Primary Care and Prevention Administration Bureau of Epidemiology and Health Risk Assessment Division of Injury Surveillance Prevention Traumatic Brain Injury State Grant Program  Location Bureau of Epidemiology and Health Risk Assessment 825 North Capitol Street, NE 3rd Floor Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 442-9147 Fax: (202) 442-4796 Mission To improve access to supports and services for persons with brain injury and their families and to promote the awareness and understanding of traumatic brain injury in the District of Columbia. Program Description In July 1996 Congress enacted Public Law 104-166 "to provide for the conduct of expanded studies and the establishment of innovative programs with respect to traumatic brain injury" (TBI). Under the Law, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) is charged with implementing a State Grant Program to improve access to health and other services for individuals with TBI and their families. Forty-three States and the District of Columbia have been funded since FY 1997 under the TBI State Grant Program. Through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA/MCHB, the District of Columbia Department of Health seeks promote awareness and understanding of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the District. Additionally, the Department of Health plans to expand and increase efforts in state capacity building initiatives that will contribute to sustaining TBI services in the District of Columbia. Program Goals In 1998, the TBI Program completed a needs and resource assessment for individuals with TBI and their families. Based on the results of the assessment, the District of Columbia Healthy People 2010 Plan includes strategic goals for improving the access to supports and services for persons with TBI and their families. Results of the assessment indicated the areas in need of expansion and improvement for providing acceptable supports and appropriate services for young children, youth and young adults with TBI and their families. Goal One: Expand the current delivery system to ensure that individuals with TBI and their families have access to appropriate and acceptable supports and services within the District of Columbia. Goal Two: Expand the current delivery system to ensure that youth and young adults with TBI and their families have access to appropriate and acceptable supports and services within the District of Columbia. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) TBI is damage to the brain caused by an external physical force that leaves a person with significant problems in physical functioning, social skills and/or the ability to think. High Risk Groups Males 15 - 24 Substance abuse users Infants (64 percent are due to child abuse) Elderly Those who have received a prior brain injury Physical Symptoms of TBI Attention impairment Bladder and bowel problems Behavioral Symptoms of TBI Aggression and irritability Restlessness Sexual disinhibition Impulsive behavior Anxiety Depression Lack of desire Difficulty controlling emotions Frustration Decreased ability to cope with stress TBI in the District of Columbia TBI is the leading killer and disabler of children and young adults in the United States. It is estimated that 12,000 District residents live with a brain injury. TBI accounted for 32.3 percent of deaths in the District in 1996, compared to the national norm of 21.2 percent. District residents experience TBI at a rate 11.1 percent higher than the national norm. Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Outreach and Education The TBI Program provides in-service training on transition for students with brain injuries to post secondary options (such as higher education, vocational training, employment, and community activities, use of community supports and other services). The program also provides training for community support personnel, as needed, regarding the needs of students with TBI on transition and provides technical assistance to aid the re-establishment of the District of Columbia Brain Injury Association. The only known cure for brain injury is prevention.