Utah Traumatic Brain Injury Implementation Partnership Grant

2011

Project Context Each year, nearly 3,000 Utahns sustain brain injuries serious enough to result in hospitalization or death. The leading causes of TBIs in Utah were falls (33.3%), motor vehicle crashes (22.9%), and ATV/sports-recreational activities (10.5%). These individuals are often left with serious aftereffects from their injuries and are not aware of the available resources to get ongoing treatment or assistance. Utah has improved the support system for individuals with TBI by conducting a statewide needs and resource assessment in 2007. The Utah State TBI Advisory Board developed a statewide action plan based on the findings of this assessment. For the past three years, the Center for Persons with Disabilities and the Division of Services for People with Disabilities have worked on the Utah TBI Partnership Project that continues to implement the Action Plan. Through this grant, best practices in the areas of case management practices, social/recreational activities for individuals, use and availability of assistive technology devices, and transition planning were identified. These best practices were implemented in Utah, providing onsite leadership and support for six community sites. Training modules were developed and used to train the state agencies that provide support and care for individuals with TBI and their families. Project Focus The TBI Implementation Partnership Grant will continue the work that has already been implemented in Utah by assuring that underserved Utahns, namely Native American, Latino, and Veterans, learn about available community resources. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH), Utah Brain Injury Council (UBIC), the Coordinating Council for People with Disabilities, and the Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) will work together to meet the objectives of this grant, which are: * Foster improvement in the TBI service delivery system. * Assure access to coordinated community services and supports for young children (ages birth-4 years) who have a TBI. * Assure access to coordinated community services for service members and veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom who have a TBI. The purpose of the grant is to develop statewide capabilities to address family and person-directed resources for individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and their families. The grant is not for primary services but instead is aimed at developing a more informed system of service agencies and professionals ready to help individuals with a TBI and their families. The CPD's primary responsibilities include: 1. Conducting a Needs Assessment of individuals with TBI and their families, including Native American & Latino populations, to better understand their concerns and needs. 2. Conducting formative and summative evaluation of grant activities. 3. Developing new curricula and revising existing curricula for targeted populations. 4. Expanding information posted on the medical home website/CME self-study module. 5. Providing consultants with expertise in working with Veterans, Native Americans, and Latinos. 6. Employing the State TBI Coordinator

traumatic brain injury, training,

Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation

Quality Assurance, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Housing-Related Activities, Transportation-Related Activities, Recreation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology, Other - Cultural Diversity

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Reservation, Rural/Remote, Specific Groups

State

N/A