May 5, 2010

Dear Colleagues:

According to the Centers for Disease Control, brain injury is the most frequent cause of disability and death among children and adolescents in the United States.

·  Each year, more than one million children sustain brain injuries ranging from mild to severe.

·  Falls are the number one cause of brain injury for children under five years of age, followed by motor vehicle crashes.

·  Abuse accounts for 64% of brain injuries in children under one year of age.

Children are just as vulnerable to trauma as adults. However, the extent of trauma may not be immediately apparent, because the child’s brain is still developing. As a child with a brain injury grows and develops, the part of the brain previously damaged may not work as well as it should. Problems seen in children subsequent to brain injury may include deficits in attention and concentration, memory, and organizational skills, changes in behavioral functioning, social skills, and emotional control. Such sequelae often present significant challenges for parents, physicians, clinicians, and educators of children with brain injury who struggle to meet their unique needs.

The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) has developed LEARNet, found on the web at www.projectlearnet.org, a user-friendly, interactive website designed to help children and adolescents with brain injury, their families, and healthcare personnel. LEARNet uses a common-sense approach in determining what may be contributing to a child’s behavior and helps users seek intervention strategies. On the LEARNet website you will find an extensive listing of over 50 tutorials on issues common to brain injury (i.e., attention, self-regulation, mental flexibility, and organization problems), instructional videos on specific intervention strategies, verbal scripts that help youngsters succeed, a glossary of terms related to brain injury, and pages geared toward children, parents, and educators.

LEARNet also provides linkage to the BIANYS network of family advocates/FACTS Program. Family Advocacy, Counseling and Training Services Coordinators (FACTS) are a family support system for individuals who have sustained a brain injury prior to age 22 and their families. When you or members of your team are working with a family impacted by a brain injury, the FACTS Coordinator can play a vital role in helping the family. FACTS Coordinators are available to assist the family in navigating the complex system of care throughout NYS as well as provide in-service training to your staff about brain injury symptoms and helpful resources. In addition, FACTS Coordinators can answer questions about LEARNet, facilitate the LEARNet process, and offer support throughout the challenging process of transition throughout all phases of recovery.

We encourage you to visit the website at www.projectlearnet.org, take a moment to answer a few questions about yourself, and review all that LEARNet has to offer. We have included links to some of our resources to assist you in your work with individuals with brain injury. All of these resources can be found on the FOR PARENTS link on the LEARNet website.

You can find links to these materials at the bottom of this page. If you would like additional information or hard copies of the resources, please contact the Brain Injury Association of New York State at (518) 459-7911 or online at www.bianys.org.

The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) is the statewide membership organization that advocates on behalf of individuals with brain injury and their families, and promotes prevention. Established in 1982, BIANYS provides education, advocacy, and community support services that lead to improved outcomes for children and adults with brain injury and their families. In addition to LEARNet and the FACTS program described above, the BIANYS Information and Resource Clearinghouse includes a toll-free family helpline, comprehensive web-based information, chapters and support groups throughout the state, speakers bureau, a video and publications library, support for military service members and veterans, caregiver resources, educational symposia and conferences, community programs, outreach, prevention programs, and public policy input.

The Brain Injury Association of New York State is excited to be working with the New York State Department of Health and the United States Health Resources and Services Administration to expand state and local capacity/access to comprehensive and coordinated services for individuals with brain injury and their families. As a means of expanding access, BIANYS will be conducting outreach and education activities with primary care physicians, pediatricians, Independent Living Centers, Early Childhood Direction Centers, and Special Education Centers. These providers will be receiving information about LEARNet and brain injury in children. In addition, the Association will be promoting LEARNet through websites, conferences and article submissions. We hope you will become part of the team of professionals working to ensure that no one should face the trauma of brain injury alone.

Sincerely,

Judith I. Avner, Esq.

Executive Director

Brain Injury Association of NYS

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THE LEARNET WEBSITE