James Madison University’s Brain Injury Research Team (BIRT) is conducting a comprehensive research project funded by the Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) through the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) TBI state partnership grant. The purpose is to assess and enhance brain injury services across Virginia by evaluating the current landscape of brain injury services across the Commonwealth. This multi-phased, mixed methods initiative will assess both existing resources and unmet needs, particularly in areas lacking state-funded brain injury services.

Key Objectives:

• Statewide Evaluation – The project team will utilize mixed methods—generating insights from survivors, caregivers, and providers—to analyze needs and resources. Focus will be paid to underserved regions of Virginia, ensuring equitable access to brain injury services.
• Informing Future Planning – Findings will contribute to Virginia’s next state plan for brain injury services and contribute to future federal grant applications.
• Participatory Approach – A core component of this project is ensuring individuals with brain injuries and their families actively participate in the assessment, development, and analysis processes. The project team includes two consultants with lived experience of brain injury who represent the survivor and caregiver communities.
• Data-Driven Insights – The project team will integrate data from multiple sources, including the Virginia Trauma Registry, VCU Model Systems, Virginia’s No Wrong Door system, and the Brain Injury Association of Virginia.  
• Dissemination of Findings – The project team will collaborate with Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to develop strategies for sharing results with policymakers, service providers, and the public.   

If you are a brain injury survivor or caregiver and are interested in contributing to this research, please visit our survey site. You may also email braininjury@jmu.edu.

For more information, please contact:

• Cara Meixner, Principal Investigator, at meixnecs@jmu.edu
  
• Cynthia O’Donoghue, Co-Principal Investigator, at odonogcr@jmu.edu