goes on the State matched brain injury waiver waiting list. The person also goes on the county waiting list. If the county has money available for a locally matched brain injury waiver slot (60 percent federal-funded and 40 percent county-funded) the person may be served under a locally matched slot until their name comes up on the State waiting list. In order to qualify for a Statematched slot, (60 percent federal-funded and 40 percent State-funded) the person must have spent at least 60 days in one of four State approved brain injury rehabilitation units. Services provided under the waiver include: adaptive aids; adult day care; adult family home; children's foster care; communication aids; community based residential facility; consumer directed supports; consumer education and training; counseling and therapeutic services; daily living skills training; day services; financial management services; home delivered meals; home modifications; housing counseling; housing start up; nursing services; personal emergency response system; prevocational services; respite care; special medical and therapeutic supplies; specialized transportation; support and service coordination; supported employment; and supportive home care. Children with brain injuries can also be served under the DD Waivers.
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
The TBI State Action Plan was written in 1997 and identified a need for: access to information and resources; coordination and collaboration of services; education of persons with brain injury and their families, professionals, caregivers, public officials and other professionals regarding brain injury; programs and supports specific to brain injury; and increased identification, surveillance, early intervention and reevaluation for persons with brain injury. Wisconsin received a Planning Grant in 1997, an Implementation Grant in 1999, and two Post-Demonstration Grants beginning in 2002.
The focus of the Post-Demonstration Grant of 2002-2003 was to design sustainable training curricula and Web-based resources that are accessible, acceptable, and appropriate to the needs of persons with brain injury and their families. The trainings were designed to increase the capacity of State and county human services professionals to address the needs of persons with brain injury and their families. The focus of the Post-Demonstration Grant of 2003-2004 is: to develop a highly focused and mission-directed TBI Advisory Board, to develop greater access and improved representation of Wisconsin Native American tribes and other underserved populations into the TBI program, and to develop the means to sustain project activities through the support of advocacy activities and development of sustainable funding mechanisms.
Find more information on this State's project in its current grant profile.
Promising Practices
The State uses person-centered planning for all programs and has developed a short screening tool to identify persons with TBI in TANF who have barriers to employability. The tool asks the following questions: (a) Ever sustained a blow to the head? (b) Ever lost consciousness? (c) Have friends noticed any change in your behavior? (d) Have you had frequent job changes?
A Task Force on Dual Diagnosis has been formed within the Corrections Department to deal with persons with DD or TBI and co-occurring behavior issues. Efforts are underway to more accurately identify persons with TBI/other DD as they enter the criminal justice system as well as to divert them from the system.
The Department of Public Instruction has developed a Web-based TBI training program, a resource and planning guide for schools whereby a resource kit goes to a school that has a new student with BI when requested by the school, and regional resource contacts through education regions. Regional TBI trainings are held throughout the year.
Click here for a summary of the State's Brain Injury Training Portfolio
