TBI TARC is supported by contract number 

HHSP233201500119I from the U.S. Administration for 

Community Living, Department of Health and Human 

Services, Washington, D.C. 20201

TBI Tuesdays

Sustainable Partnerships: 

Forging Relationships That Last

March 16, 2021
Welcome to Today’s TBI Tuesday Session

Thom Campbell

TBI Team Lead

Thom.Campbell@acl.hhs.gov

2
Webinar Logistics

• Participants will be in listen-only mode during the 

webinar. Please use the chat feature in Zoom to post 

questions and communicate with the hosts. 

• During specific times in the webinar, we will have 

opportunity to respond to questions that have been 

entered into chat.

• The webinar will be live captioned in English.

• The webinar will also have an American Sign 

Language (ASL) interpreter.

• This live webinar includes polls and evaluation 

questions. Please be prepared to interact during 

polling times. 

3
Feedback and Follow-Up

• After the webinar, you can send follow-up questions 

and feedback to tbitarc@hsri.org

(Please note: This email address will not be monitored 

during the webinar.)

• A recording, including a pdf version of the slides, will 

be available on the ACL website (acl.gov)

4
Who’s Here?

“In what role(s) do you self-identify? Select all that apply.”

1. Person with a traumatic brain injury 

(TBI) or other disability

2. Family member or friend of

a person with a TBI or other 

disability 

3. Self-advocate / advocate

4. Peer-specialist / peer-mentor

5. Social worker, counselor, or care 

manager

6. Researcher / analyst

7. Service provider organization 

employee

8. Government employee 

(federal, state, tribal, or municipal)

5
What we 

will 

cover

Part 1
What we 

will 

cover

Part 2
Meet Our Federal Partner Speakers

Dave Boyer, JD

National Disability 

Rights Network

Protection and 

Advocacy

Joseph Lugo

Administration for 

Community Living 

Director, Office of 

Network Advancement

8
Meet Our ACL State Speakers (slide 1 of 3)

Kenisha Tait

Grant Program Manager

Brain and Spinal 

Injury Trust Fund 

Commission - Georgia

Maggie 

Ferguson

Brain Injury & Disability 

Program Manager

Iowa Department of 

Public Health

Scott Collins

Brain Injury Services 

Branch Manager

Department of Aging 

and Independent 

Living of Kentucky

9
Meet Our ACL State Speakers (slide 2 of 3)

Anastasia 

Edmonston

Project Coordinator

Maryland Behavioral 

Health 

Administration

Gabriela 

Lawrence-Soto

Learning & Development 

Coordinator

Massachusetts 

Rehabilitation 

Commission

Jolayemi 

Ahamiojie 

Injury Prevention 

Project Coordinator

Rhode Island 

Department of 

Health

10
Meet Our ACL State Speakers (slide 3 of 3)

Ashley 

Bridgman

Traumatic Brain Injury 

Program Director

Tennessee 

Department of Health

Paula 

Denslow

Brain Links Program 

Director 

Tennessee Disability 

Coalition

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Sustainable Partnership Workgroup

• Participating States:

Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, 

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Tennessee

• Purpose: to develop useable 

products relative to sustainable 

partnerships 

• Products:

• Success Story Product

• Tip Sheet Product 

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
Success Story 

Template

14
Collaboration 

Tips

15
Collaboration 

Tips Page 2

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QUESTIONS: 

WORKGROUP & PRODUCTS
PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN A STATE
Maryland 

Example

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Maryland Behavioral Health Administration

Office of Older Adults and Long Term 

Services and Supports

Our Partners:

• The Maryland Department of Health, Office of Public Health 

Improvement

• The local public health department’s Overdose Fatality Review 

Coordinators and teams
Laying the Groundwork

• Connecting with colleagues who coordinate the Overdose Fatality 

Review (OFR) teams within the local health departments

• Include the relationship between traumatic brain injury, opioid use and 

acquired brain injury at every Brain Injury and Behavioral Health 

training beginning in 2018

• Half- or full-day trainings hosted by county health departments and 

attended by mental health & addiction professionals, including 

Peer Specialists & OFR team members

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2018

Opportunities, Activities and Achievements

• Johns Hopkins Masters of Public Health intern co-supervised by the OFR 

Coordinator and TBI Trainer (now TBI Partner Grant Coordinator). Internship 

focused on OFR procedures and brain injury and the intersection between opioid 

use disorder and brain injury, culminating in:

