Children’s Services Program
Children’s Brain Injury Safety Net Program
A Program of the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund
Safety Net
The goals of the Children’s Brain Injury Safety Net Program are to:
- Increase the knowledge and skills of the people that serve children with brain injury.
- Promote seamless transition and support from the time of diagnosis/identification to the point of transition to adulthood.
Child and Family Support
Care Coordination
Once referred to the program, each child/family will work with a care coordinator from the Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs (HCP). HCP Care Coordinators are public health professionals located across the state of Colorado. They have specific training in helping children with brain injury and finding valuable resources in their communities.
The goals of care coordination are:
- Assess child/family needs and strengths
- Identify resources to address medical, social, education and community needs
- Collaborate with health care, community and education providers
- Coordinate multiple resources
Education Consultation
Children/youth and their families will receive support navigating the education system and obtaining support to help the child to be successful in their school career.
Systems Support
Colorado Department of Education
The TBI Trust Fund Program has a partnership with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to provide training to increase skills and knowledge of the systems and people that serve children with brain injury.
Brain injury Education and Health Consultants
In partnership with the TBI Trust Fund, the CDE employs Brain Injury Education and Brain Injury Health Consultants. The goals of these Consultants are to:
- Develop a network of school based brain injury teams
- Develop a method for identification, assessment and intervention for children with brain injury
- Implement a hospital to school transition protocol (including emergency departments)
- Provide coordination, training and technical assistance for the Regional Brain Injury Liaisons
Regional Brain Injury Liaisons
The TBI Trust Fund partners with County Health Departments and School District personnel to provide region based training and systems development support. Regional Liaisons are located across the state of Colorado. They are public health professionals, school psychologists, school nurses, teachers, and school based occupational therapists etc. The goal is to increase the understanding of the unique needs/gaps in each region of the state and to address these needs/gaps on a regional level to ensure all children in Colorado with brain injury have their needs met.
The goals the Regional Brain Injury Liaisons are to:
- Identify training needs in their region
- Build capacity of the region through training and consultation
- Facilitate transition from hospital and emergency departments to school/community
- Develop a safety net for children with brain injury
Referral Process
The TBI Trust Fund Program partners with the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado to assist with referrals to the children’s program. If you know of a child with brain injury that could benefit from support from the TBI Trust Fund Program, please complete the on-line referral form. You can also call 1-888-331-3311 if you would like assistance completing the referral form.
For Training Needs
If you have suggestions on training needs in your community you can contact either the CDE Brain Injury Consultants or your Regional Brain Injury Liaisons.
Colorado Department of Education
Brain Injury Education Consultant
Karen McAvoy
303-866-6739
mcavoy_k@cde.state.co.us
Brain Injury Health Consultant
Kristy Werther
303-866-2879
werther _k@cde.state.co.us
Regional Brain Injury Liaisons
Link to map and contacts Coming soon