The Institute for Human Development’s Health and Aging initiative is bridging the gap between aging and disability to improve health outcomes for Missouri residents.
A key focus area of the Health and Aging (H&A) team is brain injury (BI). BI can be caused by a variety of events, such as falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries or violence, with symptoms that range in severity and can look very different from person to person.
Because of this, many individuals that may be experiencing certain challenges don’t realize they could have been caused by a brain injury.
To raise awareness in Missouri communities, the H&A team has partnered with several local organizations to pilot a cutting-edge BI screening tool – the Online Brain Injury Screening and Support System (OBISSS) – offered by the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA).
In a recent interview with Jefferson City, MO news station KRCG 13, BI project coordinator Beth Dauber spoke about the potential impacts of BI, the OBISSS tool, and the implications and risks for individuals who are or may become unhoused.
Dauber’s interview was included in a news story highlighting the importance of the Audrain County Shelter Resource Coalition (ACSRC) to the community and how the OBISSS tool is helping its residents learn more about the challenges they face and get connected to support resources.
View the full news story from KRCG 13.
The ACSRC is one of eight OBISSS-partnering organizations focusing on three primary populations – the unhoused, aging adults and survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence.
Unhoused Population
- Audrain County Shelter Resource Coalition | Mexico, MO
- Qualified Therapy Solutions | St. Louis, MO
Older Adults
- Northeast Missouri Area on Aging (NEMO)| Kirksville, MO
DV / IPV
- Citizens Against Spouse Abuse (CASA) | Sedelia, MO
- TMT Consulting | Columbia, MO
- Russel House | Rolla, MO
- YWCA | St. Louis, MO
- Crime Victim Center | St. Louis, MO
Find more information about BI and screening resources in the MO Brain Injury Linktree.
To learn more about OBISSS and other brain injury–informed initiatives happening in Missouri, or to explore ways to support this work, please contact Beth Dauber.