• Presentation to peers and professors at Bloomsburg School of Public Health

• Presentation at the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration’s annual conference

• Creation of the first BHA-produced fact sheet on the link between TBI and opioids

• Brief presentation on brain injury and opioids during the MD OFR technical 

assistance call

• Training on Naloxone administration is offered during the Brain Injury Association 

of Maryland’s annual conference

• Maryland awarded a Federal TBI Partner Grant

• Acquired Brain Injury History is included in the OFR Dashboard rolled out 

in December 2018

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2019 

Opportunities, Activities and Achievements

• Project Coordinator begins attending the bimonthly Overdose Fatality 

Review Technical Assistance calls

• Project Coordinator speaks at the National Opioid Fatality Review 

Forum in Washington DC

• Project Coordinator is invited to present to and becomes a member of 

the Prince George’s County MD Overdose Fatality Review team

• Co-present with staff from the Baltimore County Health Department at 

the BIAMD’s and the Division of Rehabilitation Services annual 

conferences, “Making the Connection: TBI, Addiction and Acquired Brain 

Injury in Treatment and Community.” At each of these events, BCHD 

Peer Specialists offered training on Naloxone administration to 

attendees

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2020 – Present

Opportunities, Activities and Achievements

• Case consultation with a local health department’s team during a 

quarterly review – light bulbs “go off” 

• MD’s Data to Action grant from the CDC results in additional staff to 

support the teams, including an epidemiologist and a Local Innovative 

Surveillance Coordinator. Our office supported his registration at the 2020 

NASHIA conference

• Feedback (unsolicited) to the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and 

Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) regarding new guidance’s 

recommended data collected by teams resulted in an invitation to 

participate on a panel at the 2021 OFR Conference

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Materials

Materials created during the Maryland TBI 

Partner grant posted to the Behavioral Health 

Administration’s website include guidance to the 

OFR Teams in the form of:

• Fact sheets

• PowerPoints

• Resources related to the intersection of 

brain injury & opioids

https://bha.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Traumatic

-Brain-Injury.aspx

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Challenges

Covid-19 put local Overdose Fatality Review Team meetings on pause from 

March 2019 through the Spring/Summer of 2020

Although the dashboard asks about a history of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) 

under “Health Care Provider/Local Hospital Records,” it does not specify 

nonfatal overdose as a possible cause of ABI:

Acquired Brain Injury: If team member reports indicate a history of 

acquired brain injury, mark the checkbox. If reports do not indicate a 

history of acquired brain injury or status is unknown, do not check the 

checkbox. Acquired brain injuries include concussions and other 

traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and other brain damage incurred in 

events after birth. Neurodegenerative disorders or congenital disorders 

including fetal alcohol syndrome are NOT considered to be acquired 

brain injuries.

26
Recommendations for moving forward

• Continue technical assistance to the local ODFR teams 

• Continue training and education of local health department 

staff and their partners about brain injury with a focus on 

screening and how to accommodate brain injury related 

barriers to engaging with and remaining in treatment/recovery

• Expand training and coaching of Maryland’s Peer Specialists 

27
Tennessee 

Example

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Department of Health & TN Disability Coalition

TBI Program and Brain Links

Department of Intellectual & Developmental 

Disabilities

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Department of Health & TN Disability Coalition

TBI Program and Brain Links

Long Term Supports & Services Expanded

30
CHANGE TAKES TIME

• Respect: Listen and learn

• Invest in each other

• Grow effort together

• NEVER forget who will benefit from the collaboration!

• Understand partner’s knowledge

• Together identify training needs

• Develop person-centered solutions

• Understand partner’s professional development process

• TN: Relias Learning Management System can enhance 

training and outcomes across the continuum of care

• Nurture the relationship!

