Dear TBI Stakeholders,
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will host six stakeholder feedback conference calls to help inform the development of the Federal Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Coordination Plan and make sure the perspectives of all stakeholders are incorporated.
The objectives of the feedback forums are to:
- Understand stakeholders’ goals for improving coordination among relevant federal agencies;
- Hear how federal programs are currently working well;
- Identify gaps in current federal programs that support the TBI community; and
- Receive input on strategies for improving federal coordination to address the needs of individuals who have sustained a TBI, their family members, and caregivers.
Below is ACL’s planned schedule for hosting the TBI stakeholder forums for various groups:
- April 5, 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST, for researchers, clinicians, and providers
- April 9, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. EST, for self-advocates, family members, and caregivers
- April 11, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST, for lead state agency and national association representatives
- April 12, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST, for self-advocates
- April 18, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. EST, for self-advocates
- April 19, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST, all stakeholders welcome
Registration Instructions:
- Individuals interested in participating in a forum should register online to receive the call information. Please register at least 48 hours prior to the session.
- Stakeholders may listen to all calls, but may only speak at their designated session. If you sign up to speak, you will receive a confirmation email with additional information.
- Speakers should keep their remarks to five minutes and should only respond to any or all of the following questions:
- What is the federal government doing well with regard to TBI coordination?
- What are the areas for improved coordination?
- What are your ideas for our next steps with regard to federal coordination?
For additional questions please contact tbi@acl.gov.
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Background on the Federal TBI Coordination Plan
ACL has been tasked by the Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) with working across the federal government to develop a Traumatic Brain Injury Coordination Plan, as outlined in Section 5 of the Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act (Public Law 113-196). The development of the plan is under the oversight of the Secretary of HHS, who has delegated the responsibility to the Administration for Community Living, and requires the plan to:
- Review existing interagency coordination efforts with respect to federal activities related to traumatic brain injury, including services for individuals with traumatic brain injury;
- Identify areas for improved coordination between relevant federal agencies and programs, including agencies and programs with a focus on serving individuals with disabilities;
- Identify each recommendation in the report (see “Report to Congress on Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Understanding the Public Health Problem among Current and Former Military Personnel”) required by section 393C(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.280b–1d(b)) that has been adopted and each such recommendation that has not been adopted, and describe any planned activities to address each such recommendation that has not been adopted; and
- Incorporate, as appropriate, stakeholder feedback, including feedback from individuals with traumatic brain injury and their caregivers.
Once completed, the TBI Coordination Plan must be submitted by the Secretary of HHS to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.