Every year there are approximately 950 deaths, 5,200 hospitalizations, and 27,000 emergency department visits related to traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the state of Colorado. TBI is caused by an external force—such as a blow to the head or involvement in a car accident and can co-occur with other behavioral health conditions such as substance abuse or mental illness. MINDSOURCE is working on educating the public that brain injury is not just an individual matter, but is in fact a community issue.
“According to research funded to Craig Hospital by MINDSOURCE, approximately 500,000 Coloradans have sustained a brain injury in their lifetime. It is important for professionals supporting individuals with brain injury to understand the resources and supports available,” said Judy Dettmer, MINDSOURCE Director at the State of Colorado. In March, three events were held at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) for the purpose of education and resource sharing as part of March Brain Injury Awareness month. Two “Lunch and Learns” took place that were recorded and are housed on the MINDSOURCE webpage:
Brain Injury and Aging
Presenters:
Aurelie Ledreux, PhD, Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging
Leighanna Konetski, RD, CDHS State Unit on Aging
Brain Injury in Children and Youth
BrainSTEPS and Concussion Management Teams in CO School Districts
Presenters from the Colorado Department of Education:
Karen McAvoy, PsyD
Heather Hotchkiss, MSW
Janet Tyler, PhD, CBIST
Operating under CDHS, which was designated as the lead State agency on brain injury in 2000, MINDSOURCE administers resources for new and groundbreaking research, funds case management services for those coping with the effects of brain injury, as well as facilitates and provides education, training and technical assistance to other agencies and organizations in Colorado. Additionally, the organization provides support, capacity building and the needed infrastructure for all levels of the brain injury community, from public policy and research to case management funding and technical assistance, for communities across the state to better cope with the effects of brain injury.
MINDSOURCE funds case management through the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado (BIAC) to all Coloradans who are living with the effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) free of charge. In addition to case management support, children and youth can also receive no-cost, education consultation to address school-related challenges resulting from brain injury.
MINDSOURCE strives to enhance the quality of life for everyone in Colorado living with or affected by brain injury and their communities.