About BIANH

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The Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire is a private, non-profit, family and consumer run organization representing over 5000 New Hampshire residents with acquired brain disorders and stroke. The Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire was founded in 1983 by New Hampshire parents seeking to bring their brain injured children home from out of state nursing homes.

Our mission is to promote awareness, understanding and prevention of brain injuries through education, advocacy and community support services that lead toward reduced incidence and improved outcomes of children and adults with brain injuries.

Brain Injury Assn of NH Key Activity Areas

Public Policy and Advocacy

• NH Brain Injury Legislative Contact Network.
• Public Policy email list server.
• Monitoring of state legislative activities as they affect people with brain injury.

Information and Support

• Family Help Line 1-800-773-8400 and Resource Library offering survivors, families, professionals and the general public free information, resources and referrals about brain injuries and various other related topics; i.e., stroke. The library contains pamphlets, articles, books and videos which may all be borrowed at no cost.
• State Brain injury Resource Directory, Stroke Resource Directory.
• Headway Newsletter - a quarterly publication raising public awareness about brain injury.
• Monthly support groups for survivors, family members and friends.
• Community Resource Facilitation, case management and family advocacy which assists in accessing programs, services and individual counseling.
• Acute Care Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Outreach Program to families.
• Connections, a peer support program.
• Direct support discretionary fund for family support.

Education and Awareness

• Annual brain injury and stroke rehabilitation conference.
• Public awareness events; "Walk by the Sea" and " Wings of Hope Air Show".
• Project Response - improving the evaluation and management of the neurobehavioral consequences of TBI.
• Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire Provider and Professional Council.
• Brain injury & spinal cord registry and data analysis.
• Statewide brain injury database development project - families, survivors, professionals and providers.
• Schools - promote training & support for families, educators and school districts on meeting the unique needs of children with brain injuries.

Prevention

• Think First - school based brain and spinal cord prevention campaign.
• Promotion of Helmet use - provide helmets for those in need.

Brain Injury is the Silent Epidemic

Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability among children and youth; each year 30, 000 children sustain permanent disabilities. Brain injury is also the leading cause of death for those under the age of 44. It is estimated that in New Hampshire, at least 2,600 people sustain a brain injury each year; four new brain injuries occur each minute. High risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, and failure to wear a seatbelt and/or helmet, often cause brain injuries. Through public awareness efforts, the incidence of these injuries can be reduced.

Brain injury affects not just a person’s physical abilities, but their mental, emotional and cognitive abilities as well. While they vary in severity, all brain injuries are permanent; there is no cure, only prevention.

Programs to be supported by the Vertical Challenge

All money raised at the Vertical Challenge for Brain Injury Awareness will go directly to two programs; the Neuro-Resource Facilitation program and the Outreach Program.

The Neuro-Resource Facilitation Program offers Individuals living with a brain injury or stroke and their personal support systems to work in partnership with a Neuro-Resource Facilitator.  The Neuro-Resource Facilitator provides assistance in navigating the service system as well as assisting individuals to advocate for themselves. The program does not provide the services, but the support and resources in acquiring needed services.

The Neuro-Resource Facilitator presents the best available service options to enable:

• Informed decision making
• Consumer choice
• Maximized independence
• Continuous quality of life

Neuro-Resource Facilitators will also provide education to the community and personal support systems to better understand how barriers may impact the lives of individuals living with a brain injury or stroke.

The Outreach program offers information at two important junctures; at the acute level, in hospitals, and at the rehabilitation stage, after the injured person has been stabilized and begun down the road to recovery. This program puts important information in the hands of families who feel overwhelmed, bewildered and forgotten. The outreach packet not only provides information to help them cope, but also lets them know that they are not alone.

For more information about the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, see our website: www.bianh.org.