TBI Council News
📰 Next TBI Council Meeting
Thursday, February 5: 9 – 11:30am PST
Find meeting info and links at the bottom of the TBI Council page. Open to the public. We'd love to have you there!
📰 Get Support
Check out our Get Support page and stay tuned for ongoing updates on resources like:
Support groups for traumatic brain injury are a place to share your story, find community, learn and discover new ways to navigate life after injury. The TBI Council, in partnership with DSHS, offers free Virtual Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group and In-Person Traumatic Brain Injury Support Groups, bringing together individuals with TBI, families, caregivers, and providers. These support groups emphasize connection, education, and community engagement.
-
TBI Community Integration Activity
After experiencing a traumatic brain injury, community integration activities are an opportunity to fully participate, contribute and thrive in community life across social, educational and professional areas. Accessible and inclusive, activities such as yoga, art, adaptive outdoor sports and more, support individuals in their neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and beyond – providing community, connection and a sense of belonging. Learn more about community integration activities.
Partnership Highlight
University of Washington Traumatic Brain Injury - Behavioral Health Extension for Community Health Outcomes (UW TBI-BH ECHO)
Successful TBI recovery can depend in large part on access and adherence to behavioral health treatment. Early identification and intervention improve outcomes, but community resources are scarce and fragmented. There is often a gap in trauma-informed interactive learning and case consultation for frontline providers.
In partnership with the TBI Council, UW's TBI-BH ECHO program fills that gap, offering practitioners and providers focused learning and case consultations around TBI.
Engage with ECHO!
➡️ Meet the incredible TBI-BH ECHO team!
➡️ Register for Upcoming Sessions held on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month from 12-1:30pm PST.
➡️ Submit a Case! Have a case or clinical question you want to talk through? The TBI-BH ECHO panel would love to discuss it during one of our ECHO sessions.
➡️ Check out past session videos and presentations for free on-demand learning on a wide range of topics, such as:
- TBI Identification
- Post-TBI Anxiety
- TBI & PTSD
- Seizures & TBI
- Returning to Work after TBI
- Persistent Symptoms after Concussion
- Driving after TBI
- Disparities, Equity, & Health Literacy
- Disparities in TBI Care
- TBI & Older Adults
- Neurodegenerative Disorder after TBI
- Telemedicine & TBI
- Specific Case Discussions
Community Connections
What is artREMEDY?
artREMEDY is Path with Art’s training and consulting program that equips arts and culture organizations, healthcare providers, and academic institutions with practical, evidence-based, trauma-informed arts strategies. Learn more:
📅 February 26, 1-3pm: artREMEDY: Foundations of Art and Health
- Introduces neuroarts: the study of how creative engagement affects the brain and body. This course explores how trauma influences health and behavior and build a foundation for applying the arts to foster connection, resilience, and well-being.
📅 March 19, 1-3pm: artREMEDY: Trauma-Informed Strengths-Based Practice
- Focuses on designing trauma-informed, strengths-based arts experiences. Attendees learn practical strategies for creative engagement and responsive facilitation that prevent re-traumatization while fostering growth, self-efficacy, and empowerment.
Visit Brain Injury & Recovery-TBI Program | WDVA for more info!
Learn with The Center on Brain Injury Research & Training (CBIRT)
CBIRT, a center under the Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon, conducts research and training to improve the lives of children and adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). CBIRT’s research focuses on developing interventions to improve outcomes related to education, employability, and quality of life. Our training activities promote the use of best practices among educators and other professionals who serve individuals with TBI.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities with CBIRT:
To view recordings of past webinars, click here to be directed to the webinar archive on Return to School website. To view recordings of the Building Capacity in Brain Injury series, visit the Workshop Library
WA Cares Pilot Program Opportunity
The WA Cares Fund will be launching a pilot program in Lewis, Mason, Thurston, and Spokane counties to make sure our processes are ready for statewide launch in July 2026.