31
QUESTIONS: 

PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN STATES

32
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN STATES
Kentucky Example
Rhode Island Example

The Rhode Island Permanent Advisory Commission on 

Traumatic Brain Injury 

• Advisory Board & Sustainability – Massachusetts

• Increasing TBI survivors on the board 

• Update State Regulation

TBI Registry

• Data Group – Tennessee 

• ICD9 CM codes conversion to ICD10 CM codes

• Registry to Resources

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QUESTIONS: 

PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN STATES

36
BREAK

37

Up Next: 

• Partnerships with federal entities

• A facilitated discussion about forging 

relationships that last
Future 

TBI 

Tuesday 

Sessions

Return to Learn: Equal Access to 

Education for Students with Brain 

Injury

Justice for All: Serving Individuals 

with Brain Injury Across the Justice 

System

Maximizing the Effectiveness of 

Advisory Boards Through Full 

Participation

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PARTNERSHIPS WITH FEDERAL ENTITIES
Origins of the 

Protection & 

Advocacy 

System 

with Dave Boyer
History of Disability Legal Advocacy Network

1975 – Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act includes Protection & Advocacy

1977 – Planning grants to State ($20,000)

1978 – Protection & Advocacy agencies begin operations with State Designations

1984 – Client Assistant Program (CAP) reauthorized as formula grant program

1986 – Protection & Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals (PAIMI) program enacted (Institutions + 90 days)

1991 – PAIR program authorized to formula grant

1993 – Assistive Technology subcontracts

2001 – Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) funded

2001 – Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI) Authorized

2002 – Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) authorized

2018 – Protection and Advocacy for Representative Pay Review authorized
Authority

“Pursue legal, administrative & other appropriate remedies”

• Range of Issues

• Ranges of Remedies

• Ability to Respond

• Access Persons, Records, Facilities
Continuum of Remedies
Protection and Advocacy for individuals with 

traumatic brain injury – by the numbers

• Information and referrals: 7,243

• Training Activities: 1,358 (44,000 attended)

• Materials Disseminated: 225,000

• Individual cases: 1,006

• Policies changed: 138

• Non-Class Action Lawsuits: 18

• Class Action Lawsuits: 6
Problem Areas of Services Provided
Highest Intervention Strategy

Short Term Assistance

70% Systemic/ Policy Activities

1%

Investigation/ Monitoring

7%

Negotiation

12%

Mediation/ Alternative 

Dispute Resolution

1%

Admin. Hearing

5%

Legal Remedy/ Litigation

3%

Class Action Suits

<1%

46
Reasons for Closing Case Files

47
Cooperation

“How can we get in touch 

with our P&A?”
Contact

David Boyer

Managing Attorney for Community Integration

National Disability Rights Network

david.boyer@ndrn.org
Georgia 

Example

50
Brain & Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission/

Protection and Advocacy/Ombudsperson Partnership 

• The BSITFC frequently partners with agencies 

throughout the State of Georgia

• P&A and Ombudsperson representatives participate 

on Advisory Committee

• P&A representative participates on Children & Youth 

Committee and was also a part of the State Plan 

subcommittee

• Partnership is sustained through information sharing 

and being a resource for one another. 

51
PARTNERSHIPS WITH AGING AND DISABILITY 

RESOURCE CONSORTIUM (ADRC)

52
NWD System 

Collaboration 
54

NWD System Vision

A single system available to all populations who need or may at 

some point need LTSS and all payers who help to finance LTSS.

The NWD System seamlessly connects individuals to the full range of 

LTSS community-based options available.

Through a network of community-based organizations (CBOs), NWD 

expands access to services and supports, helping individuals and 

their caregivers navigate resources they need with a personcentered approach.

Coordinated at the state level by a strong governance structure to 

coordinate policy, technology/data infrastructure and resource 

allocation across the network of CBOs.
55

Evolution of the ADRC/NWD System Vision
56

Every state is different

But every state has HCBS infrastructure supporting access
Top quartile

Second quartile

Third quartile

Bottom quartile

NWD functions were one of 

five areas in which states 

showed the most progress in 

the 2020 LTSS Scorecard. 

