May 2026 | Member Learning Session
NASHIA Federal and Funding Updates
NASHIA provided a staff update about various policy and funding topics, including:
ACL Grant Solicitation
TBI Act
Appropriations
Community Engagement Requirements
Rural Health Transformation Funding Opportunities
State Opioid Funding
Epilepsy Foundation of America
This member learning session explored the critical importance of strengthening partnerships between brain injury organizations and epilepsy partners to better support individuals living with both conditions. Following a brain injury, individuals can face an increased risk of developing post-traumatic epilepsy, sometimes months or even years after the injury. These overlapping needs can significantly impact health outcomes, independence, quality of life, and access to coordinated services, making cross-system collaboration essential.
We were honored to welcome Thometta Cozart, MS, MPH, CPH, CHES, from the Epilepsy Foundation of America, as our guest speaker. Thometta brings extensive expertise in public health, health equity, community engagement, culturally appropriate messaging, and health education programming.
Participants:
Learned about the relationship between brain injury and epilepsy, including long-term impacts.
Explored common gaps in care coordination, education, and community supports for individuals living with both brain injury and epilepsy.
Discussed strategies for collaboration between brain injury and epilepsy organizations at the national, state, and local levels.
Identified opportunities to improve outreach, culturally responsive messaging, referral systems, and health equity efforts.
Examined how partnerships can strengthen advocacy, improve service navigation, and better support individuals and families across systems.
This session provided practical insight into how cross-disability collaboration can strengthen systems of care, improve outcomes, and ensure individuals affected by both brain injury and epilepsy receive more coordinated support.
