Meeting Minutes Details
Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative
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Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative Trust Fund
Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2008-DRAFT
Members Present
Doug Harris, J.D. State Health Commissioner Designee, Richmond
Gregory Helm, M.D., Ph.D. University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville
Terry Glenn Department of Corrections, Richmond
Page Melton Caregiver, Richmond
Teresa Poole Lakeview Blue Ridge, Blacksburg
David Reid, Psy.D., Chair Augusta Psychological Associates, Waynesboro
Jim Rothrock Department of Rehabilitative Services, Richmond
(Ex-officio)
Staff
Patti Goodall, Department of Rehabilitative Services, CNI Program Staff
Christine Grauer Department of Rehabilitative Services, CNI Program Staff
Guests
Mary-Margaret Cash Assistant Commissioner, Department of Rehabilitative Services
Barry Green Department of Juvenile Justice
Tim Joost Department of Juvenile Justice
Anne McDonnell Brain Injury Association of Virginia
Cynthia O’Donoghue James Madison University, Harrisonburg
Stephen Peed, Ph.D. Department of Juvenile Justice
Jasneen Sahni CJS & Associates, Vienna
Michelle Witt Crossroads to Brain Injury Recovery, Harrisonburg
The Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Trust Fund Advisory Board met for a regular quarterly business meeting in Conference Room 101 at the DRS Central Office, 8004 Franklin Farms Drive in Richmond. David Reid, Psy.D., Chair, convened the meeting at 10:07 a.m. with introductions of meeting guests and board members.
Public Comment Period
A public comment period was held. No public comments were made.
Approval of June 13, 2008 Minutes
Commissioner Jim Rothrock made a motion to approve the minutes as written; Terry Glenn seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Approval of September 26, 2008 Agenda
The agenda as distributed was approved unanimously by the Board.
Presentation from Cynthia O’Donoghue, Ph.D., James Madison University, and Michelle Witt, Crossroads to Brain Injury Recovery
Cynthia O’Donoghue, Ph.D., Associate Professor at James Madison University, and Michelle Witt, Executive Director of Crossroads to Brain Injury Recovery, Inc., presented a proposal entitled “Measuring Success: Outcomes for Community-Based Brain Injury Services.” Dr. O’Donoghue and Ms. Witt proposed a project that would identify a functional outcome protocol that objectively demonstrates improvements in quality of life for survivors of brain injury, as well as caregivers, as a result of services provided through community-based brain injury case management programs. Such a tool would assist organizations to 1) conduct program evaluations, 2) modify services based on qualitative and standardized outcome practices to better meet the needs of survivors and families, 3) secure accreditation, and 4) improve the consistency of outcomes reporting among brain injury programs across the Commonwealth. The proposed pilot study project would consist of three major activities: 1) identify the level of interest and ability to participate among potential project collaborators through surveys, interviews, and focus groups, 2) investigate the potential to dovetail with the state-wide Brain Injury Case Management Database System, and 3) conduct an assessment of existing outcome measurement tools in order to identify one that may be adaptable for use by community-based brain injury programs across the Commonwealth.
Presentation from Kate Baxter, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center
Kate Baxter with Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center provided an update via a “Go To Meeting” in which Board members viewed a PowerPoint presentation while Kate spoke via PolyCom phone. The grant update was for CNI Grant #07-063 “Providing Improved Availability of a Health Exercise Option for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury.” The period of this grant award was July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 with a no-cost extension through December 31, 2007. The goal of this grant was to establish five locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia where individuals with spinal cord injury can have access to computerized electrical muscle stimulation with the ERGYS2 Rehabilitation System. Equipment was placed at sites in Alexandra, Richmond, Roanoke, Virginia Beach, and Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC). Since the beginning of the grant period, 43 individuals with spinal cord injury have been evaluated using the system; two individuals have reached the independent maintenance phase of the program. During the no-cost extension period of the grant, WWRC received approval to reallocate remaining grant funds for the purchase of a RT300-S bike that is used with custom made shorts; this equipment is used at WWRC only. An additional goal of the project to market the program via media contacts at each site to individuals with SCI, health care providers, and caregivers was met. Since the grant has ended, there has been no follow-up with sites, according to Kate. Commissioner Rothrock made a motion that the CNI Advisory Board directs WWRC to work with the recipients of the equipment to provide quarterly reports on usage of the equipment. Terry Glenn seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Comments from the Commissioner of DRS
Commissioner Rothrock provided brief comments:
• The Commonwealth of Virginia is experiencing a budget crisis due to a $3 billion budget deficit. He has submitted budget reductions for the agency to the Governor at the 5%, 10%, and 15% levels. He noted that, at the 5% level, services to consumers will still be maintained but, at the 10% to 15% levels, programs will be affected.
• Commissioner Rothrock encouraged the CNI Advisory Board to maintain an awareness of its relevance to the Commonwealth. In particular, there is increased interest within the General Assembly regarding the connection between brain injury, domestic violence, and incarceration.
Presentation from Barry Green, Stephen Peed, and Tim Joost, Department of Juvenile Justice
Barry Green, Stephen Peed, Ph.D., and Tim Joost with the Department of Juvenile Justice presented on the need for improved screening, assessment, and treatment protocols for youth in the Juvenile Justice system who may have a history of brain injury. Although the literature is inconsistent regarding the prevalence of brain injury in this population, it is thought that 30% or more have a history strongly supporting the presence of a brain injury (e.g., domestic or street violence, involvement in accidents, drug abuse). At present, a lack of screening or best practices models for juveniles with brain injuries is a serious impediment to the Juvenile Justice system’s ability to effectively treat this population or to prevent recidivism. The Department of Juvenile Justice does not have the resources to conduct research in this area, and requests that the CNI Advisory Board considers prioritizing projects which investigate the relationship between brain injury and incarceration during its next funding cycle. Discussion ensued regarding the possibility that CNI grant funds may be made available for the state match portion of the HRSA Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act Implementation Grants, due on December 1, which targets incarcerated juveniles as an area of focus. Dr. Reid requested that this discussion be tabled until the December meeting to allow for further considerat
