Description

In 2009, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Bureau of Special Health Care Needs was awarded a U.S. Health and Human Services, Health Resources Services Administration grant “to provide individuals with traumatic brain injuries and their families with improved access to comprehensive, multidisciplinary, coordinated, and easily accessible systems of care.”
The project focuses on the needs of those at highest risk of traumatic brain injury. Initiatives target children and youth, military service members, and individuals from culturally diverse and rural communities. Initiatives from this project focus on increasing public awareness, knowledge about TBI, and enhancing service delivery systems through partnerships with agencies and organizations that serve individuals with TBI.

• Project Contacts – Tom McVeigh, 816.235.1750
• Project Period – 2009-2014
• Total Funding – $982,910 (total funding)
• Funding Source – DHSS/HRSA Grant

Core Functions

Applied Research

UMKC IHD conducted evaluation for the effectiveness of trainings and products, partnership development, and service enhancement. In addition, UMKC IHD led the development of a statewide TBI needs assessment.

Community Services and Supports

UMKC IHD developed and conducted cultural competency training for TBI service providers.

Information Dissemination

The project disseminates a variety of products and information through collaborations with other professional organizations and through community outreach efforts.

Program Need and Historical Context

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has funded state TBI projects for the past 15 years. In 2009, this program was redesigned to provide larger grants to fewer states and Missouri was one of 16 states to receive an award. Although there is no estimate for the number of people that experience a TBI and receive some type of medical care other than visiting an Emergency Department or being admitted to a hospital, there were still over 15,000 TBI events each year in Missouri from 2007-2011. In addition, an estimated 20% of military veterans in Missouri are living with TBI.

Consumer and Community Involvement

• The TBI Volunteer Ombudsman is a survivor who serves as a voice of TBI survivors and their families, meeting with and collecting data from individuals and families across Missouri. This position also serves on the Brain Injury Advisory Council and the Brain Injury Association Advocacy Committee.
• The MO Brain Injury Advisory Council serves as an advisory committee to the grant.
• Partnerships and collaborations have been formed with many organizations across the state, including a Latino TBI Workgroup, several military partnerships, school and educator associations, school nurses, and others that serve individuals with TBI and their families.

Significant Project Activities and Outcomes

• Improved services provided to children and youth with TBI by improving the capacity of pediatricians, schools, and other to better serve them.
  • Developed and conducted Sports Concussion training for educators, coaches, service providers and medical professionals statewide
  • Trained and/or disseminated materials to early childhood educators and service providers
• Addressed the growing needs of Missouri soldiers returning from combat with undiagnosed TBI’s.
  • Developed and disseminated military-specific TBI information and resource guides
  • Helped to found the Missouri Behavioral Health Alliance focused on better meeting the needs of service members, veterans, and military families
• Addressed the unique needs faced by individuals with TBI in rural areas including limited access to services and few trained professionals.
  • Conducted distance learning training with professionals another in rural areas.
  • Partnered with rural state efforts to streamline access to long-term services.
• Increased access to resources available to individuals from culturally diverse groups by addressing barriers related to alienation of and lack of familiarity with service structures
  • Provided cultural competency training and outreach
  • Developed and disseminated Hispanic resources.

Institute’s Role

Collaborated with the planning and development of the grant application.

• Institute staff served as PI for IHD portion of project
• TBI Grant Project Coordinator works full time coordinating the implementation of initiatives and is based at the DHSS offices in Jefferson City
• Staff developed and delivered the Building Capacity to Serve Diverse Populations training
• Staff served as the evaluator for the project initiatives and coordinated the implementation of a new Statewide Needs and Resource Assessment

Products

• Evaluation Tools for the Needs Assessment: Ombudsman Log, Product Survey, Professional Needs Questionnaire, Survivor and Family Needs Questionnaire, and Collaboration Survey.
• Road Map to Military Resources
• Traumatic Brain Injuries in Early Childhood: Recognizing, Recovering, Supporting
• FACTS about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Children
• On-line TBI training modules
• Building Capacity to Serve Diverse Populations training
• Concussion Management: The Team Plan

Impact

• High risk groups have increased awareness of and access to resources
• Service organizations are more culturally competent and culturally diverse groups have increased TBI knowledge and awareness
• Partnerships are developed and planning occurs with key agencies and systems change initiatives
• Enhanced state capacity to support ongoing systems improvements
• Travel between systems becomes more seamless and easy to navigate
• Greater awareness of the needs of veterans with TBI and integration of military and community resources to serve them