TBIMOIn 1997, the Maternal & Child Health Bureau of the US Department of Health and Human Services awarded a Traumatic Brain Injury Demonstration Grant (grant CFDA #93) to a group of Missouri organizations, including the Missouri Department of Health's Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health, the Missouri Head Injury Advisory Council, the Brain Injury Association of Missouri, and the RCEP. This project focuses on the early identification of individuals and families dealing with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Missouri, ideally while the individual is still in hospital recovery, and then education of the individuals about the long-term consequences of their injury and the resources available to help. Researchers have identified TBI survivors as one of the populations that struggle the most from the unexpected consequences of their disability and one of the populations least served by VR and other support agencies.
Rather than load the emergency room staff down with more training and things to remember, the project tries to send trained "support partners" and TBI survivors to meet with the families and individuals. The project established a statewide network of these support partners and conducted workshops and campaigns to raise awareness among relevant agency administrators of TBI 's unique issues.
In addition, the project established TBIMO as a web resource for individuals with TBI and others, including Ask An Expert features, TBI Frequently Asked Questions, lists of support groups, reference materials, and a calendar of events.
In 2002 the demonstration grant ended, but the RCEP continues to maintain the TBIMO website as a community service
Links:
The Missouri Head Injury Advisory Council (www.oa.state.mo.us/gs/hi/index.htm)
The Brain Injury Association of Missouri (www.biausa.org/Missouri/bia.htm)
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