NWD Key Takeaways Report

57

NWD Metric Scorecard Rankings

Top 5 States Ohio, New Hampshire, Washington, Massachusetts, and Minnesota

Bottom 5 States California, New Mexico, Utah, North Carolina, and Wyoming

DC
58

Massachusetts

Example
1 2 3

Successful Factors in ADRC Partnerships

• Leadership support

• Understanding of

priorities

• Understanding of

shared population

• Understanding of

each others'

limitations

• Identified common

needs

• Open to creating

working opportunities

• Representation in

local and regional

meetings, boards

• Grant collaboration

• Reciprocated

consultation

• Ongoing cross

training

• Ongoing screening

• Cross-system

referrals

• Leveraging

resources
No Wrong Door

Executive Office of Elder Affairs

Info & Referrals

• 1-844-422-6277

• www.MassOptions.org

Aging and Disability Resource Consortia's

• Independent Living Center

• Aging Agencies

• Options and Benefits Counseling

• Access to Statewide LTSS

• Info & Referrals

• 1-844-839-7154

• www.biama.org

• Support Groups

• Advocacy

• Educational opportunities

Info & Referrals

• (617) 204-3665

• MRC Connect

• Disability benefits determination

• Transitioning out of facilities

• Supports living in the community

• Employment/education

• Specialized brain injury services

• Brain injury training

New Start Brain 

Injury Community 

Center 

Info & Referrals

• (774) 530-6220

• About the Center

Club House model

• Intensive Case Management

for SUD-BI population (pilot)
QUESTIONS: 

PARTNERSHIPS WITH FEDERAL ENTITIES
FACILITATED DISCUSSION
Real-Time Evaluation Questions 

• Please take a moment to respond to these seven evaluation

questions to help us deliver high-quality TBI TARC webinars

• If you have suggestions on how we might improve TBI TARC

webinars, or if you have ideas or requests for future webinar topics,

please send us a note at TBITARC@hsri.org

63
Future TBI Sessions

March 23, 2021, 1:00 – 4:00pm (ET) 

"Return to Learn: Equal Access to Education for Students 

with Brain Injury." Register for the session.

March 30, 2021, 1:00 – 4:00pm (ET) 

"Justice for All: Serving Individuals with Brain Injury 

Across the Justice System." Register for the session. 

April 6, 2021, 1:00 - 4:00pm (ET)

"Maximizing the Effectiveness of Advisory Boards Through 

Full Participation." Register for the session.

64
The Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance and Resources Center (TBI TARC) is 

an initiative from the Administration for Community Living that helps TBI State 

Partnership Program grantees promote access to integrated, coordinated services 

and supports for people who have sustained a TBI, their families, and their 

caregivers. The Center also provides a variety of resources to non-grantee states, 

people affected by brain injury, policymakers, and providers.

Thank You.

65
MEET THE PRESENTERS
Dave Boyer

Protection and Advocacy

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)

david.boyer@ndrn.org

Dave Boyer, JD, provides training and technical assistance in the areas 

of abuse and neglect in community settings, access authority, housing, 

monitoring and investigations, associational standing, veteran issues, and traumatic 

brain injuries. Additionally, he provides assistance to the network on issues related 

to the Protection and Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injuries (PATBI). 

Prior to joining NDRN, Dave was the Director of Investigations at the Florida P&A, 

Disability Rights Florida. Dave has litigation experience in the areas of criminal 

justice, fair housing, community integration, and education. He obtained his BA in 

psychology from THE Ohio State University, his MA (ABD) in clinical psychology 

from Ohio University, and his JD from Florida State University.
Joseph Lugo

Director, Office of Network Advancement

U.S. Administration for Community Living

Joseph.Lugo@acl.hhs.gov

Joseph L. Lugo serves within the Center for Innovation & Partnership within the U.S. 

