Background

In 1997, Gov. Arne Carlson designated:

• The Department of Human Services as Minnesota’s lead agency for TBI services 
• The DHS Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee as the state TBI advisory council.

The federal government has made grant funding available to states, including Minnesota, since 1996. The TBI Act of 2006 (reauthorized in 2008) established Implementation Partnership grants to ensure state systems continue to improve their ability to meet the needs of people with TBI and their families. IP grants: 

• Allow state agencies to conduct, expand or improve service capacity to people with traumatic brain injuries
• Support systems-improvement activities so states can evaluate their current structure and policies.

In 2010, the Minnesota Department of Human Services received its second four-year IP grant to expand on earlier work funded by a 2006-2010 grant. Both IP grants support the work of the Minnesota Department of Corrections. The 2006-2010 IP grant assessed prevalence of TBI in Minnesota correctional facilities and began to develop strategies for successful return to the community.

Current grant funding allows the hiring of a project psychologist and release planner to work with offenders who have significant needs related to their traumatic brain injury. An added focus of this grant will be community re-entry for offenders who are American Indian.

Membership

The DHS Commissioner appoints committee members for one- or two-year terms. Committee membership includes:

• People with brain injuries
• Family members of people with brain injuries
• Representatives of the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
• Representatives of various groups that provide supports and services to people with brain injuries
• Representatives from various DHS divisions.

Links

Annual reports

2017-2018 Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee Annual Report (PDF)

2015-2016 Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee Annual Report (PDF) 

2014-2015 Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee Annual Report, DHS-6896C (PDF) 

2013- 014 Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee Annual Report, DHS-6896B (PDF) 

Resources

2017 Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee Operations Guide (PDF)

Meeting minutes

Feb. 14. 2019, Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee minutes (PDF)

Dec. 13, 2018, Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee minutes (PDF)

For more information, call the Disability Services Division Response Center at 651-431-4300 or 866-267-7655, or email DHS.TBIAdvisoryCommittee@state.mn.us.