Emergency Preparedness Guide for Individuals with Brain Injury
This comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Guide was created specifically for individuals with brain injury, their families, and caregivers. Developed in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania, the guide offers clear, step-by-step instructions for preparing for a wide range of emergencies—from natural disasters to medical crises. Inside, you'll find practical tools such as a self-assessment checklist, personalized planning templates, emergency contact forms, and kit checklists. Whether you're starting from scratch or improving an existing plan, this guide empowers you to be prepared, stay safe, and maintain independence during critical situations.
Podcast: Brain Injury & Consistency
In Episode 6 of Season 4 of the Mentor Moments podcast, NASHIA Director of Professional Development Maria Crowley shares her inspiring journey being a champion for individuals affected by brain injuries. As a leader at NASHIA and in the field, Maria discusses her extensive career in rehabilitation counseling and her commitment to supporting both clients and team members. This episode offers valuable insights into the importance of consistency in the impactful work being done to assist those with brain injuries.
From screening to success stories: Importance of early detection of brain injury
Brain injuries (BIs) often remain undetected, particularly among vulnerable populations such as those involved in the criminal legal system, individuals experiencing homelessness, and Medicaid recipients. Early detection is crucial, as timely screening and coordinated care can significantly improve outcomes and support recovery. Managed care organizations, like UnitedHealthcare Community & State, play a pivotal role in expanding screening efforts, connecting individuals to appropriate rehabilitation services, and enhancing cross-system collaboration. Co-authored by NASHIA staff, this article delves into the importance of early BI detection and highlights success stories that underscore the transformative impact of proactive identification and comprehensive support.
The Business Side of Things: Employment and Brain Injury Podcast
Skilled program staff and innovative employment approaches can and do help people with brain injury enter and remain in the workforce. Business is in the business of recruiting and retaining qualified and committed employees who can work. At the center are individuals impacted by sometimes complex challenges related to brain injury. This podcast is a panel discussion from an employer perspective on challenges and successes in acquiring and maintaining employment. National labor market trends and practices will be shared as well as challenges that business faces in hiring and job retention. Recommendations for those who have sustained brain injuries related to seeking employment will be discussed, and a personal journey from injury to work will be shared.
Supported Employment: Long-Term Support Approaches for People with Brain Injury
Through a partnership with the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) brief, NASHIA compiled long-term support considerations for supported employment into a two-page resource. Creative approaches tapping into Social Security Administration work incentives, as an example, are highlighted. These approaches are especially important for people who need more intensive supports to enter or re-enter work and don't have access to paid Medicaid waiver options through Home and Community-Based Services. TBI grantees are encouraged to share this resource with their employment service provider partners, including state vocational rehabilitation agencies.
The Prevalence and Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury: Adults 50-Plus
This report from AARP, "The Prevalence and Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury: Adults 50-Plus," highlights the growing public health concern of brain injury among adults age 65 and older. It explores how traumatic brain injuries—most often caused by falls—are frequently underrecognized and misdiagnosed in older populations, leading to missed opportunities for treatment and recovery. The report also examines how symptoms of TBI can mimic other age-related conditions, outlines differences in access to care, and offers recommendations for prevention, screening, and support.
Supporting People with Brain Injury through Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
This document discusses Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and how they can support individuals with brain injuries.
CCBHCs are clinics that provide a wide array of behavioral health and substance use services to anyone, regardless of their diagnosis or whether or not they have insurance.
These clinics offer nine core services, including crisis services, outpatient behavioral health and substance use services, and community-based behavioral health care for veterans.
The document emphasizes the significant overlap between behavioral health challenges and brain injury, highlighting the importance of CCBHCs in providing support for this population.
Supporting Crisis Stabilization for Youth and Young Adults during Reentry
Produced by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, this document emphasizes the critical need for crisis stabilization support for young people and young adults with behavioral health needs as they transition from correctional facilities back into the community. It highlights that many of these individuals have behavioral health disorders and more susceptible to experiencing crises, often due to pre-existing harm or distress or lack of appropriate care.
This resource underscores the importance of addressing the unique needs of this population to ensure successful reentry and prevent future crises.
A.H.E.A.D.: Achieving Healing Through Education, Accountability, and Determination
A psycho-educational curriculum for traumatic brain injury, the goal is to provide justice-involved individuals who have screened positive for traumatic brain injury (TBI) with the insight and tools to better cope with and address the symptoms that they deal with, such as short-term memory loss, delayed speed of processing, and difficulty with emotional regulation. This group curriculum was developed based on best practices for group facilitation for individuals with TBI. In addition, the group topic focus areas were selected to address the hallmark symptoms of TBI.
