National Association Of State Head Injury Administrators (Nashia)

 

Since 1990, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators has been fulfilling its mission of empowering state governments and their partners to enhance collaboration and strengthen capabilities to address the needs of individuals with brain injuries and their support systems.

NASHIA is the leading source of information and education for state employees who support public brain injury programs. NASHIA provides information on national trends, best practices, and state contacts to federal agencies, state and national associations, and brain injury partners across the nation. NASHIA provides technical assistance to state governments and their partners as well as collective representation on federal policy issues through its membership.

 

STATE PROFILES

Below you will find links to profiles* for most states that describe the diverse service delivery systems for individuals with brain injuries across the country. This is intended to explore the support mechanisms designed to meet the specific needs of individuals with brain injuries. It’s essential to acknowledge that each state’s approach to supporting individuals with brain injuries can vary significantly. States are working diligently to implement a wide range of initiatives, including resource coordination and training programs, as well as partnerships with other federal agencies. These efforts reflect a collective commitment to enhancing the quality of life and well-being of individuals affected by brain injuries.

 

While the State Profiles aim to be comprehensive, there are challenges inherent in capturing a comprehensive picture of brain injury prevalence and service delivery in each State. The state data referenced throughout may be flawed, as national and State data are incredibly lacking. Most estimates come solely from data collected through emergency department admissions or hospital stays, which is not reflective of the total population. Additionally, it is essential to consider the dynamic nature of State support systems, which are subject to frequent updates and modifications, reflecting the evolving needs and priorities within each State. It’s essential to acknowledge that the fluid nature of State systems may limit our access to information.   *If your state is missing a link to the website, contact the person at the email address provided.

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ALABAMA

April B. Turner

State Head Injury Coordinator,  Director, TBI Programs

Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

 april.turner@rehab.alabama.gov

www.alabamatbi.org

 

ALASKA

Ariel Berg  Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury Program

 State of Alaska Department of Health

ariel.berg@alaska.gov

https://health.alaska.gov/dsds/pages/tabi/default.aspx

 

ARIZONA

Ann Tarpy

Executive Director Arizona Governor’s Council on Spinal and Head Injuries

atarpy@azdes.gov

https://headspineaz.org/

 

ARKANSAS

Danny Bercher

Institute for Digital Health and Innovation:  Brain Injury Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Services

BercherDaniell@uams.edu

https://idhi.uams.edu/brain-injury-program/

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CALIFORNIA

Regina Cademarti

Chief of Independent Living  and Assistive Technology

California Department of Rehabilitation

Regina.Cademarti@dor.ca.gov

https://www.dor.ca.gov/home/tbi

 

COLORADO

Russha Knauer

Director

MINDSOURCE – Brain Injury Network

russha.knauer@state.co.us

https://mindsourcecolorado.org/

 

CONNECTICUT

Amy Dumont

Program Manager

Acquired Brain Injury Waiver

Connecticut Department of Social Services

amy.dumont@ct.gov

 

DELAWARE

John McNeal

Director, Traumatic Brain Injury Fund

John.McNeal@delaware.gov

https://dhss.delaware.gov/ddds/

 

FLORIDA

Michael Jaffe

TBI State Partnership Program Grant Lead: University of Florida

michael.jaffee@ufl.edu

https://www.braininjuryfl.org

 

GEORGIA

Craig Young, Executive Director

Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission

Georgia Department of Public Health

Craig.Young@dph.ga.gov

https://bsitf.georgia.gov/

 

HAWAII

Mary Brogan

Administrator

mary.brogan@doh.hawaii.gov

https://health.hawaii.gov/nt/

 

IDAHO

Stefanie Shadduck

Principal Investigator

Idaho State University Institute of Rural Health

shadstef@isu.edu

https://www.isu.edu/irh/traumatic-brain-injury/

 

ILLINOIS

Lyle VanDeventer

Waiver Specialist Department of Human Services

Lyle.Vandeventer@Illinois.gov

https://hfs.illinois.gov/medicalclients/hcbs/bi.html

 

INDIANA

Brian Busching

Director:  Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention

Indiana Department of Health

BBusching@isdh.IN.gov

https://resourcefacilitationrtc.com/indiana-tbi-advisory-board

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IOWA

Maggie Ferguson

Program Manager - Brain Injury Services Program

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Maggie.ferguson@idph.iowa.gov

https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/programs-and-services/brain-injury-program

 

KANSAS

Susan Segelquist - Brain Injury Waiver Program Manager

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services

susan.segelquist2@ks.gov

https://kdads.ks.gov/kdads-commissions/long-term-services-supports/home-communitybased-services-(hcbs)-programs/programs/tramatic-brain-injury

 

KENTUCKY

Scott Collins

Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund Program

Department for Aging and Independent Living

Donald.Collins@ky.gov

https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dail/Pages/tbitrust.aspx

 

LOUISIANA

Melinda M. Richard - Assistant Secretary 

Office of Aging and Adult Services

Louisiana Department of Health

Melinda.Richard@la.gov

https://ldh.la.gov/page/traumatic-head-spinal-cord-injury-trust-fund-program

 

MAINE 

Derek Fales - Waiver Services Director 

Office of Aging and Disability Services

Maine Department of Health and Human Services  

Derek.Fales@maine.gov

https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/get-support/adults-with-brain-injury

 

MARYLAND

Stefani O’Dea - Director

Office of Older Adults and Long-Term Services and Supports

Behavioral Health Administration

stefani.odea@maryland.gov

https://health.maryland.gov/bha/pages/Traumatic-Brain-Injury.aspx

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MASSACHUSETTS

Maureen Butler

Statewide Head Injury Program

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission

Maureen.Butler@mass.gov

https://www.mass.gov/mrc-brain-injury-services

 

