UTHSC Neurotrauma Division

Tennessee Department of Health
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAM

Overview
Traumatic Brain Injury Program Trust Fund 
TBI Advisory Council
Statewide Needs Assessment
TBI Staff
Traumatic Brain Injury Information Clearinghouse
Comprehensive Statewide Case Management System:  Service Coordination Project
TBI Registry
Prevention Activities And Health Education
Camp Hickory-Wood
Project BRAIN (Brain Resource and Information Network)
Housing with Care – Accessible Space, Inc.
Grants

Overview

The Traumatic Brain Injury Program was established in May 1993 by the Tennessee General Assembly to address the special needs of those individuals who have sustained brain injuries, as well as their family members and primary caregivers. 

The legislature authorized the Department of Health to establish the program and wrote into law the specific activities which are to be conducted by the program. 
(T.C.A. 68-55-101 through 402).

The legislature defined several objectives for the TBI program:

• An Advisory Council
• Information clearinghouse and 800 number
• A TBI Registry
• Statewide Needs Assessment
• Prevention activities and health education
• Comprehensive, statewide system of case management – Service Coordination Project
• Funding and Grants

Program staff are available to respond to questions, make referrals, and provide education and prevention programs.  The initial contact can be the first link in a chain of support for a survivor or family member.

How can we help?   Do you, a person you know, or someone you represent have questions about:

• What needs to be done when a person suffers a traumatic brain injury?
• How you can help a family member or friend with traumatic brain injury?
• What agencies or organizations should be contacted?
• What programs can help with financial needs, social needs, vocational needs, educational needs, and other related needs?
• How you can find our more about prevention programs?
• Who you can talk to when you need to talk to someone?

Traumatic Brain Injury Program
Tennessee Department of Health
HSM 5th Floor, CHB
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Nashville, TN 37247-5207

Call toll-free 1-800-882-0611

Traumatic Brain Injury Program Trust Fund 

The fund has been established by the Department’s Bureau of Administrative Services and revenues have been deposited into the fund as they have been received.   Revenue has come from increasing the fines of four traffic violations and dedicating those funds to the program.  The traffic fines and violations are:

• $15 – DUI
• $30 – Reckless Driving
• $15 – Driving on a cancelled, suspended, or revoked license
• $5 – Speeding in excess of 10 mph over the posted speed limit

TBI Advisory Council

The Advisory Council has nine members who are appointed by the Governor and was created to advise the TBI Coordinator in developing program policies and procedures, make recommendations, and perform other duties as necessary to implement a statewide TBI plan.  Five of the nine members must be survivors, family members, or primary care givers with no more than two residing in each of the three grand divisions of the state.   One member is appointed from the Departments of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Education, and Human Services.   The remaining member is a health care professional nominated by the Tennessee Hospital Association who spends at least 50% of his or her time providing health care for the TBI population.

Revised 08/06

Statewide Needs Assessment

Questions were asked to obtain statistical information about the person as well as questions about their injury.   Each brain injury survivor and/or their family member were asked to rank a number of services in the order they would like to have them delivered post-injury.   Questions addressed the cost/availability of services within the community, needed services and other comments and suggestions.   Survivors were provided the option of being added to the State TBI Registry. 

TBI Staff

The Traumatic Brain Injury Program was established in May 1993, and the first Program Director served from October 1993 through October 1994.  During that first year, the Director established and met regularly with the TBI Advisory Council and assisted in the development of long and short term goals for the program.   The Director established the Information Clearinghouse and laid the groundwork for the TBI program.             

Traumatic Brain Injury Information Clearinghouse

The Medical Social Worker has primary responsibility for the planning and organization of the TBI Information Clearinghouse.  Numerous materials including articles, books, videos, and pamphlets are available in the Clearinghouse.  Information on programs and services across the state are constantly sought and updated.  Examples of the type of information provided include referrals to rehabilitation facilities, information on day programs, respite care, transportation and financial issues.   A TBI brochure has been designed and distributed to support groups, at conference exhibits, and to health care facilities, programs and agencies statewide.   The TBI newsletter, TBI Headlines, is printed and distributed biannually.