Administration for Community Living. He is currently serving as Director for the Office of 

Network Advancement. Joseph joined AoA in 2006 and has served as the Team Lead for 

multiple initiatives including Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC), No Wrong Door 

System, Person Centered Counseling Training Program and Veteran Directed Care Program. 

Prior to joining ACL, Joseph served in the Division of Planning, Research & Development at the Illinois Department on 

Aging (IDoA). In his tenure at the IDoA, he led the rollout of Illinois’ ADRC initiative, Illinois’ implementation of the 

National Family Caregiver Support Program and served as Bureau Chief over the aged/disabled Medicaid waiver 

program. His experience prior to this time was as a budget analyst for the Office of Management and Budget under the 

Executive Office of the Governor. 

He received a master’s degree in gerontology in 2002 and a graduate certificate in public management practices in 1997 

both from the University of Illinois at Springfield. In conjunction with the Wharton School of Business, he participated in 

the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness Research Program (GLOBE) and Dwight D. 

Eisenhower Leadership Program. In addition, Joseph was selected as James H. Dunn Fellow in 1997 and a Learning to 

Lead Fellow in 1995. 

Joseph and his wife Michelle reside with their family in Bristow, Virginia.
Kenisha Tait

Grant Program Manager

Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission

kenisha.tait@dph.ga.gov

Kenisha Tait is the Traumatic Brain Injury Grant Program Manager 

with the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission in Atlanta, 

Georgia. She previously worked as a Health and Nutrition Specialist for 

an Early Head Start Partnership Program. Kenisha is an experienced 

trainer who holds a Better Brains for Babies Certification. 
Maggie Ferguson, CBIS

Brain Injury and Disability Program Manager

Iowa Department of Public Health

Maggie.Ferguson@idph.iowa.gov

Maggie Ferguson, CBIS is the Brain Injury and Disability Program Manager at the Iowa 

Department of Public Health (IDPH) and has served in this role since 2013. She has 

spent approximately 20 years in various capacities advocating for and supporting 

individuals with disabilities and their families. Currently, that includes directing initiatives 

to improve concussion management among Iowa youth; improve the health of Iowans 

with disabilities through increased physical activity, better nutrition and reducing obesity; 

and increase the use of evidence-based falls prevention programs. 

In addition to her duties at IDPH, Maggie currently serves on the board of directors for 

the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators.
Scott Collins

Brain Injury Services Branch Manager

Department of Aging and Independent Living of Kentucky

donald.collins@ky.gov

Scott Collins serves as the Brain Injury Services Branch Manager with the Department of 

Aging and Independent Living in Frankfort, Kentucky. He has spent the past 7 years in 

various roles within the TBI Trust Fund. He works closely with case mangers, vendors and 

individuals with brain injury to help maintain services that enable these individuals to stay 

in their homes and communities with their families and friends. He handles all contracts 

and budgetary issues to ensure funding is available and maintained. He also carries out a 

liaison role between the Community Options Branch and other organizations in matters 

pertaining to program policies/procedures, initiative, and client care issues. He finally 

coordinates with various cabinet departments on related task force and committees, and 

he responds to programmatic inquiries via email or phone from the general public, 

governmental officials, or other jurisdictions.
Anastasia Edmonston

Project Coordinator

Maryland Behavioral Health Administration

anastasia.edmonston@maryland.gov

Anastasia Edmonston, MS CRC currently serves as the Project Coordinator for the Maryland 

Behavioral Health Administration’s Federal Traumatic Brain Injury Partner Grant. She coordinates 

initiatives such as training on the topics of traumatic brain injury, person-centered thinking and 

planning to professionals who work in the fields of aging, mental health and addiction (with a focus 

on the link between addiction and brain injury) and law enforcement. She has worked in the field 

of rehabilitation services for individuals with traumatic and acquired brain injuries for over 30 years 

in both inpatient and outpatient services, as a case manager, program coordinator, advocate and 

vocational rehabilitation counselor. She obtained her MS in rehabilitation counseling from Boston 

University, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, as well as a certified Mental Health First Aid 

