Traumatic Brain Injury Program

Definition of Program

The Traumatic Brain Injury Program (TBI) offered at TACIL provides life skills training services (LSTS) to individuals with a traumatic brain injury. TBI LSTS are coaching services aimed at assisting persons with a traumatic brain injury in performing routine daily tasks that will enhance their quality of life.

Training is customized for each individual and is usually provided in their home, place of work, or any location where an activity would normally occur. TBI LSTS are also offered to families to help them adjust to their changed roles and circumstances following a traumatic brain injury of a family member.

Reason for Existence

In 1997 the New Mexico Legislature created a brain injury services program:

“The Department of Health shall adopt all rules, regulations, and policies necessary to administer a statewide brain injury services program. The Department of Health shall coordinate with and seek advice from the Brain Injury Advisory Council to ensure that the statewide brain injury services program is appropriate for persons with a traumatic brain injury.”

Services in Program

TBI LSTS for individuals with a traumatic brain injury include but are not limited to:

Accessing public transportation
Activities of daily living
Anger management skills
Awareness of community resources
Basic safety skills
Childcare and parenting skills
Communication with family members and other caregivers
Employment and educational needs
Housing and household management
Medication reminders
Memory skills
Money management
Nutrition principles
Physical, medical, and emotional health maintenance
Social, recreational, and cognitive skills
Time management skills
Use of assistive devices

Eligibility Requirements

Diagnosis

Individuals are eligible for TBI LSTS if they have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and it is documented by a duly licensed physician or psychologist. Eligibility must be further substantiated by the assignment of an international code of disease traumatic brain injury diagnosis obtained from their licensed practitioner of record.

Definition of Traumatic Brain Injury

Individuals are eligible for TBI LSTS if their brain injury is defined as an injury that is a result of an assault to the brain from an outside physical force that may or may not have produced a diminished or altered state of consciousness.

A traumatic brain injury is further defined as one that results in an impairment of cognitive ability and/or physical functions, but not necessarily both. Impairment may be temporary or permanent and may cause partial or total functional disability and/or psychosocial disorientation.

Individuals whose brain injury was caused by a degenerative or congenital condition, or have suffered brain damage due to chemical exposure, alcohol, anoxia or complications during fetal development, are not included in the program definition of traumatic brain injury and are therefore ineligible for services from TBI LSTS.

Residency

Eligible individuals must be legal residents of the State of New Mexico and be able to show proof of such; New Mexican residents who are institutionalized or are in the process of being institutionalized are ineligible for TBI LSTS.

Traditional Funding Sources

In 1998 the New Mexico State Legislature collected $1,000,000 from magistrate and metropolitan courts for traffic violations, which was used to establish the initial fund for the statewide brain injury services program under the New Mexico Department of Health Long Term Services Division. The state and federal government continue to appropriate funds for this program.

Similar Programs in Area

TACIL is the only contract provider for TBI LSTS in southern New Mexico. The contract was awarded through a request for proposal process by the New Mexico Department of Health Long Term Services Division.