Download Brain Injury Association of Connecticut

Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut
Annual Report
July 1 2013-June 30, 2014
Chief Executive Officer:
Julie Peters, Executive Director
2013-2014 Board of Directors:
Wendy J. Borawski, President
Paul A. Slager, Past - President
Johnny D. Magwood, Vice President
Philip S. Nemphos, Treasurer
Brian D. Waddell, Secretary
Marva Beckford
Greg Bubnash
David Bush
Janice E. Favreau
Michael Jennings
Sean McElligott
Pradeep Ramanathan
Sarah A. Raskin
Eve Tomanelli
Felicia Williams
Organizational Development
 Six new directors joined the Board in FY 13/14. New Board members included Attorney David Bush,, who
returned to the Board; Greg Bubnash, CPA and father of a survivor; Janice Favreau, one of the founding board
members of BIAC whose son has a brain injury; Pradeep Ramanathan, Speech/Language Professor and Support
Group facilitator at UCONN; Sarah Raskin, neuropsychologist, support group facilitator, professor at Trinity
College and former board member; and Eve Tomanelli, Marriage and Family Counselor who also works at
Gaylord Hospital.
 Board members who transitioned off included James Healey, Jr., who continues to serve on the Finance
Committee and Attorney Sharon Pope who had served on the Board since 2005, Dr. Thomas Miller (2007),
and Marva Beckford (2012). Attorney Paul Slager, former President of the Board did not seek reelection when
his term ended in 2014.
 Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Building Evaluation Capacity (BEC) Program Update. An opportunity for
improved service became clear after the initial report was issued in summer 2013. It indicated that 40% of
callers to BIAC were not able to speak with a brain injury specialist on the same day. During the first 6 months
of 2014, the BIS increased from 60% of calls being answered in the same day to an average of 79% of calls
being answered in the same day. Oversight of targets is currently folded into the responsibility of the BISD and
tallies are counted each month. Moreover, this team goal has been incorporated into the BIS staff yearly
performance review goals. Ongoing consideration of increasing training for BIS as they respond to questions
relating to the educational needs of brain injury survivors is being explored.
 BIAC participated in the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Alumni Building Evaluation Capacity program,
and chose to conduct a Needs Assessment relating to BIAC’s Outreach and Education programs. BIAC sought
to determine: a) where are the gaps in community education relating to brain injury; b) what kinds of brain
injury community education programs are needed in CT and; c) where BIAC’s limited time and resources for
brain injury education would best be utilized. Through surveys and interviews, we collected data from
professionals, providers, state agencies and other organizations. BIAC was surprised to learn that many
organizations were not knowledgeable of BIAC education and prevention programs, even though many have
working relationships with BIAC. Additionally, even organizations that knew about BIAC’s trainings did not
necessarily know that our prevention and education programs are free. Preliminary results indicate that 86%
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of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of brain injury education they currently receive,
yet 51% indicated that they would like BIAC to contact them to provide trainings. (see BIAC’s report on the BEC
Alumni Program for additional information). As a result of the Needs Assessment, BIAC will:
o Explore how best to educate fully those who serve brain injury survivors, their families and caregivers
in the Connecticut community about the programs that BIAC offers, in order to fill perceived gaps in
brain injury education within the community
o Establish a plan to inform the brain injury community that we offer free trainings
o Create a process to further evaluate the survey and interview results
BIAC staff attended conferences, workshops, trainings and webinars on topics including: CoP: What is
happening in other states, and the their goals and indicators for TBI in the states; TBI Data: Sources, Challenges
and Successes, CT Nonprofits Annual Conference; Injury Prevention, TBI and Sports, Challenges in Our Work:
Leveraging the Community of Practice for Technical Assistance; Making Evaluation Work for You; Mobilizing a
Multi-Sector Approach to a Healthier America; Falls Prevention; Co existing cog impairment and substance
abuse; Brain Injury Alliance of CT Annual Conference; Return to Learn and Play; Behavior rehabilitation
following pediatric brain injury; Changes to PTDS & ASD in DSM 5; Gaylord Hospital Brain Injury Family
Intervention Conference; NCQA PCMH Recognition; VA Polytrauma System of Care: Brain Injury; TBI Medicaid
HCBS; Creative Therapy
Community Outreach
 Over 5500 people attended school and community presentations throughout the year. BIAC achieved a longdesired goal to present in Fairfield County, which occurred twice this year: once at a concussion Conference in
Stamford, CT and again at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. Other venues included: Case Management
