The impact of TBI on the individual and his/her family can be profound as lives are lost or dramatically altered, with the effects magnifying when the needed supports and services are unavailable or inaccessible. The impact extends to the whole community in ways more costly than need be if timely and appropriate services are available.

Proper treatment of TBI requires the availability of a range of services that meet individual needs, are diverse, and can change over time. A primary roadblock to such an approach to service delivery is a fragmented system where individuals with TBI, who frequently require multiple services, find a lack of coordination among providers and are often confronted with services that are ineffective, if not inappropriate.

In 2001, Kansas responded to this challenge with the development of the Traumatic Brain Injury Systems Development Project. Administered by the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services and overseen by the TBI Advisory Board, the TBI Project represents Kansas' attempt to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of TBI service delivery by establishing a coordinated and integrated statewide system.

The 25 members of the TBI Advisory Board come from various geographic locations around the state and include individuals with brain injury and family members, advocates, service providers, and state agency representatives. The Board's first action was to conduct an assessment of needs and resources related to TBI by drawing on the knowledge and experience of various stakeholders around the state. The results were used to identify priority areas and develop goals, objectives, and strategies that were incorporated into a state action plan. The state plan serves as a blueprint for TBI systems development, change, and expansion statewide.

The development of a statewide, integrated system of services for individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury and their families requires a concerted effort on the part of all stakeholders. Coordination of system activities, stable funding, data-driven planning, a well-defined infrastructure, and ongoing technical assistance are critical to the success of the system. Underlying these critical factors is the vision of individuals with TBI and their families exercising control over their own lives, working toward goals that they have set, and participating as fully as possible in their communities through the use of supports and services that are appropriate, accessible, and available across time as individuals with TBI transition through changing settings, levels of care, and life situations. The TBI Systems Development Project, through the implementation of the state action plan and the collaborative efforts of dedicated Kansans, seeks to make this vision a reality.

Contact Person:
Michael Deegan, Project Director
SRS Disability and Behavioral Health Services
DSOB 9th Floor
915 SW Harrison
Topeka, KS 66612-1570
Phone (785) 296-3561
Fax (785) 296-0557
michael.deegan@srs.ks.gov

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Main Page

Attention: Some of the above documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader. To install the latest version of Adobe Acrobat reader, please click on the "Get Acrobat Reader" button.