WINTER UPDATE February 2019 - Brain Injury Association of ...
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WINTER UPDATE
February 2019
On behalf of the Staff and Board of Directors at Brain Injury NS – hello!
2019 is shaping up to be a big year for brain injury support in Nova Scotia.
This newsletter includes important dates and info after a provincial update on
Department of Health and Wellness Funding projects and partners we will be
working with that will truly create positive progress in programs, services and support
for brain injury survivors and their families in Nova Scotia. It’s a big deal.
Please read on…
From the desk of Leona Burkey
Executive Director, BIANS
Department of Health and Wellness Funding & Projects Update
In August 28, 2018, after 3+ years of work co-chairing the Acquired Brain Injury
Strategy Project with the Department of Health and Wellness, there was a milestone
funding announcement of five million dollars for various projects over four years.
Since that time, an Acquired Brain Injury Stakeholder Collaborative was formed
whose members are responsible for various projects for ABI and committed to
working together toward success. So that is awesome. Here are the partners and a
summary of projects:
Brain Injury NS Enhance the delivery of community-based evidence-informed ABI information, education and
(us) support for ABI survivors and their families/caregivers and providing survivors of brain injury
and their families trust-worthy, relevant, local information.
Enhance and improve access to peer supports and support groups across Nova Scotia by
fostering strong Chapters and training leaders and volunteers.
Develop and maintain a directory of current ABI programs available in the province, which
considers the specific needs of people with mild, moderate or severe brain injury.
IWK & NS Health NSHA will collaborate with partners to develop a Neuro Commons program that will: enhance
Authority existing programs and services for ABI survivors and families/caregivers.
Plan for the relocation of the Rehab Centre day program to a more accessible location for
clients supplemented by NGO programs and services. Additional investment in the Home
First Program (IWK) will give better access to home support equipment and aids for kids with
brain injures.
NSHA will create, in collaboration with the IWK, a plan to deliver coordinated and standardized
care through an ABI Provincial Network of Care
Strongest Families
Institute Will develop a training tool to provide caregivers with support, practical helps and group
counselling by phone and online.
Continuing
Care Will be improving access to continuing care programs for acquired brain injury survivors in
their communities by expanding eligibility criteria
Peter’s Will develop and pilot community-based ABI day program to support ongoing recovery and
Place progress toward return to life, work and community. Create spots for those who are unable to
privately fund the existing Peter’s Place 12-week intensive programming to help ABI survivors
return home, work or adapt to new roles.
Sounds like a lot…because it is! This is the largest investment our province has ever
made in brain injury so we will make the most of it. One of our big jobs at BIANS
over the next couple years will be to build a stronger Chapter Network across NS
and support it with volunteer training and new Chapter tools and guidelines…to help
us with that we would like to introduce Julie Davies, our new full-time Community
Development Coordinator!
As BIANS’ brand new Community Development Coordinator,
I’m truly excited to be joining Leona, Patrick and all of our
hardworking volunteers across the province as we leverage our
new government funding to improve the lives of brain injury
survivors and their families. And, although I’m just getting
started (I’m only a few days in!), I thought I would take this
chance to briefly introduce myself.
First, a bit of context — my father suffered a severe brain injury
shortly after his early retirement and, as many of you can relate
to, it profoundly impacted our family as we struggled to come
to terms with this new reality. Advocating for his care over the
subsequent months (and years) involved a very steep learning
curve for our family, and this role at BIANS gives me the
opportunity to help make a very tangible difference where it’s needed most. I can’t wait to dive in.
Aside from this very personal connection to brain injuries, I’m no stranger to the non-profit world. For the
past eight years, I’ve worked with a small non-profit organization in Ottawa managing animal-assisted
therapy programs in hospitals, long-term care facilities and community organizations. Many of our clients
included children, youth and adults with acquired brain injuries.
Now that our family is happily back living in Nova Scotia (both of our kids — now 10 and 12 years old —
were born here), I’m looking forward to working at the grassroots level, where NGOs and health care
providers connect.
This new funding gives us an amazing opportunity to develop and grow key programs to support brain
injury survivors and caregivers. I’m looking forward to meeting with all of you, both in the health care
community and as I travel to our Chapters over the coming weeks and months…
See you soon!
Julie Davies
Community Development Coordinator
Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia
Want to meet her? Come to our Metro Chapter February Sunday Social – the BIG UPDATE….where we will
discuss and show you projects and plans for 2019 and beyond. Don’t miss it.
PRESENTED BY
BIANS METRO
CHAPTER
THE BIG UPDATE
A landmark investment in brain injury support by Nova
Scotia’s Department of Health and Wellness late in 2018
has launched several initiatives and projects and we
want to tell you about them and hear from you!
