BIANJ Holds Brain Injury Awareness Day at the State House

On March 15th, the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey recognized several members of the New Jersey Legislature for their contributions in preventing sports related brain injury.  BIANJ honored Senators Anthony Bucco and Joe Pennacchio for their work in helping to pass the new law requiring children under the age of 18 to wear ski helmets. 

"Preventing sports related brain injury in young people is finally today getting the attention it deserves by policymakers in Trenton and Washington," said Senator Bucco.  "I have always enjoyed a strong working relationship with the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, and am honored to be recognized by the group for my work on what seems like such a  common sense piece of legislation."

Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan and Governor Richard Codey were also honored for their leadership in creating concussion management in sports law.  Both Codey and Diegnan commented that increased awareness is already helping young athletes.  "Just a few years ago a child who experienced a head trauma would be sent right back in the game," Codey noted.

  

Creativity Expo 2012 | Saturday July 14 - 22

Featuring the Creative Works of Those With Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury

On Saturday July 14th through July 22nd the Creativity Expo will take place at the Raritan Valley Community College Art Gallery.
Check out the flyer for more information.

For more information please contact Vincent Diorio or 703.297.7726.

For pictures from the CREATIVITY EXPO 2011 please check out our website at www.braininjuryartsnj.com

BIANJ Named Recipient of Donations at Kessler Institute
Awards Dinner 

The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ) would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation, one of the nation's leading rehabilitation hospitals, for selecting our organization to be the 2011 recipient of the donations from their Triumph of the Human Spirits awards dinner.  Donations were in excess of $8,785!

The awards dinner, which was held on December 1, 2011 at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, NJ, honored members of the hospital's medical, nursing, therapy, and support staff for their exceptional work and dedication to patient care and service; as well as patients for their courage and determination in overcoming daunting medical, physical, cognitive, and psychological challenges resulting from spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, amputation, and neurological disorders.

"We value our partnership with the Kessler Institute and look forward to continued collaboration to further advance issues that help people with brain injuries in New Jersey," says Rita Steindlberger, Senior Director of Operations.  "The awards dinner was wonderful and I was honored to witness first-hand the commitment and positive energy of the Kessler staff, and to hear the inspiring stories of their patients."

Accepting on BIANJ's behalf was Dr. Edward Kim, Board Chairperson.

Citing Player Safety, NBA Institutes New Concussion Policy

Dec 13, 2011 - The National Basketball Association (NBA) has instituted a new concussion policy to determine when players are able to return from brain injuries. Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, one of the world’s leading experts on sports and concussions, will serve as director of the program which will include:

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Dec. 9, 2011 - Summertime and the end-of-year holidays are when most Americans gather to enjoy their free time with friends and family. They are also some of the most deadly times on American roads due to impaired driving. That’s why during the summer and the end of the year, a nationwide campaign comprised of thousands of traffic safety partners, join together to protect citizens from this deadly crime.

Here in New Jersey, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety utilizes the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign to achieve its goal: prevention.

The Goal is Prevention

The key to deterring impaired driving is highly visible enforcement. The research is clear on the affect highly visible enforcement has on deterring impaired driving. Prevention and not arrest is the goal of the campaign. Drivers must perceive that the risk of being caught is too high before their behavior will change. Use the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over message to convince audiences that the chance of being caught is too high to risk. This message works and has influenced many citizens nationwide not to drink and drive.

What is the Life Improvement Following Traumatic Brain Injury Study?

December 09, 2011 - The LIFT (Life Improvement Following Traumatic brain injury) study is investigating whether counseling (specifically, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT) is effective in treating problems such as difficulties with sleep, poor energy, poor concentration, low mood, loss of interest in usual activities, or changes in appetite. Researchers at the University of Washington are studying counseling because, besides treating mood, it has been shown to help all of these symptoms. Also, about one in two people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) report problems like these.

The LIFT study is funded by NIDRR and the NIH.

Thank you for supporting the 2011 Walk for Thought!

Whether you participated by walking, riding, raising funds, volunteering or donating we are extremely grateful for all of your efforts on behalf of the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey and its’ constituents who benefit from our programs and services. Check out the 2011 Walk for Thought photo gallery.

The top fundraisers for the 2011 event are:

  • Billy Snook - Mercer County Park
  • Donna Jones - Saddle River County Park

The top fundraising teams for 2011 are:

  • CHIC - Mercer County Park
  • Support Group Strollers - Saddle River County Park

Parents wanted for a short-term concussion project in Essex communities. Compensation provided!

November. 21, 2011 - A Concussion Advisory Board comprised of parent liaisons is being organized for the following communities: Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Little Falls, Montclair, North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange.

The Board will develop a strategic plan for community education about concussion. One parent liaison is wanted for each community. There will be 4 meetings from now until the spring of 2012.

Each parent liaison will receive a stipend in the amount of $100 at each meeting with an additional $100 stipend upon completion of the campaign in
June 2012.

questions?
Contact Joanna Boyd at 732-745-0200 or jboyd@bianj.org.
Click here for more info

New Certification to Establish Brain Injury Medicine Specialists

November. 18, 2011 - The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) approved the application cosponsored by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) to offer subspecialty certification in Brain Injury Medicine (BIM). “Leaders in BIM have been laying the groundwork for recognition for the last ten years,” said Karen J Kowalske, MD, a director of the ABPMR and chair of the BIM Committee. In addition to the recognition of the subspecialty by the ABMS, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) will be working to establish the requirements for fellowship training in BIM.

“The new subspecialty was created because of the increased diagnosis and treatment options for patients with brain injuries and the growing need to monitor, assess, and advance new technologies for patients,” said Anthony M Tarvestad, JD, ABPMR Executive Director. “With this new certification, BIM specialists will lead the way in providing optimal, advanced, and cost-effective care for patients with brain injuries.”
Click here to find out more.

Heads Up to Clinicians: Addressing Concussion in Sports among Kids and Teens

Free Online Training for Health Care Professionals

October. 13, 2011 - "Heads Up to Clinicians: Addressing Concussion in Sports among Kids and Teens" is a FREE, online course, developed by CDC through support from the CDC Foundation and the National Football League, available to health care professionals. It features interviews with leading experts, dynamic graphics, and case studies and provides an overview of what you, as a health care professional, need to know about concussion among young athletes. Check out this interactive training.

Parents of Children & Adolescents with Brain Injury Survey

The goal of the Children & Adolescents Committee is to improve services and supports for children and adolescents with brain injury in New Jersey.  We need your help to accomplish our goal and acknowledge that you as parents or guardians are most knowledgeable about the issues faced by families raising children and adolescents with brain injury.  

Please take a few minutes to complete a survey to insure that your needs and issues are considered as the Committee develops programs and resources to help address your needs. Click here to get started now.

Thanks, and we're looking forward to hearing your feedback.