A toll-free 800 telephone number was established so that the public may have better access to facts about TBI injuries, treatment, and support groups.    

1-800-882-0611

A comprehensive resource directory, “The Traumatic Brain Injury Services Directory and Resource Information Guide” is distributed to health care facilities and TBI professionals across the state, and has served to increase awareness of the TBI program.

Comprehensive Statewide Case Management System:  Service Coordination Project

The State of Tennessee’s Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program is providing funding for service coordination in eight sites across the state, covering all 95 counties.  Service coordination is designed to help bridge the gaps in provision of services to survivors of brain injury and their family members.  The service coordinator will help to identify services within their geographical service area that would be of benefit to the consumer.  S/he will inform the brain injury survivor and their families of all the options available to them, give them tools to determine how the information applies to their situation, and allow them to make decisions free of bias but with adequate information about accessing all resources.  For liability reasons, the service coordinator cannot recommend or endorse any product, program, or provider and should always seek to provide three or more names when making referrals.  

            Scope of Services:

• Develop a comprehensive plan of care
• Provide information on traumatic brain injury
• Refer clients to qualified services
• Assist clients in applying for and accessing services
• Advocate in the area of the individual/client rights and benefits
• Develop support groups
• Assist or consult in the development of new programs and services

Expansion of Service Coordination

Since its implementation in 1997, the TBI Service Coordination Project has expanded by six positions and in June 2000 the TBI Advisory Council voted to permanently fund the six positions that were in place at that time.  In September 2001 the TBI Service Coordination Project expanded by two positions so that we now have a total of eight service coordinators.   

TBI Registry

As written, the initial legislation prohibited health care providers from reporting case information without written consent of the patient.   An amendment was passed in May, 1996 resolving this issue.   Data collection officially began with patients discharged during 1996.

Hospitals are mandated to provide information on inpatients with specific ICD-9 CM diagnosis codes to the department whose admission and discharge dates are different (Where length of stay was 24 hours or more) and for those individuals who died.
 
Data is available starting from the first quarter of 1996 and contains the person’s name, address, cause of injury, and other information.   Analysis of the data allows staff to pinpoint where and how injuries are occurring, what age groups are affected, etc. and enables the development of programs to prevent injuries.   A letter is being sent to all Tennessee residents listed on the registry to inform them of the services available through the TBI program.

Patients seen in the emergency rooms who were sent home the same day or length of stay was less than 24 hours are not included in the registry.

For additional information please contact Glenda Polk at (615) 532-7890.  

Prevention Activities And Health Education

The Health Educator has primary responsibility for overseeing efforts to better educate the general public concerning the need for brain injury prevention programs and has traveled the state to provide in-services and training to Special Education teachers, local health department educators, and other professionals.  An emphasis has been placed on prevention of shaken baby syndrome, helmet use, child car seat safety clinics and seat belt use.  The TBI staff regularly presents at seminars and workshops.   Depending upon revenue, funding is made available through the RFGP process for regional educational conferences.  Beginning in September 1998, distance learning teleconferences have been offered to provide training for professionals who work with persons with TBI.

With funds allocated annually by the legislature for the purpose of decreasing the incidence of shaken baby syndrome, each year the TBI program purchases an education booklet, “Never Shake a Baby.”  The booklets are distributed statewide through health care facilities to the parents and guardians of newborns.

Camp Hickory-Wood

The State of Tennessee’s Traumatic Brain Injury Program provides camps annually for adults and youth with a brain injury.  These camps focus on providing a unique social and recreational opportunity to persons with brain injuries.

Camp Hickory-Wood began in 1997, and is a collaborative effort with the Easter Seals Tennessee and the state Traumatic Brain Injury Program. 

Camp Hickory-Wood is a structured camp program that provides the opportunity to interact with other persons with a brain injury, as well as a host of well-qualified Easter Seals staff and volunteers.  All staff are provided an orientation program by the Traumatic Brain Injury Program.   Campers’ strengths and needs are outlined and discussed to provide optimal success in the camping program.  A camp nurse is available 24 hours for dispensing medications or any minor medical needs.  A major hospital is within 15-20 minutes driving time.

