Overview
Maryland’s Mental Hygiene Administration (MHA) within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) has been identified as Maryland’s lead agency for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). As lead agency, MHA directs the state’s plans, initiatives, and services for individuals with TBI. Examples of such initiatives, which are described below, include the Maryland Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board, the Brain Injury Resource Coordination and Training program, and Maryland’s Waiver for Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury.
Maryland Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board
The Maryland Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board, established by House Bill 309 (Article Health General Section 13-201 through 13-21-06 meets six times per year reports annually to the Governor of Maryland and the General Assembly as to the needs of individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury.
Specifically, the Maryland TBI Advisory Board will:
- Investigate the needs of citizens with TBI
- Identify gaps in services to citizens with TBI
- Facilitate collaboration among state agencies that provide services to individuals with TBI
- Encourage and facilitate community participation in program implementation
- Provide oversight in acquiring and utilizing State and federal funding dedicated to services for individuals with TBI
- Build provider capacity and provider training that address the needs of individuals with TBI
TBI Advisory Board Report 2008 
Looking for interested TBI Advisory Board Members:
The Mental Hygiene Administration and the Department of Disabilities are co-staffing the Advisory Board and assisting with recruiting individuals interested in serving on the Board. Specifically, appointments are available for individuals who have sustained a brain injury, family members or caregivers of individuals with brain injury, and for professionals working with individuals with brain injury. The Departments are committed to obtaining increased gender, geographic and minority representation on each of the Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces.
Interested individuals should complete the Biographical Information Form and return it along with a current resume/ vitae to:
Stefani O’Dea
Mental Hygiene Administration
Spring Grove Hospital/ Mitchell Building
55 Wade Avenue
Catonsville MD 21228
The Brain Injury Resource Coordination and Training Program
Background:
The program was established in 2003 with funding from the Health Resources and services Administration (HRSA)/ Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), which awards grants to states to develop infrastructure and improve service provision within the state for individuals with traumatic brain injury.
Services:
Brain Injury Resource Coordinators assist individuals with acquired brain injuries who are interested in transitioning out of institutions or at risk of institutionalization to access the services and supports that they need. Brain Injury Resource Coordinators also provide enhanced transitional case management to MFP (Money Follows the Person) participants who are enrolling in the Waiver for Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury.
Resource Coordination services are available to individuals with acquired brain injury who reside in the following five Maryland counties: Montgomery, Baltimore, Howard, Frederick, and Washington.
Training:
The Mental Hygiene Administration, in collaboration with the Health Resources and Services Administration/ Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Mental Health Management Agency of Frederick County, has developed numerous training materials geared to the needs of human service professionals.
The purpose of MHA's training efforts is to expand the capacity of humans service agencies and professionals to better identify and support individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury. The attached training materials are copyright free and available to the public.
Program Contact Information:
For general information about Resource Coordination services, for additional training materials, or to request training, contact:
Anastasia Edmonston at (410) 402-8476
To contact a Brain Injury Resource Coordinator directly:
Frederick/ Washington Counties: Charlotte Wisner (301) 682-6017 x 207
Baltimore, Howard Counties: Lauren Dorsey (301) 586-0900 x 2142
Montgomery County: Catherine Rinehart Mello (301) 586- 0900 x 2134
Medicaid Waiver for Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury
The Waiver for Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury is a home and community based Medicaid waiver program, administered by the Mental Hygiene Administration that was implemented in July of 2003. The program provides opportunities for community-based services to individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury after the age of 21 and who meet the medical, financial, and technical criteria for the program. Technical eligibility criteria requires that individuals are residents in state psychiatric hospitals, state owned and operated nursing facilities, or Maryland licensed chronic hospitals that are CARF accredited in inpatient brain injury rehabilitation.
TBI waiver Fact sheet Click here