Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 23 Support Our Work You can also contribute to healing by making a financial contribution to the work that BIS does to sup- port families in the community. Survivors of traumatic brain injury are your children's classmates, play- mates, peers, and friends. By sup- porting Brain Injury Services, you help ensure that these young peo- ple can continue to make progress in their journey toward recovery. To support Brain Injury Services' free programs for brain injury sur- vivors, families, and caregivers, donate today at braininjurysvcs.org/ donate. Coming up this fall Starting this month, you can spon- sor a rubber duck and then watch the race in person or via live stream via our Facebook page. This is a fun way to support our free services to brain injury survivors in Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, and the surrounding counties. Learn more about where we'll be and how to sponsor your duck at braininjurysvcs.org/duckrace. It Takes a Community Providing successful recov- ery paths for those impact- ed by brain injury requires full community support. It starts with awareness. Coaches, teachers, coun- selors and caregivers can help by building their own awareness of the causes of brain injury. • If a player takes a blow to the head, remove them from play and get an assessment. • If a child is heading out on a bike, ensure that he or she does not leave without a helmet. • After any incident involving a fall, automobile accident or a child being struck by or against an object, ensure that medical care goes beyond the immediate needs to stop bleeding, repair fractures, etc., and stay alert for symptoms that may indicate a deeper brain injury. Learn About Our Services Brain injury survivors, families and caregivers can learn more by visiting at braininjurysvcs.org/case-management or by contacting the Child and Adolescent Case Management program at 703-451-8881, ext. 229. A Partner in Recovery These families need a helping hand, and Brain Injury Services provides that. BIS' Child and Adolescent Case Management Program is here to guide children, adolescents, and young adults and their families on their path to recovery from brain injury. Case managers take a holistic approach, involving school sys- tems, healthcare providers, and broader community resources to ensure that youth access the resources they need to heal, learn, and progress. As part of BIS' programming, we provide the following free services to children, adolescents, and young adults: • Brain Injury Education – Case managers work one-on- one with clients, families, school staff, coaches and other community members to build awareness of brain injury. • Educational Coordination – Case managers participate in independent education plan (IEP) and 504 plan meetings, helping schools and families build effective learning opportunities, and advocating for appropriate support and accommodations. • Home Assessments – Case managers can meet with clients and their families in the home, or help obtain outside resources, such as applied behavioral analysis therapists, who may provide in-home services. • Community Resources – No family should be alone on this journey. Case managers can help identify community resources that that support development, recovery, activity, peer support and more. • Benefits Counseling – Brain injury can place a significant financial burden on families. BIS case managers help families find and access benefits available to children with brain injuries and their caregivers. • Accessing Providers – From neuropsychiatrists to occupational therapists, the array of healthcare providers a child may need to see during recovery is wide. BIS helps refer clients to appropriate providers, and clients may also access programs within BIS. "I hear all the time after talking to parents—'I wish I had known about BIS a long time ago!'" says Claire Callison-Aub, Manager of Child and Adolescent Services with BIS. "When we come into a family's life, we make long-term connections with the families and children. We bring them hope, and we send the message that they are not alone." In a world where school staffing shortages limit access to in-school services such as physical therapy and where finding therapists and other providers who accept Medicaid can feel impossible, BIS case managers stick by the family's side—in many cases for the long term. "Some of our families we have worked with for years, and watched their child grow, learn and make progress and improvement," says Callison-Aub. "Once they enter adult- hood, if they choose to continue working with us, we can transition them to an Adult Case Manager. When we close a family's case for any reason, we always tell them we aren't going anywhere. If they need their case reopened, we have the flexibility to do so if needed." BIS Client: Piercen; Spotsylvania, VA

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