Developing Brain Injury Resource Facilitation for Acquired Brain Injury: Indications and Unmet Needs
Members of the Service Access Subgroup of the 2023 Moody Galveston Brain Injury Conference (MGBIC) collaborated on a white paper featuring an overview of the current state of brain injury resource facilitation (RF) along with an analysis on the challenges and opportunities in brain injury RF for acquired brain injury. The paper includes practical policy recommendations for its implementation to the potential funders of brain injury RF programs at the national, state, and community levels. Funding for the MGBIC was provided by the Moody Endowment.
DOJ and DHHS Guidance for Emergency Responses to People with Behavioral Health or Other Disabilities
In public guidance released last year, the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS) emphasized that federal law mandates individuals with behavioral health conditions and other disabilities receive a healthcare response in situations where others would receive one, rather than a law enforcement response. This means that during a behavioral health crisis, a team of professionals with expertise in behavioral health should respond, similar to how an ambulance is dispatched for physical health emergencies. Failing to provide this response constitutes a violation of the civil rights of individuals with disabilities.
An Analysis of Intake Tools Used in Brain Injury Resource Facilitation Programs
NASHIA was tasked with identifying intake tools currently used across states for resource facilitation, comparing and reviewing common elements, and recommending best practices for state assessment tools related to an individual’s initiation and areas of need in a brain injury focused resource facilitation program.
NASHIA staff reviewed several historic documents that describe the origins, principles, and components of resource facilitation. A survey was created to collect information from all state government and partner programs currently providing some level of community-based supports. Information was gathered from a total of 33 states and from several state programs providing community-based service provision.
Show Me the Money! Accessing Medicaid Administrative Claiming for Brain Injury Services and Supports RISE e-Learning Community Summary
This summer, NASHIA facilitated DETAC's Show Me the Money! Accessing Medicaid Administrative Claiming for Brain Injury Services and Supports e-Learning community. This community centered on breaking down the components of MAC to help states develop the groundwork necessary to implement administrative claiming or expand existing claiming. Recordings and key takeaways are available.
You Can Work After Brain Injury: Employment Planning While Receiving Benefits
In a Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) brief, NASHIA Director of Community Integration Jill Ferrington discusses the benefits of working, despite challenges brought on by brain injury, as well as strategies for success. This brief focuses on considering work while also receiving federal disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). TBI grantees are asked to share this resource with key partners and request their assistance with dissemination to people with brain injury who are also beneficiaries of SSA.
Optimizing Outreach & Recruitment for Advisory Boards: Recommendations and Best Practices
This resource of the ACL's Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Technical Assistance and Resource Center’s (TARC) Optimizing Outreach & Recruitment for Advisory Boards: Recommendations and Best Practices provides recommendations and best practices for outreaching and recruitment of brain injury advisory board members. The resource was developed with support from two members of the TBI Advisory Leadership Group (TAL-Group) (Kelly Lang and Martin Kerrigan) and state staff and members of advisory boards with lived experience.
Aging Guide: Considerations and Best Practices for Older Adults with Brain Injury
This resource of the ACL's Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Technical Assistance and Resource Center’s (TARC) Aging Guide: Considerations and Best Practices for Older Adults with Brain Injury was designed to provide states with tools for initiating or improving partnerships within both state aging networks and behavioral health systems. The resource was developed in partnership with several subject matter experts.
State Considerations - CMS Recognizes Brain Injury As Chronic Condition
This new resource, brought to you by NASHIA and the Brain Injury Association of America, seeks to provide an overview of the practical implications for the new designation of brain injury as a chronic condition by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The guide covers what this new designation means from a policy level, and also offers tips for states on how to support brain injury champions, leverage the designation for additional Medicaid considerations, and utilize it beyond Medicare/Medicaid.
The Importance of Being Earnest: Brain-Injury (BI) Informed Competencies for Employment Service Providers
In collaboration with the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC), NASHIA Director of Professional Development Maria Crowley authored this blog highlighting the efforts of the Administration for Community Living-funded Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) State Partnership Program Transition and Employment Workgroup to create a national, survivor-centered professional development employment training infrastructure for professionals serving the TBI community, known as “Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Competencies.”
Ohio Research in TBI and Concussion in Law Enforcement
Injuries are often part of the job for those in law enforcement. But the injuries that can’t be seen often pose serious threats to officers’ long-term health. New research from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reveals a correlation between head injuries and symptoms of depression and PTSD among law enforcement officers, highlighting the need for improved resources and protocols.
Mind Matters: Building a Justice System That Is Responsive to Brain Injury
NASHIA's Judy Dettmer was featured as a subject matter expert on brain injury in this brand new brief on brain injury and the criminal legal system, brought to you by the Council of State Governments and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
It is estimated that over half of individuals encountering the criminal justice system have experienced at least one brain injury, yet many of these individuals are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and left without proper care and supports across the criminal justice continuum.
This report synthesizes findings from a landscape review of brain injury in the criminal justice system, including interviews and focus groups; elevates key resources and best practices; and provides recommendations for building a responsive justice system.