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Traumatic Brain Injury Services provides case management services and employment supports to individuals who have sustained brain injuries as a result of an insult to the brain which results in impairments of cognitive abilities or physical functioning.  These specialized services are designed to enhance quality of life for a frequently underserved population that represents, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 5.3 million Americans living with disabilities resulting from traumatic brain injury.

TBI Case Management
Case Management services focuses on community integration and independent living.  Case Management services include counseling and advocacy, psychosocial rehabilitation services, and family support.   It also provides linkage to community resources, such as medical and mental health linkages, supported education, money management, home management skills, and access to leisure activities.  Housing supports are also provided and include helping individuals access housing subsidies, general assistance funds, food and other basic needs.  Case workers can assist individuals in their adjustment to family, employment, and community.

TBI Employment Services
The goal of these specialized services is to assist persons with traumatic brain injury in returning to the work force.  Approximately 70% of those served are employed or are actively seeking employment.  Employment services include vocational testing to determine job skills, assistance in finding employment, and employment supports on and off the job.  Employment supports include consultation with community employers to provide education on job accommodations and job coaching when needed. Employment services also includes training in transferability skills for individuals who are not able to return to previous employment and assessments of employment accommodations when needed.     

TBI Home Services
In addition to case management and employment services, Traumatic Brain Injury Services includes a home services component, funded through a Medicaid brain injury waiver program.  The intent of these services is to assist individuals with severe functional limitations in activities of daily living to avoid nursing home placement.  Case managers are trained by the Department of Human Services (DHS) in coordinating these services.

HeadWinds
HeadWinds is a support group for families and individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injury.  Our support group works to meet the needs of families and survivors facing the special issues of brain injury and accessing appropriate supports and services.  The group focuses on such areas as education and information about brain injuries, sharing of resources and useful strategies, employment, and adjustment issues for both individuals with an injury and their family members.  Monthly meetings offer opportunities for networking with others in an environment of mutual support.  Meetings feature monthly selected topics and occasional guest speakers.  In addition to informational meetings, HeadWinds plans two social activities during the year, an annual picnic in August and a Christmas party.

HeadWinds meetings:

When:              Second Monday of the month
Time:               7:00 – 8:30 pm
Where:             Pioneer Center for Human Services
                        3941 Dayton Street (East Building – wheelchair accessible)
                        McHenry, IL  60050

For further information about HeadWinds or any of the Traumatic Brain Injury Services, contact:

Mary Lou Philbin, M.S.
Brain Injury Services Manager
815.759.7013
mphilbin@pioneercenter.org