Moody Center
for Brain Injury Best Practices
RECENT EVENTS
Just Published!
Join us for a webinar May 6th to dive into this critical new resource!
Now Available!
Brain Injury Resource Facilitation Implementation Guide
NASHIA's Executive Director Rebeccah Wolfkiel and Director of Technical Assistance and Special Projects Judy Dettmer traveled with Amanda Tower of MassAbility (in her role as a NASHIA Consultant) to the International Brain Injury Association Conference in Montreal.
Joined by Dr. Ana Durand and Dr. Flora Hammond, their presentation related to NASHIA's work to create best practices around brain injury resource faciliation - important work made possible with funding from The Moody Endowment.
It was an event full of meaningful conversations, shared expertise, and inspiring momentum for the future of brain injury services and support.
Brain Injury Resource Facilitation Implementation Guide
ABOUT US
About Moody
The Moody Endowment improves lives through strategic grantmaking activity.
The purpose of The Moody Endowment is to provide support to organizations committed to the rehabilitation of individuals suffering from head injuries and related charitable, educational, and scientific activities.
The Moody Endowment is a not-for-profit organization that funds innovative brain injury research and life-changing rehabilitation activities to improve the lives of patients and their families. Through strategic grantmaking activity, we invest in organizations committed to rehabilitation along with scientific research to advance treatment, care, and therapies for survivors of brain injury.
With our philanthropy, we aim to better understand brain injuries and their affects. Not only do we support treatment and cognitive rehabilitation, we also seek to advance the way that rehabilitation is delivered. Fundamentally, we want to help those with disabilities live their best lives.
Learn More About the Moody Endowment
About NASHIA
Since 1990, National Association of State Head Injury Administrators has been fulfilling its mission of empowering state governments and their partners to enhance collaboration and strengthen capabilities to address the needs of individuals with brain injuries and their support systems.
Serving as the leading source of information and education for state employees who support public brain injury programs, NASHIA provides information on national trends, best practices, and state contacts to federal agencies, state and national associations and brain injury partners across the country. NASHIA provides technical assistance to state governments and their partners as well as collective representation on federal policy issues through its membership.
The goals of the Moody Center for Brain Injury Best Practices are:
The Moody Center for Brain Injury Best Practices is a collaborative hub dedicated to advancing excellence in brain injury care and support. We aim to empower individuals, caregivers, professionals, and policymakers with evidence-based practices and innovative solutions. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge translation, we aim to drive continuous improvement in brain injury care. Through research, education, and resource development, we strive to enhance the quality of life for individuals living with brain injury and their families. Our vision is to be a catalyst for positive change, driving systemic improvements and promoting resilience across the lifespan. Together, with subject matter experts with diverse perspectives, we seek to establish a comprehensive platform for best practices, advocacy, and support in the field of brain injury.
Promote Collaboration: Encourage teamwork and sharing of ideas among individuals, caregivers, professionals and policymakers to improve brain injury care and support.
Advance Evidence-Based Practices: Develop resources that are based on what we know works best, ensuring that individuals with brain injuries receive the most effective care possible.
Enhance Quality of Life: Through education and support, we aim to improve the lives of individuals living with brain injury and their families, fostering resilience and well-being.
Drive Systemic Improvements: Advocate for changes in practices to create a better environment for individuals living with brain injuries, promoting inclusivity and accessibility.
Establish Comprehensive Support: Develop a platform for best practices, advocacy, and support that addresses the diverse needs of individuals with brain injuries throughout their lifespan, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to thrive.
2024-2025 Center Team
Pictured above are the members of the 2024 Moody Center for Brain Injury Best Practices cohort.
Members Included (From top left) Traci Barney, Peggy Reicher, Erin Hall, Brad Donaldson, Dr. Flora Hammond, Dr. Bei Zhang, Stephanie Kelly, Gavin Attwood, Dr. Anna Duran, Maggie Ferguson, Brei Miller, Tulsi Pandat, Dr. Therese O’Neil-Pirozzi, Mikayla Florian, Rick Willis, Rhonda Alcorn, Rebeccah Wolfkiel, Judy Dettmer, Jeff Epinette, John Wood, Amanda Tower. Not Pictured: Dr. Kathryn Hyzak, Wendy Waldman
Resource Facilitation Implementation Guide
Evidence shows that Brain Injury Resource Facilitation improves return to work/school after brain injury and reduces recidivism among justice-involved individuals with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is also associated with decreased disability and reduced overall service needs for individuals. Because brain injury is now recognized as a chronic condition, Brain Injury Resource Facilitation serves as an ongoing approach to mitigate or manage long-term effects.
To strengthen consistency and quality, a national consensus was developed around:
Components of Brain Injury Resource Facilitation
Principles & approaches
Outcomes, measurements, & common data elements
In 2023, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) - funded by the Moody Endowment - led a Delphi Consensus process with national brain injury leaders, resulting in Brain Injury Resource Facilitation: A Consensus on Best Practices (the “Consensus” report). In 2024, Moody Endowment provided additional funding to NASHIA to establish the Moody Center for Brain Injury Best Practices. The first two-year cohort used the Consensus findings to develop this implementation guide.
The goal of this guide is to support programs with launching, expanding and sustaining a Brain Injury Resource Facilitation program. This guide provides recommendations and best practices and is not mandatory for implementation.
Supplemental Materials
Policy and Funding
Core Components and Approaches
Data and Outcomes
Delphi Consensus Project
In 2023, NASHIA was awarded a grant from the Moody Endowment to develop consensus related to the practice of resource facilitation. Elements for consideration included the name, core components, principles and approaches, evaluation and measurement, and data collection.
There is scientific support for the efficacy of resource facilitation to significantly improve return to work and school after brain injury, as well as to reduce recidivism among justice-involved individuals with TBI returning to the community. Additional findings also include a correlation between resource facilitation and a decrease in level of disability associated with brain injury, as well as reduction in services needed by individuals upon completion of the resource facilitation process.
Brain injury is now recognized by experts in the field as a chronic condition. Resource facilitation is seen as an approach to mitigate, or at least manage, brain injury as a chronic condition. As a result, there is a need to establish a consensus on best practices related to:
a) The components of resource facilitation;
b) The principles and approaches of resource facilitation; and,
c) The outcomes, measurements, and common data elements of resource facilitation.
To accomplish these objectives, NASHIA implemented a Delphi Consensus process with brain injury leaders across the country.
Join Us!
Interested in being involved in future Moody Center for Brain Injury Best Practices initiatives?