Federal Grant Awarded to DRS for Statewide Brain Injury Services Plan

Ten thousand Virginians are reported annually to the Virginia Brain Injury Central Registry, with nearly 2,000 requiring long-term, injury related support services. As part of an effort to enhance services for Virginians with brain injuries, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded $75,000 for a grant proposal submitted collaboratively by the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia (MCV), and the Brain Injury Association of Virginia (BIAV). The purpose of the one year matching federal grant funds from DHHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, is to conduct a statewide community-based needs assessment for the development of a comprehensive action plan meeting the needs of people with brain injuries in Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services is the official grantee and will manage and coordinate all project activities. MCV will take the lead role in developing and conducting the needs assessment surveys, while the Brain Injury Association of Virginia will direct and organize the town meetings.

Within the first year, 10,000 surveys will be distributed to persons with brain injuries and their families across Virginia. Nine town meetings will be held in three urban areas, three small cities, and three rural areas. Individuals with brain injuries, family members, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and other interested persons will be invited to participate in identifying unmet needs for people with brain injuries across the state. A written report, based on information obtained through the surveys and town meetings, will summarize and prioritize the needs of Virginians with brain injuries.

If funding is available during year, a second series of town meetings will be held to present and discuss the findings contained in the Year One written report. The follow-up town meetings will be open to everyone and participants will be asked to submit suggestions for local and regional action plans for traumatic brain injury services. A Statewide Action Plan will be developed, based on the written report and participant feedback from the follow-up town meetings. The Statewide Action Plan will be presented at a public Brain Injury Summit held at the end of Year Two. Guidance and oversight will be provided throughout the two year grant by an Advisory Board chaired by Nancy Bullock, R.N., M.P.H. of the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Child and Adolescent Health.