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

Outreach to All: Brain Injury 

Within Underserved 

Populations

March 9, 2021
Welcome to Today’s TBI Tuesday Session

Thom Campbell

TBI Team Lead

Thom.Campbell@acl.hhs.gov

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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.

• Toward the end of the webinar, we will have an

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.

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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)

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Who’s Here?

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)

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

we will 

cover

Part 1

Part 1

• Opening remarks

• Presentation from the Federal

Office of Rural Health Policy

• Underserved Populations –

Work Group

• What is it like to be a person living

with TBI in a rural community?

• Toolkit: Serving Individuals with

Brain Injury in Rural and Frontier

Communities
What 

we will 

cover

Part 2

Break

Part 2

• Review/feedback on Toolkit

• Engagement and Cultural

Competency Practices
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Meet Our 

Speakers

(slide 1 of 2)

Reyma McCoy 

McDeid

Commissioner

ACL’s Administration on 

Disabilities 

Alexa Ofori

aofori@hrsa.gov

Senior Advisor 

Federal Office of Rural 

Health Policy, Health 

Resources and Services 

Administration 
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Meet Our Speakers (slide 2 of 2)

Miranda 

Talkington

TBI Program 

Manager

miranda.talkington@

hsc.wvu.edu 

Becky 

Spaulding

TBI Survivor/

Advocate

spaulding.becky@

gmail.com

Megan 

Jones

Research 

Assistant

jonesm@cbirt.org

Maria 

Martinez

BI Survivor/

Advocate

maria.pueblobraininjury

@gmail.com

Eric 

Washington

TBI Survivor/

Advocate

ewash33@gmail.com
Opening Remarks

Reyma McCoy McDeid

Commissioner of ACL’s Administration on Disabilities

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Federal Office of Rural Health Policy 

Overview

Alexa Ofori

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP)
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Overview

Supports more than 90 

programs that provide 

health care to people 

who are geographically 

isolated, economically 

or medically challenged 

HRSA does this through 

grants and cooperative 

agreements to more than 

3,000 awardees, 

including community and 

faith-based organizations, 

colleges and universities, 

hospitals, state, local, and 

tribal governments, and 

private entities

Every year, HRSA programs 

serve tens of millions of 

people, including people 

with HIV/AIDS, pregnant 

women, mothers and their 

families, and those 

otherwise unable to access 

quality health care

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The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (slide 1 of 2)

Mission

FORHP collaborates with rural communities and partners to support programs and shape 

policy that will improve health in rural America.

Building Healthy Rural Communities

Quick Background

Part of HRSA & 

Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Review HHS Regulations

“Voice for Rural” Administer Grant Programs

Policy & Research Role Technical Assistance

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The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (slide 2 of 2)

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Rural Health Landscape

The Oft-Cited Rural Health Concerns ...

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Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics

and FQHCs in Rural Health Areas

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Resources and Tools
Rural Grant Opportunities

From the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Program 

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Rural Health Care Services Outreach* To Be Awarded Summer

Rural Health Network Development* NOFO Available Summer 2022

Rural Health Network Development 

Planning*

NOFO Available Summer 2020 NOFO Available Summer 2021 NOFO Available Summer 2022

Small Health Care Provider Quality 

Improvement

NOFO Available Winter 2022

Delta States Network NOFO Available Summer 2022

Rural Communities Opioid Response 

Program – Implementation*

NOFO Out

Rural Communities Opioid Response 

Program – Psychostimulant Support

NOFO Out

Rural Maternal Obstetrics Management 

Strategies Program

Late Spring/Early Summer

Northern Borders Region Planning Grants Late Spring, Early Summer

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State Offices of Rural Health

• Source for information on rural health issues and resources from 

state and federal level.

• Provide technical assistance to rural communities.

• Encourage recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural 

areas.

• Coordinate activities within the state to avoid duplication of effort 

and activities. 

• Host grant writing workshops with FORHP representatives.

https://nosorh.org/nosorh-members/nosorh-members-browse-by-state/

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Rural Health Information Hub

http://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/

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Rural Health Research Gateway

http://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/

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FORHP Weekly Announcements

Focus on ...