WA Cares will be accepting a limited number of applicants between until Feb. 28, 2026, and are looking to connect with community members who live in those counties and may be interested in participating.
Check out the WA Cares website for ongoing updates and reach out to Help & Support | WA Cares Fund if you have any questions.
Save the Date: Panel Discussion on Representing the Cross-Disability Community
Join the Washington Statewide Independent Living Council (WASILC) for an inspiring event where you’ll hear directly from members of the cross-disability community.
This panel will highlight the diverse experiences—physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, and developmental—that shape our community. Come listen to powerful stories and innovative ideas that advocate for a more inclusive and accessible future for everyone.
📅 Date: Wednesday, April 29th
⏰ Time: 1:00pm PST
📍 Location: Online via Zoom
Brain Injury Study & Survey Opportunity
Are you the romantic partner of a brain injury survivor? Do you have a brain injury and a romantic partner? If so, learn more about the study and opportunity to engage with this research!
Resources
HearMeWA: Connect with Free, 24/7 Support
HearMeWA helps Washington youth under 25 find support when they are not sure where to turn, no matter where they live, by connecting youth to services and resources. Ideas from young people statewide, including members of the HearMeWA Youth Advisory Group, help shape the program and its commitment to antiracist, trauma-informed, and youth-centered values.
❓ How does it work? What happens when you reach out for help?
- Submitting a tip or concern to HearMeWA is easy and you can remain anonymous. Here’s how it works:
- Contact HearMeWA via call, text, web, or app.
- Speak to a crisis counselor about your tip or concern.
- The counselor connects you with resources or someone near you who can help.
- Follow up on a report or previous call at any time.
Building a Justice System Responsive to Brain Injury
It is estimated that over half encountering the criminal justice system have experienced at least one brain injury, yet many are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and left without proper care and supports across the criminal justice continuum.
Check out this recent article on Mind Matters: Building a Justice System That Is Responsive to Brain Injury and download the full report.
Domestic Violence, TBI, & CTE Research
Those who have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime may have experienced repetitive head impacts, which are a primary risk factor for CTE. In response, Boston University CTE Center has launched a DV-CTE initiative.
Learn more about the partners involved, such as María E. Garay-Serratos, MSW, PhD, founder of Pánfila Domestic Violence HOPE Foundation, who is also doing impactful work in Washington State around TBI and DV. Learn more from the UW Latino Center for Health.
Read her letter titled Brain Donation Among the DV-TBI Population: Call to Action to learn more about her story, CTE research, and the importance of brain donations.
Disparities & TBI
Understanding disparities and differences in TBI is not just about numbers. It’s about justice, prevention, and making sure that everyone, regardless of background, has access to evidence-based care for TBI.
Health disparities are differences in health outcomes and their causes among groups of people. Groups can be defined by factors such as race, ethnicity, sex, education, income, disability, geographic location, and sexual orientation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined disparities in TBI and has outlined which groups are most affected by TBI. While anyone can be at risk of getting a TBI, some groups have a greater likelihood of dying from a TBI or living with long-term health problems as a result of their injury, such as people in correctional or detention facilities, military service members and veterans, survivors of intimate partner violence, people experiencing homelessness, and older adults.
Check out the full article on race, ethnicity, and other disparities in TBI.
Strong & Growing: A Health Care Transition Guide for Young People
Strong & Growing: A Health Care Transition Guide for Young People with Chronic Health Conditions is now available in English and Spanish. This guide is designed to support youth with chronic or complex health conditions prepare for the transition from pediatric to adult health care.
Check out the Healthier Washington Collaboration Portal to find Resources for Youth-Serving Providers and more!
Advancing TBI Care for the Military Community
Check out this new free continuing medical education (CME) opportunity to benefit your providers, staff, and broader network. The on-demand course, Advancing TBI Care for the Military Community, is now available and offers:
- 1 CME/CE credit for AMA, APA, and Athletic Training
- Free access for all participants
- Flexible, on-demand viewing that can be completed at any time
This course was developed to support clinicians and professionals who serve active-duty service members, veterans, and military families affected by traumatic brain injury. As per protocol, Department of Defense representatives reviewed this content prior to publication and did not recommend any changes to the content.