Don’t miss it…
Come meet our new Community Development Coordinator, and
hear about our new community space opening in March 2019
and much more! Hope is a wonderful thing…it can change
everything. Let’s celebrate our resilient brain injury community
and good things to come.
SUNDAY
SOCIAL THE BIG UPDATE
WHEN: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2019
2-4 pm
WHERE: Royal Bank Theatre
Halifax Infirmary (Summer Street entrance)
Friends & family welcome.
Contact us at info@braininjuryns.com or phone 902-473-7301
VALLEY CHAPTER RISING… Do you live in the Valley Area? Our Valley Chapter Leader/President Connie Benjamin Webster and her volunteers have been working very hard to expand support for brain injury survivors in the Valley. This has resulted in THREE Inroads programs being offered in the valley. Other community events are being planned as well. Please contact us if you live in the Valley and want to learn more, or get connected. What is Inroads? Inroads is a brain injury survivor’s program, informed by survivors and professionals who work with people whose lives are affected by brain injury. Participants work on what are core issues for many living with brain injury: memory, attention, organization, reading, writing, reasoning, communication, basic math, finances and computer use. Participants work with tools and strategies – working together in an understanding and enjoyable environment that provides a sense of belonging and community. INROADS Kentville and Middleton are supported by the Valley Community Learning Association and Instructor Roz Speed, and a 3rd INROADS Wolfville is getting underway, supported by the EKM Health Foundation and EKM Community Health Centre. __________________________________________________________________ ONGOING METRO PROGRAMS ** want to try Music Therapy? Call or email us today – we are planning our next series NOW.
NEW FUNDRAISER!
Thank you to The Butcher’s Block, Bedford for supporting brain injury
A
Chase
The
Ace
2019 Details:
"Cape Breton Style" Chase The Ace
(that means live music...)
in Support of Brain Injury Association of NS!
Location: The Butcher's Block, 540 Southgate Drive, Bedford
(off Larry Uteck Bvld)
Every Saturday afternoon starting February 9, 2019 All Moosehead products on special
from 3:00-5:00 pm until the Ace gets pulled!
$0.50 from every Moosehead product sale
Tickets: $5 each or 3 for $10 goes towards BIANS!
You must be present to participate - no advance tickets.
The Butchers Block is a family friendly and fully accessible venue
and are proud supporters of the Brain Injury Community!
.
ABOUT
BIANSTHE BRAIN
(902) INJURY ASSOCIATION OF NS….
473-7301
for 25 years, Brain Injury Nova Scotia is the only orginized voice for some 1000,000 Nova
As the only organized voice for some 70,000 Nova Scotians affected by brain injury, we are committed to
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License No. AGD -100117 -19TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: Are you a community volunteer working with us? A professional working with brain injury survivors? A family member or caregiver wanting to support your loved one? Financial support for tuition may be available – contact us by March 1 if you are interested.
Halifax Central Library, BMO
Community Room.
WHEN
Lastly, is
weit?need your help….
Jan. 21 from 6:30-8:30pm.
CALLING ALL
CAREGIVERS!
AND31%
Professionals…
of Nova Scotians provide informal care to another person, yet there are
The very few resources
Strongest Familiesavailable
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developing in two
need of support.
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and change,
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you can help change Brain
it. Injury, under the direction of Clinical
Psychologist Dr. Patrick McGrath. We are partnering with Strongest Families and
Caregivers
supporting this are invited to join BIANS Executive Director, Leona Burkey
work.
and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Patrick McGrath, to discuss two upcoming
Currently, the project is recruiting caregivers with lived experience and professionals
with projects that in
experience willsupporting
improve caregiver
acquiredsupports in Nova
brain injury Scotia.
to form two advisory groups to
inform content and creation of two new caregiver tools.
In order for these projects to be successful, we need your feedback. Come out
to the Halifax
Dr. McGrath’s Central
group Library
is willing to on January
reach out to21, 2019 to advisors
volunteer meet fellow
by caregivers
phone, email or in
person
andso it does
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project – contact us if you are interested (as soon as you can)
___________________________________________________________
A NEW BRAIN INJURY SERVICES DIRECTORY…
This is one of our most important projects this year.
In your experience navigating services and support for your brain injury what have
you found most helpful where you live? Please think about this question and send
your feedback to us. (it’s OK to mention what hasn’t been helpful too)
Call 902-473-7301 or email info@braininjuryns.com with the subject line “for your
directory” – we will collect your responses until the end of February. Let us know
what is goin’ on out there – it will help a lot.
Watch for another important update early March on Brain Awareness Week
activities, Love Your Brain Yoga Launch (Halifax) and the grand opening of the
first purpose-built community space EVER in NS…You can also read