MICHIGAN 

Meghan DeGraaf 

Brain Injury Services Bureau of Aging and Community Living Supports

Michigan Department of Health & Human Services

DegraafM1@michigan.gov

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/mentalhealth/mentalhealth/tbi

 

MINNESOTA  

David King 

Executive Director 

Brain Injury Alliance of Minnesota

https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/people-with-disabilities/services/home-community/ programs-and-services/bi-Waiver.jsp

 

MISSISSIPPI

Anita Naik

Director - Office of Special Disability Programs

anaik@mdrs.ms.gov

https://www.mdrs.ms.gov/special-disability-programs/tbisci-trust-fund

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MISSOURI  

Amy Moffett 

Adult Brain Injury Program Manager

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Amy.Moffett@health.mo.gov

 

MONTANA  

Michaelene Brown

Montana Brain Injury Advisory Council

Department of Public Health and Human Services

MBrown2@mt.gov

https://dphhs.mt.gov/boardscouncils/traumaticbraininjuryadvisorycouncil

 

NEBRASKA

Keri Bennett

 Program Director for Acquired Brain Injury

 Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation   

Keri.bennett@nebraska.gov

https://braininjury.nebraska.gov

 

NEVADA

Vicki Kemp – TBI Program Manager

Rehabilitation Aging and Disability Division

Department of Health and Human Services

sjgall@adsd.nv.gov    https://adsd.nv.gov/Programs/Physical/Physical/

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Sandy Hunt - Bureau Chief

Bureau of Developmental Services and Acquired Brain Injury

Department of Health and Human Services

Sandy.Hunt@dhhs.nh.gov

https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disability-care/acquired-brain-disorders

 

NEW JERSEY

Peri L. Nearon - Executive Director

Division of Disability Services

New Jersey Department of Human Services

peri.nearon@dhs.State.nj.us

https://nj.gov/humanservices/dds/services/tbis/tbifund/index.html

 

NEW MEXICO

Delfy Roach - Executive Director

Brain injury Alliance of New Mexico

info@braininjurynm.org

https://www.hsd.state.nm.us/lookingforassistance/brain-injury/

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NEW YORK

Tom Rees - Director

Bureau of Long-Term Care

New York State Department of Health

Thomas.rees@health.ny.gov

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/traumatic_brain_injury/

 

NORTH CAROLINA

Scott Pokorny - TBI Team Lead

Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and 

Substance Use Services

Department of Health and Human Services

scott.pokorny@dhhs.nc.gov

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/disability-services/traumatic-brain-injury

 

NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services,

Behavioral Health Division

Tami Conrad  - Behavioral Health Administrator

tconrad@nd.gov

https://www.ndbin.org/

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OHIO

John Corrigan - Director, Ohio Brain Injury Program

Ohio Valley Center for Brain Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center 

johncorrigan1@me.com

www.ohiobraininjury.org

 

OKLAHOMA

Christian Bonds - Project Coordinator

Oklahoma’s Injury Prevention Program

State Department of Health

christian.bonds@ok.gov

https://www.oklahoma.gov

 

OREGON

Melissa McCart -   Director 

Center on Brain Injury Research and Training

mccart@uoregon.edu

https://cbirt.org/

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PENNSYLVANIA

Nicole Adams - Program Manager

Head Injury Program 

Department of Health

nicadams@pa.gov

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Traumatic-Brain-Injury.aspx

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RHODE ISLAND

Carmen Boucher - TBI Person-Center Partnership 

Rhode Island Department of Health

Carmen.Boucher@health.ri.gov

https://health.ri.gov/programs/detail.php?pgm_id=34

 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Melissa Ritter - Director

Head and Spinal Cord Injury Division

Department of Disabilities and Special Needs

mritter@ddsn.sc.gov

https://ddsn.sc.gov/ddsn-divisions/head-and-spinal-cord-injury

 

SOUTH DAKOTA

Bernie Grimme - Assistant Director

South Dakota Division of Rehabilitation Services

Bernie.Grimme@State.sd.us

https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/traumatic-brain-injury/help-brain-injury

 

TENNESSEE

Paula Denslow 

Program Director 

BrainLinks

paula_d@tndisability.org

 

TEXAS

Department of Health and Human Services 

Office of Acquired Brain Injury 

oabi@hhsc.state.tx.us

 

UTAH

Traci Barney 

Brain Injury Program Manager

Department of Health and Human Services

tabarney@utah.gov

https://vipp.health.utah.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/

  

VERMONT

Heather Blair - Brain Injury Program Lead

Department of Disabilities Aging and Independent Living

heather.blair@vermont.gov

https://asd.vermont.gov/services/tbi-program

 

VIRGINIA 

Donna Cantrell  - Brain Injury Services Coordination Unit

Virginia Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services

Donna.Cantrell@dars.virginia.gov

https://www.dars.virginia.gov/vbic.htm#gsc.tab=0

 

WASHINGTON

Kim Conner - TBI Council Coordinator 

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

kim.conner@dshs.wa.gov

https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/traumatic-brain-injury/traumatic-brain-injury

 

WEST VIRGINIA

Cortland Nesley 

Brain Injury Program Manager 

West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities 

cortland.nesley@hsc.wvu.edu

http://tbi.cedwvu.org/

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WISCONSIN

Jerry Hoepner - Professor and Pro Sem Coordinator

University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders

hoepnejk@uwec.edu

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/injury-prevention/traumatic-brain-injury.htm

 

WYOMING

Tammy Arnold - Section Manager

Developmental Disabilities Section

Department of Health

Tammy.arnold1@wyo.gov

https://health.wyo.gov/healthcarefin/hcbs/