Additional funding for brain injury services requested

By Kim Walter

MIDDLETOWN -- Friday's state budget hearing shed light on several topics that concern area residents, including services and treatment for individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

A $2.5 million proposal for the upcoming state budget would provide funding to maintain operations of ten state-funded brain injury programs, create a data collection system and conduct brain injury outreach and counseling services.

"Recovery from a brain injury requires long-term community support, and services such as case management, information and referral, clubhouse programs and day support programs," said Jill James, who has worked in human services throughout the valley.

James recently started working more with people who had suffered brain injuries, and said she noticed quickly the lack of services available to them in the area.

"It was shocking," she said. "I guess some of it is because it can be an invisible injury ... you can't always see it right away, but it affects so many parts of the person."

James told the panel of representatives that TBI is a contributing factor to a third of all injury-related deaths in the United States.

"And it doesn't discriminate," she said. "Brain injuries can happen to anyone, at any time, not just to those participating in risky behaviors."

Michelle Witt, executive director of Crossroads to Brain Injury Recovery, Inc. in Harrisonburg, also spoke in support for possible funding. Ten years ago, the General Assembly recognized treatment for sufferers of brain injuries, and established core safety net services in Virginia -- but not throughout the entire commonwealth.

"As it is, funding for these core services remains tragically low," she said. "Residents in this particular area don't have these services available to them, and those area that do offer the services have waiting lists stretching two years."

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Additional funding for brain injury services requested