 Rural-focused Funding opportunities

 Policy and Regulatory Developments

Affecting Rural Providers and

Communities

 Rural Research findings

 Policy updates from a Rural

Perspective

To sign up: Email Michelle Daniels at 

mdaniels@hrsa.gov

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Contact Information 

Alexa Ofori

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP)

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Email: aofori@hrsa.gov

Phone: 301-945-3986

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Connect with HRSA

Learn more about our agency at: 

www.HRSA.gov

Sign up for the HRSA eNews

FOLLOW US: 

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Underserved 

Populations –

Work Group

Miranda Talkington

TBI Program Manager

Becky Spaulding

TBI Survivor/Advocate

Megan Jones

Research Assistant

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“ Defining

Underserved 

Populations Underserved populations are disadvantaged 

because of ability to pay, ability to access care, 

ability to access comprehensive healthcare, or 

other disparities for reasons of race, religion, 

language group or social status.1

People who are underserved face systemic 

and institutional barriers which prevent them 

from accessing health care and/or receiving 

the same quality of health care as people not 

facing those barriers.

Quality health care is safe, effective, patientcentered, timely, efficient and equitable.2

1. https://www.yourdictionary.com/underserved

2. https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1176574/pages/readingassignment-who-are-the-underserved 26
What is an “Underserved Population”?

• Veterans 

• Children and Youth 

• Older Adults 

• Incarcerated or Formerly 

Incarcerated Individuals 

• Racial and Ethnic Minorities 

• Native and Tribal Populations 

• Rural Populations 

• Individuals with Substance Use 

Disorders 

• Homeless Individuals 

• Survivors of Domestic or Other 

Forms of Violence 

• Individuals Who Are Uninsured or 

Underinsured 

• Individuals with Co-Occurring 

Behavior Health Disorders, 

Developmental, Intellectual, 

Physical, Psychiatric, Sensory or 

Emerging Disabilities.

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ACL TBI Partnership Underserved 

Populations – Work Group

Participating States

Alaska, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Iowa, 

Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Utah, 

West Virginia, and Wisconsin

Products to Date

• Brain Injury and Homeless Toolkit

• Brain Injury and Co-Occurring 

Disorders Webinar Series

• Complex Issues in Vulnerable and At-Risk 

Populations Webinar Series

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What is it like to be a 

person living with TBI in 

a rural community? • Becky Spaulding shares her

story

•Access and transportation i

n

rural WV

• Navigating resources and

service

s

•Barriers faced: • Communication • Accessibility • Mobility

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Toolkit: Serving Individuals with Brain 

Injury in Rural and Frontier Communities

Purpose: To direct providers to state level contacts 

within national organizations to support providers in 

establishing these relationships.

Awareness | Education | Resources | Connection

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Toolkit Screenshots
BREAK

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Future 

TBI 

Tuesday 

Sessions

Sustainable Partnerships: Forging 

Relationships That Last 

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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Review/

Feedback on 

Toolkit

Miranda Talkington

TBI Program Manager

Megan Jones

Research Assistant

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The 

Toolkit

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Engagement & 

Cultural 

Competency 

Practices

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Maria Martinez

Eric Washington
QUESTIONS

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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

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Future TBI Sessions

March 16, 2021, 1:00 – 4:00pm (ET) 

"Sustainable Partnerships: Forging Relationships that 

Last." Register for the session.

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.

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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.

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Speaker 

Bios

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Bios (slide 1 of 4)

Reyma McCoy McDeid joined ACL as the Commissioner of ACL’s Administration on Disabilities on January 20, 2021. She 

provides executive leadership for a range of programs that empower people with disabilities to live independently and fully 

participate in their communities and serves as a senior advisor to the ACL Administrator on issues affecting individuals with

disabilities and their families. She also fulfills the responsibilities of the Commissioner of the Administration for Intellectual 

and Developmental Disabilities and the Director of the Independent Living Administration, as described in statute.

Prior to joining ACL, Ms. McCoy McDeid served as the Executive Director of the Central Iowa Center for Independent Living. 

She joined the CICIL in September of 2015 with the goal of creating a human services agency dedicated to serving 

individuals not eligible for supports anywhere else. Prior to CICIL, Ms. McCoy McDeid served as the Employment 

Administrator for Candeo, Iowa’s largest community-based provider of employment supports.

Ms. McCoy McDeid is a nationally recognized subject matter expert on disability, diversity, and intersectionality and has 

served on numerous boards, including as both treasurer and Anti-Racism and Equity Taskforce Co-Chair for the National 

Council on Independent Living (NCIL). She has assisted Centers for Independent Living, Statewide Independent Living 

Councils, and other human services organizations with racial equity work that results in positive inclusion outcomes for 

racially marginalized consumers, employees, and leadership. After a 20-year career in social services, her personal mission 

has shifted from simply serving marginalized people to addressing how systems create marginalization in the first place. Ms. 

