The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has rolled out a new initiative, the Oregon Brain Injury Program, aiming to provide comprehensive support for individuals grappling with brain injuries and their families and caregivers. This service arrives as a free resource with assistance available via a toll-free phone line, operational from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It offers a range of services, including one-on-one support, personalized referrals, and resource navigation, all tailored to the unique needs of brain injury patients.
Recent data underscores the pressing need for such a program, revealing a worrying escalation in brain injury occurrences across the state. Statistics indicate that in 2023 alone, there were 38,718 brain injuries necessitating hospital or emergency room attention, and 1,177 resulted in fatalities within Oregon, as published on the Oregon Traumatic Brain Injury Safety Dashboard. "Oregon’s Brain Injury Program is a step forward in ensuring people in Oregon are supported at every level of need and through every stage of life," ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities Director, Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, stated, as per the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Geared to serve people with brain injuries through advocacy, options counseling, resource navigation, and service coordination, the Brain Injury Program customizes its assistance. ODHS is focusing on addressing the lack of centralized support for those with brain injuries and the dearth of case managers and social workers who can act as guides. "Without a resource like the Brain Injury Program help line, many individuals struggle to access services and resources that are available to them," Jane-ellen Weidanz, Deputy Director of Policy for the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities, explained, as per the Oregon Department of Human Services.
The inception of Oregon's Brain Injury Program follows the passage of Senate Bill 420 in 2023. The legislation was strongly supported by advocates and organizations across the state, including Oregon's Brain Injury Advocate Coordinator at the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) at the University of Oregon, David Kracke. "This new program would not exist without the incredible dedication and hard work of hundreds of Oregonians throughout the state who fought tirelessly to make this program a reality," Kracke said, as cited by the Oregon Department of Human Services. The bill also mandates the establishment of a Brain Injury Program Advisory Committee, with current open recruitment for members experienced in brain injury issues.