Find additional free CME/CE courses on the Concussion & CTE Foundation website covering brain injury, concussion management, and related clinical topics.
TBI InfoComics
💥 TBI InfoComics educate and inform about common symptoms of traumatic brain injury and ways to manage them. TBI InfoComics cover several topic areas, including:
💥 TBI InfoComics are also offered in Spanish!
Return to School with the Center on Brain Injury Research & Training (CBIRT)
❗ A brain injury, including concussion, can change the way a student behaves, moves, thinks, and learns. These changes can lead to challenges in a student’s ability to succeed at school. The more educators know about brain injury the better prepared they will be to support students with brain injury in their classroom.
✔️ Return to School (RTS) is designed for Washington educators, parents and community providers who support students with brain injury. Here you can register for upcoming events, view past webinars, and download resources like the Brain Injury Management Toolkit. The site includes the In the Classroom course for educators, which is approved for 10 clock hours. Work at your own pace, on your own schedule. All resources are provided free of charge.
Safety & Fun with Safe Kids
Every day, kids get hurt having fun - riding their bike, playing sports, playing on the playground with friends. For many years, Safe Kids Washington has been at the forefront of child safety. Find your local Safe Kids information here!
💪 How? Local Leaders Creating Sustainable Coalitions
Safe Kids uses a local community-based coalition model where community members work with a local Safe Kids coordinator on topics of child safety that are important and relevant to that community. The TBI Council is an active partner in these efforts. View the annual report on our Safe Kids-TBI Partnership (PDF)
🚙 Car Seat Inspections & Distribution
If you need to have a seat install check or looking for a low-cost seat, visit https://wacarseats.com to find a local car seat inspection and distribution service near you. To get tips and recommendations of the right fit and installation for a car safety seat for your child visit the Safe Kids Ultimate Car Seat Guide.
🚗 Free Car Seat Clinic with Benton-Franklin Health District!
Safe Kids Benton-Franklin offers free car seat safety checks by appointment. Community car seat clinics are held on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10 am to 2 pm at Kadlec Regional Medical Center parking garage. Book your appointment online or drop in on a first-come-first serve basis. Car seats and booster seats may be available for low-income families who qualify. Contact (509) 460-4200 for more info.
🦺 Traffic Safety Gardens
Check out the Traffic Garden Toolkit, a resource guide for pop-up and permanent traffic gardens, developed in collaboration by community partners and the TBI Council.
More languages available at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Publication Library.
Add a traffic safety garden to your spring and summer events!
💻 Learning & Education Resources
Check out the Safe Kids Washington online learning modules!
Topics include pedestrian safety, brain injury guide for parents, emergency preparedness, fall prevention, winter safety, farm safety, child passenger safety, playground safety, sports safety, traffic safety gardens, water safety, and bike safety, and more. Make sure you are prepared for the season with our modules on Winter Safety and Snowlympics!
Struggling with Caregiver Burnout? Need Someone to Relate?
Check out Washington Caregiving Journey and find Caregiver Support Groups here.
💞 Find more Caregiver Resources here.
More Resources
📜 Check out updated guidance on Communicating about Brain Injury
Opportunities to Serve
At the beginning of each year, the TBI Council reviews applications received from Boards and Commissions Office of the Governor for all open positions on the Council. The Council reviews and makes recommendations to the Governor’s Office. Council terms begin in July of each year.
Apply or Reach out to Boards and Commissions at GovernorBoardsandCommissions@gov.wa.gov with any questions.
Note: While DSHS/TBI Council does not sponsor all of these activities and events, we share this information as a valuable resource to the TBI community. Activities and events that are not sponsored by DSHS/TBI Council have no affiliation and are not endorsed by DSHS/TBI Council. Access at own discretion.
|