Instructor. She is also a Certified Person Centered Thinking Trainer through the Learning 

Community for Person Centered Practices. She also received training and mentoring from Diane 

Greider around principles of person-centered planning. She earned a post-graduate certificate in 

instructional systems development from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2014.
Gabriela Lawrence-Soto

Learning and Development Coordinator

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission 

Office of Learning and Development

gabriela.Lawrence-soto@massmail.state.ma.us 

Gabriela Lawrence-Soto is the Learning and Development Coordinator for the Office of Learning and Development at the 

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), the lead State agency for traumatic brain injury services, who also 

helps individuals with disabilities to live and work independently. Ms. Lawrence-Soto has been part of the senior 

management team for brain injury services within the Community Based Services department of the Massachusetts 

Rehabilitation Commission since 2014. She was the former grant Project Manager for the agencies last two ACL grant 

cycles. Prior to her time with MRC, Ms. Lawrence-Soto worked with various populations—including at-risk, low-income, 

youth, and older adult populations, as well as people with disabilities. She has case management experience supporting 

individuals living with a brain injury and other neurological disorders in Massachusetts. She also has experience with 

resource facilitation, staff development, training, program management and partnership-building across human service 

systems. Ms. Lawrence-Soto is a Certified Options Counselor for MA. She holds a bachelors of liberal arts from Hamilton 

College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in program and project management from Brandeis University. Ms. 

Lawrence-Soto has been a member of the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators since 2014. She has 

continuously served on the NASHIA Training and Education committee since 2015. And has served as Secretary for the 

NASHIA Board of Directors since 2017.
Jolayemi Ahamiojie

Injury Prevention Project Coordinator

Rhode Island Department of Health

Jolayemi.Ahamiojie@health.ri.gov

Jolayemi Ahamiojie is a public health official at the Rhode Island Department of Health. She 

serves as the Violence and Injury Prevention Coordinator where she works to prevent 

intentional and unintentional injuries such as intimate partner violence, traumatic brain injury, 

transportation safety, and child abuse. As a program coordinator, she is a member of several 

committees such as the Permanent Advisory Commission on Traumatic Brain Injury, Traffic 

Safety Coalition and Delta Impact. 
Ashley Bridgman

Program Director

Tennessee Department of Health

Ashley.N.Bridgman@tn.gov

Ashley Bridgman, MS, NPAS, SRAS, is the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program Director at the 

Tennessee Department of Health. Ashley works closely with vendors around the state that provide 

home and community-based services for persons with brain injuries. She oversees all TBI 

program activities including the TBI registry, service coordination, TBI Advisory Council and return 

to learn/return to play activities. In addition, she monitors contracts and provides technical 

assistance to vendors across the state.

Ashley received her bachelor’s degree in exercise science at Western Kentucky University. She 

has also obtained her master’s in kinesiology and health promotion with a specialty in exercise 

physiology at the University of Kentucky. She is currently completing her master’s in public health 

at East Tennessee State University and is a 2020-2021 long-term trainee with the Vanderbilt 

Consortium LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) Program.
Paula Denslow, CBIS

Program Director

Tennessee Disability Coalition

paula_d@tndisability.org

Paula Denslow is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) and has been with the Tennessee Disability 

Coalition since 2003 as the director of two federal grant-funded programs, one under the Health 

Resources and Services Administration and the current one through ACL’s Traumatic Brain Injury State 

Partnership Program. Paula is a member of the National Collaborative on Children’s Brain Injury and 

the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators and currently serves on the Board for the 

Children’s Emergency Care Alliance of Tennessee.

Paula began her brain injury journey in 1996, when her oldest son sustained a brain injury at the age of 

14. Six years later, her youngest son’s injury occurred due to a motor vehicle collision. These injuries

were the beginning of a lifelong family journey. As a parent of three and “Grammy” of four, Paula strives

to raise awareness of the potential short- and long-term impacts navigated by people living with brain

injury, their families and those who play a supportive role. She brings both personal and professional

experiences to her role.