Society Meeting, CATA Symposium, Cheshire Healthy Living Expo, Department of Developmental Services,
Duncaster Assisted Living, Foxwoods Employees, Intensive Education Academy, Old Saybrook Middle School,
Parents with cognitive Limitations Conference, Riverside Healthcare, Simsbury Town Wellness, St. Dominic’s
Yale New Haven Hospital (please see BIAC’s report on the BEC Alumni Program for additional information on
BIAC’s education and Outreach)
 The 2014 BIAC Annual Conference was held at the Hilton Hartford and this was the first year BIAC offered
CMEs through St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. Over 270 were in attendance for presentations which
included a keynote presentation on Epidemiology and Outcomes of Rehabilitation for TBI in the U.S (Dr. John
D. Corrigan), a Plenary Session: Effort, Exaggeration and Malingering After a Concussion (Jonathan M. Silver);
and 6 workshops. The following recognition awards were presented during the Conference: Ayers
Distinguished Service Award- James Healey; Community Service Award- Mike Jennings; Education &
Prevention Award. – Gaylord Center for Concussion Care; Partnership Award- CzepigaDalyPope; Public Policy
Award- Representative Catherine Abercrombie; Volunteer of the Year Award- Nikki & Scott Moore
 Buzz, Facebook and Website
a. Website—In January 2014, BIAC received a grant from the Pita Group and sponsorship support from
CzepigaDalyPope that allowed it to move forward with a complete redesign of their website. The new
site was launched in May 2014. It has a more user-centered interface and is much more
comprehensive, enabling visitors to find information about BIAC, brain injury resources and prevention
programs much more easily and intuitively.
b. Facebook—At the beginning of the FY, BIAC had two active Facebook pages: one that had been
established as the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut with approx. 400 followers, and a new one
created in March 2013 as the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut, to reflect the name change that took
place at that time. In December, 2013, BIAC merged its two Facebook pages resulting in one page for
the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut that, as of June 30, 2013, had 793 likes. The page’s following
has grown steadily since the merge.
c. Buzz—Distribution for BIAC’s monthly e-newsletter, BUZZ, has grown approximately 37% since July
2014. With consistent open rates in the low 20 percentile, BIAC is on track with industry averages.
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Brain Injury Awareness Month
a. BIAC received a proclamation from Governor Dannel P. Malloy declaring March Brain Injury Awareness
Month in the state of Connecticut.
b. BIAC partnered with Hoffman Auto Group to promote Brain Injury Awareness Month throughout the
state. Hoffman also made a commitment to donate a portion of the proceeds from their sales during
the month to support BIAC’s programs, including the BIAC Annual Conference
BIAC staff served as board and committee members of: The Connecticut Concussion Task Force (CCTF) ; CT
Cross Disability Lifespan Alliance ; Connecticut Health Advocacy Forum; Connecticut TBI Advisory Board;
DMHAS Jail Diversion Task Force Statewide Steering Committee; Parents with Cognitive Limitations
workgroup; The Injury Partners Action Group; The Steering Committee of Money Follows The Person, USBIA
Board; Return-to-Learn; TBI Community of Practice; Injury Prevention Connecticut Health Improvement
Planning Coalition
Support Groups and Social Events
 BIAC started the year with 26 active Support Groups and ended the year with 24 groups. Two new Support
Groups formed during the year: Fairfield and Farmington, while 4 groups were discontinued: Danielson,
Norwich, Rocky Hill, and Ridgefield. Over 2700 people attended support group meetings and events during the
year. Two support groups hosted picnics with BIAC: Project Genesis and New London. Over 100 people were in
attendance at the BIAC’s Annual Valentine’s Dance.
Brain Injury Services
 BIS responded to over 1813 calls and emails over the year. This number is a decrease from last year. The BISD
will continue to increase additional community outreach and networking endeavors which have been
successfully utilized in the past.
 There have been numerous callers to the Helpline with complicated issues relating to the CT ABI Waiver. BIS
have successfully assisted these individuals in providing the tools needed to advocate for themselves and have
observed a quicker response and more favorable outcomes as it relates to challenges and issues with many of
the touch points of the Waiver service delivery process.
 Providers Council met bi-monthly during this reporting period and has seen an increase in revenue and new
providers – with the addition of smaller agencies. The new membership structure has simplified the process of
becoming a member.
 Road to Recovery Manual was completed, and uploaded to the newly created website. Excellent feedback
with specific requests for utilization and distribution have come from The Commissioner of DSS, discharge
planners and a variety of other professionals. There is now a link on the DSS website to the Manual.
