Search

Long-term follow-up studies conducted during the K–12 school years suggest that challenges related to childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) tend to persist or worsen over time. A 1999 survey of State Directors of Special Education revealed that most states had emerging initiatives for children with TBI and were expanding their capacity to serve this growing population. To determine whether significant changes in patterns of identification and service delivery had occurred, State Directors and brain injury consumer organizations were surveyed. Survey results show some improvement, but significant gaps remain. Most state education administrators perceive a gap between incidence of childhood TBI and identification of students with TBI to receive special education services. Recommendations for policy changes and research are provided.

Head injury constitutes a significant public health concern. Despite increasing recognition of the morbidity and mortality associated with head injury, there exist few statewide estimations of the prevalence and public perception of head injury. Knowledge of the public's perception can facilitate the funding and planning for the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with head injury. This study was undertaken for this purpose by the Missouri Head Injury Advisory Council and consisted of a stratified sampling of 1123 Missourians in a statewide telephone poll. The results revealed that the general public has an accurate perception of head injury and that knowledge improved as a function of direct experience with head injury.

This article will review and compare existing state-funded programs and their approaches to financing, administering, and delivering an array of services, including rehabilitation and home and community-based services and supports to individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families. A state-by-state chart provides funding and operational characteristics of the programs. The state menu of services provided and how they are delivered are also described. The article addresses how these programs fit within their overall state service delivery system, trends and changes that programs may be undergoing, and the influences that shape these programs.