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The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to improving the treatment and care of Virginians with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries. Through the establishment of the Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Trust Fund, administered by a governor-appointed Advisory Board, funds are available to Virginia-based organizations, institutions and researchers to address the needs of people with acquired neurotrauma. The Advisory Board disburses CNI funds through a grant application process for research proposals and innovative community-based rehabilitation programs.
Brain Injury Services, Inc. Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Child and Adolescent Case Management
Brain Injury Services, Inc. celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Case Management Program for Children and Adolescents. According to Teresa Hammond, whose son benefited recently from the nonprofit organization’s services, "If it weren’t for Brooke [a case manager at Brain Injury Services, Inc.] none of this would have been possible. My son wouldn't be home with his family and he wouldn't be going to school for the first time in his life. Brooke said she'd stand by me and we'd do this together, and we did.” Brooke Annessa is one of BIS INC's talented and dedicated case managers who works with Program Director, Betsy Zeigler.Brain injury is the most frequent cause of disability and death among children
in the United States. More than one million children sustain brain injuries
every year and approximately 165,000 require hospitalization. “BIS INC
recognized early on that a specialized pediatric case management program was a
needed addition to our adult services, which had been offered since the
organization opened its doors in 1989,” states Karen Brown, Executive Director.
After searching for funding for years to develop the program, BIS INC was
awarded a Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Fund grant in 2001 to
establish the first community-based case management program for children and
adolescents in Northern Virginia. In 2004, BIS INC was successful in obtaining
state funding to continue the program on a permanent basis. BIS INC also
receives private and corporate donations to support child and adolescent
services.
“It was critical to hire the right staff to implement this innovative program.
We are thankful for an extraordinary staff of dedicated professionals and
community supporters that have contributed to our success,” said Betsy Zeigler,
the program’s director. According to Zeigler, "Families definitely appreciate
having a case manager to travel with them along this difficult journey. Our
program has empowered parents to feel more confident in raising their child or
adolescent who has sustained a brain injury, as well as strengthened the ability
of schools and community programs to serve childhood survivors. With a small
staff and very limited resources, we feel we have really made a difference!"
In the last 10 years, the program’s services have expanded to include prevention and advocacy, family support, education for professionals in identifying children and youth with brain injury, as well as training of staff/teachers in appropriate interventions and supports. The creation of long-term community partnerships with schools, medical professionals, hospitals, trauma centers, rehabilitation centers and other relevant organizations serving children occurred in the first year of this grant and continues today.
Brain Injury Services, formerly Head Injury Services Partnership, was established in 1989 as the result of family advocates who requested that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors commission a study on the need for services. The report, Community Based Long Term Services for Head Injured Adults, was completed in November 1988 and recommended that a model system be developed to meet the unique and specific needs of individuals who had experienced a brain injury. In addition, the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) was recommended - and later identified through legislation - as the lead agency to coordinate services for Virginians with brain injury.
Since its inception, the organization has been recognized numerous times for its
services, including establishing Virginia’s first specialized case management
system for people with brain injury, a supported living program, day programs,
and a unique volunteer program. In 2009, BIS received the 20th Anniversary
“Years of Excellence” Award from the Civil Justice Foundation. In 2012, BIS INC
will offer an innovative community-based neurobehavioral program for individuals
with brain injury and mental health issues with a grant from the Potomac Health
Foundation.
For more information on BIS INC, please visit
braininjurysvcs.org or call (703)
451-8881. Information on the Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative Trust Fund is
available at vacni.org or by contacting
Kristie.Chamberlain@drs.virginia.gov
Special Feature
The CNI Trust Fund Advisory Board Announces the Award of Seven Community-Based Rehabilitative Services Grantees
Previous Features:
2009 Features
2006 Features
2005 Features
- Needs Assessment of Virginians with SCI
- The CNI Advisory Board Welcomes Three New Members
- Commonwealth Consortium on Handheld Technology Virginia Commonwealth University.
- Collaborating to Improve Availability of Rehabilitative Equipment to Those in Need.
- Option-A Research Grantee- Cell Proliferation and Neuronal Differentiation in Juvenile & Adult Rats following TBI.
2004 Features
- Community Grants Colloquium.
- The CNI Advisory Board Welcomes Two New Board Members.
- Emily Couric Research Colloquium.
- CNI Grant Recipients Participate in General Assembly Reception on February 4, 2004.
- John D. Ward, M.D. Receives Roy M. Hoover Award.
CNI Logo for Copyrightable Material
If any copyrightable material (e.g., audiovisuals, software, publications, curricula and training materials, etc.) is developed under this grant (by the grantee or contractor) the Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Trust Fund shall have a royalty-free nonexclusive and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use and authorize others to use, the work, for purposes which further the goals of the CNI Trust Fund. Read More...