Camp Hickory-Wood is held at Easter Seals’ Camp in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, approximately 20 miles east of Nashville on the shores of Old Hickory Lake.   The camp weekend begins with registration on Friday at 5:00 p.m. CDT and campers leave promptly on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CDT.   Campers that cannot attend the weekend have the opportunity to attend Saturday-only camp from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.   Week-long camps for adults and youth are also available.  

Camp applications are available through the statewide support groups, TBI Service Coordinators, and the Traumatic Brain Injury Program.   Call 1-800-882-0611.

Project BRAIN (Brain Resource and Information Network)

Project BRAIN is a resource and training network for education professionals, health professionals, and families who support students in Tennessee with traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Partially funded by federal grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HSRA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), this project is managed by the Tennessee Disability Coalition in partnership with the Traumatic Brain Injury Program of the Tennessee Health Department.   Project BRAIN objectives include the following:

• To promote awareness of disabilities resulting from traumatic brain injuries
• To increase identification of students with TBI who are served by Tennessee schools
• To provide training and resources for all who support students with TBI
• To develop multidisciplinary TBI Resource Teams across the state who will provide local technical assistance in supporting these students

West Region  - Please contact Paula Denslow, Central Region.

Housing with Care – Accessible Space, Inc.

Housing costs for these options are subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  In order to qualify, individuals must meet HUD low or very low income limits.  The income limits differ depending on location.  The resident’s rent if 30% of his or her monthly income with allowance for utilities and certain medical costs.

In addition to income limits, eligible individuals must also meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be diagnosed with a physical disability that includes, but is not limited to, traumatic brain injury or related neurological, congenital, or orthopedic disorders
• Be capable of complying with all obligations of the lease and tenant’s guidebook

Hagy Commons, located at 2737 McCampbell Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee, is Accessible Space, Inc.’s newest building in Tennessee.  It offers seventeen units.

McCullough Place, located at 1456 Gillham Drive in Memphis, Tennessee (Bartlett), is the first of three supportive housing complexes Accessible Space, Inc. has built in Tennessee.   It offers twenty-five one and two-bedroom apartments for adults with qualifying disabilities.  Residents here enjoy the privacy of their own apartment and the ability to manage their own supported living services.

Welsh Manor, located at 2900 Coleman Road in Memphis, Tennessee (Raleigh), is the second of three supportive housing complexes Accessible Space, Inc. has built in Tennessee.   This state of the art building is located at the intersection of Stage Road and Coleman Road and offers twenty-three units.

Each supportive housing complex offers first-class, barrier free living.   For additional information or to request an application, please contact:

Accessible Space, Inc.
2550 University Avenue, Suite 330N
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Phone: (651) 645-7271 or (800) 466-7722 
Fax: (651) 645-0541

Grants

According to the enabling legislation, the TBI program is authorized to provide grants to county and municipal governments and/or not-for-profit organizations for home and community based programs to serve the needs of survivors of brain injuries and their families.   Grants are awarded through a competitive Request For Grant Proposal Mechanism (RFGP).

            Some of the previous RFGP recipients include:

• Crumley House Head Injury Rehabilitation Program in Johnson City, Tennessee to expand their day program to provide recreation, transportation, and respite care to TBI survivors and their families.
• Mid-South Head Injury Association (renamed the Brain Injury Association of the Mid-South – now dissolved) to develop a comprehensive proposal to build affordable, accessible housing using HUD Section 811 grant dollars.
• Division of Rehabilitation Services, Tennessee Rehabilitation Center in Smyrna, Tennessee to create a specialized TBI rehabilitation program.
• Accessible Space, Inc. for personal care attendant services at Welsh Manor and McCullough Place, first-class, barrier-free supportive housing for persons with brain injury and/or persons who are mobility impaired due to a physical disability.
• Brain Injury Association of Tennessee and others to provide a state conference and regional conferences and underwrite safety and prevention initiatives.