McCoy McDeid holds a master’s degree in non-profit administration with concentrations in business and human services 

from Lindenwood University and is an Association for Professionals Supporting Employment First (APSE) Certified 

Employment Support Professional (CESP).

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Bios (slide 2 of 4)

Megan Jones received her BA in Psychology from Willamette University. Prior to coming to CBIRT she 

spent 8 years researching early childhood development with at-risk families. She currently brings her 

organization, coordination, and logistic expertise to many projects at CBIRT.

Maria Martinez was the first in her family to graduate from a university, became an educator in art 

education and English as a Second Language. Worked in the field of domestic violence, substance 

abuse and eventually retired from the Colorado Department of Corrections 2010 after a stroke. Maria 

was in Motorcycle accident in 2007 sustained a brain injury, she has complications with memory, 

balance, and anger. She realized where she lived (Pueblo, CO) had an impact on her recovery. Maria 

traveled to Denver and connected with the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado (BIAC) attending classes, 

workshops and events that were provided to those impacted by a brain injury. She became involved with 

a local brain injury support group, eventually a support leader, today an advocate and peer mentor for 

brain injury survivors. A member of the Brian Injury Advisory Board since 2019 with MINDSOURCE Brain 

Injury Network, lead to National Center for the Advancement of Person-Centered Practices and Supports 

(NCAPPS) Brain Injury Learning Collaborative and today the TBI Advisory and Leadership Group (TALGroup).

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Bios (slide 3 of 4)

Alexa Ofori, MPH is a Senior Advisor for the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) in the Health 

Resources and Services Administration. As Senior Advisor she provides guidance on rural health issues, programs, 

policies, and initiatives. Prior to assuming this position, Ms. Ofori was the Program Coordinator for FORHP’s largest 

community-based grant program, the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, a multi-year grant program 

that provides support to rural communities to expand and enhance the delivery of health care services.

Becky Spaulding has suffered TBI’s. Her first documented TBI was in March 2017. She was inpatient at a hospital, 

asked for assistance using the restroom, at that time was tracheostomy dependent from other health issues, not 

able to speak because of 100% subglottic stenosis. The CAN who was helping her received a personal phone call 

on her cell phone told her to knock when she was finished, she did, fell in the process of cleaning herself and 

sustained a TBI. The problems she face with residing in a rural community are transportation, though currently she 

has personal attendant her job is to ensure she makes it to medical appointments. If she wishes to go shopping, go 

to lunch with friends or march on the capital she must use private taxi services, which is very costly. Independent 

accessible housing, she believes currently there is one apartment building in her home county to which again 

transportation. She as an individual with a brain injury has lost her independence and have a strong desire to regain 

it. Living in a rural area with a speech impediment she runs into barriers with communication at hospitals, physician 

offices, DHHR etc. Physicians are in a hurry and do not have the time to communicate with her directly, again loss of 

independence. Her hopes are these barriers can be resolved and once again she can return to self-sufficiency. 44
Bios (slide 4 of 4)

Miranda Talkington is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW), Certified Brain Injury Specialist 

(CBIS), and Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher (RYT). She works at the WVU Center for Excellence in 

Disabilities as the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program Manager. Her passions include helping the people 

of West Virginia, spending time in nature, practicing and teaching self-care to individuals with disabilities, 

and their caregivers. During her free time, she spends time in the woods hiking with her dog, Koda, and 

partner Eric. Her goal is to one day own a therapeutic farm that celebrates native West Virginia plants, 

herbs, and foods, while serving and providing a place for the people of WV to be empowered and 

connected to nature.

Eric Washington is a former football player for the University of Minnesota and the University of Kansas. 

His football career ended on September 30th, 2006 due to a concussion and spinal cord injury. After 

recovering from the neck injury, he returned to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavioral 

Sciences. Today, Eric's life mission is to advocate for people like him – people with TBI, especially those 

who are also homeless. He also serves as a strong advocate in the high school athletic community 

helping student athletes make educated decisions when taking a scholarship and helping their families 

understand the importance of not rushing back after injury. Eric is a faculty member for the NCAPPS Brain 

Injury Learning Collaborative and the TBI TARC.

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