 BIAC’s ED and Brain Injury Services Director began meeting with the Commissioner of the Department of Social
Services. For the first time in many years, BIAC was able to discuss directly with the Commissioner areas of
concern and began working with DSS to resolve major issues.
Fund Development and Marketing
 BIAC received a total of $12,500 in major gifts from law firm CzepigaDalyPope to support their new website.
 BIAC received a total of $24,200 in grants with three new foundations donating for the first time.
 BIAC was also approved for a $49,000 grant from Office of Policy and Management for IT upgrades that will be
implemented during the 2014/2015 fiscal year.
 BIAC hosted four fundraisers during the fiscal year:
o The Walk for Thought, which was held in October 2014, hosted more than 500 attendees—a record
number for the event and more than a 25% increase from the previous year. In total, the Walk raised
more than $66,000 for BIAC.
o The Tour of Lights Bike-a-thon in May 2014 attracted more than 80 riders and raised more than
$21,000, an 89% increase over the previous year.
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o Due to the rescheduling of the Golf Tournament originally planned in June 2013, BIAC hosted two Golf
Tournaments in the 2013/14 fiscal year. The rescheduled tournament took place in July 2013 and
raised more than $65,000 for BIAC. The second tournament raised more than $69,000.
Community Fundraisers
o The Quinnipiac Walk raised $1,874 in October.
o The May Shake N Bake Basketball Tournament, in honor of brain injury survivors, Trevor Phillips,
brought in $465.
o Small Bites and a Medium raised $770 thanks to psychic medium Rebecca Anne LoCicero’s donation of
her time in June.
o Smith Insurance collected $1,562 from employee donations during April and June.
Membership – BIAC saw a 6% decrease in individual membership revenue from the previous year.
Contrasting, Providers Council saw an increase of 39% in revenue over the previous year. BIAC hopes that
promoting the Annual Member/Donor breakfast on social media will garner added interest in membership.
Legislative Advocacy
BIAC supported the following bills:
 The Connecticut Department of Social Services submitted an ABI Waiver II Application in 2014. BIAC
responded with a formal position statement and provided verbal and written testimony in favor of an ABI
Waiver II, yet noting significant continuing challenges and concerns. HB5402 was signed by the Governor
June 2014. The application was submitted to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for final
revisions and approval. Proposed start date for ABI Waiver II is November 1, 2014. The new Waiver also
established an advisory committee for the waiver program. Julie Peters and board member Sarah Raskin were
appointed to the advisory committee.
 An Act Concerning Youth Athletics and Concussions (Raised Bill 5113) Purpose is to reduce the number of
concussions in children. This legislation was passed by the House and Senate and signed by the Governor on
September 29, 2014. Staff member Carrie Kramer was appointed by the Governor to serve on the advisory
committee.
 Youth Sports Concussion Act (S. 1014) This federal legislation would ensure that safety standards for sports
equipment are up to date and informed by the latest science. The bill would also increase potential penalties
for using false injury prevention claims to sell sports equipment.
 TBI Act Reauthorization of 2014 (S. 2539) The Senate passed this bill on September 16, 2014. As the bill is
different than the H.R. 1098, the House of Representatives will need to take up the senate bill for passage
after Members return in November. The Senate added a section directing the Secretary of Health and Human
Services (HHS) to develop a plan to improve coordination of federal activities with respect to TBI. Specifically,
the provision requires the Secretary to review existing interagency coordination efforts with regard to TBI
activities; to identify areas for improved coordination between relevant federal agencies and programs with a
focus on serving individuals with TBI; to identify recommendations that have been/or has not been adopted;
and to incorporate, as appropriate, stakeholder feedback, including feedback from individuals with TBI and
their caregivers.
 The Christen O’Donnell Equestrian Helmet Act of 2013 (H.R. 4552). To prevent future horse-related deaths
by requiring minimum safety standards on equestrian helmets.
 The Assisted Living Pilot Program for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Extension Act (S. 2607) This Act
authorizes the continuation of an important program that provides care and rehabilitation to veterans who
have sustained serious brain injury.
 An Act Concerning Assault that Results in the Loss of Consciousness. (P.A.1420) Purpose: To establish a
"knockout game" assault as a class D felony and to transfer children of at least sixteen years of age charged
with such assault to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Passed the House of Representatives
and Senate and signed by the Governor on June 16, 2014. Legislation to be effective October 1, 2014.
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