Community Support Services (CSS) involve intensive one-to-one education and training to assist a person with a brain injury to live and participate as independently as possible in home, work, and community settings of choice. Community Support Services typically focus on the development and implementation of compensatory strategies versus the retraining of cognitive skills. Specific services may include education, life skills training, assessment and instruction related to the use of assistive technology, as well as the development and implementation of strategies and techniques to help a person to function successfully in community settings. Areas targeted for Community Support Services may include household and financial management, personal care/hygiene, coping and social skills, using transportation, and other similar skills and tasks.

1. Brain Injury Services Coordination
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Brain Injury Services Coordination
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Assistive Technology
Brain Injury Report Out Day
Information & Referral
Boards and Councils On Friday July 24, 2009, the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), in partnership
BIS Programs Scorecard with the Virginia Brain Injury Council and the Brain Injury Association of Virginia, hosted
“Brain Injury Report Out Day” at the Science Museum of Virginia, to present the Virginia
Site Map Brain Injury State Action Plan 2009-2013. The eventprovided an opportunity for several
state agencies and partners to meet and discuss the goals and accomplishments of
Events Calendar
brain injury services in Virginia. The 2009-2013 Brain Injury Action Plan was created to
shape the development of a comprehensive service system for Virginians with brain
injuries. It involves collaboration among persons with brain injury, family caregivers, state
agencies, and community partners serving persons with brain injury throughout the
Commonwealth.Tto view photos of the event and download presenter documents and
presentations, visit the Brain Injury Report Out Day page.
Brain Injury Services Coordination Unit
The Brain Injury Services Coordination (BISC) Unit, located within the Community Based
Services Division in the Richmond Central Office, manages over $6 million in programs,
contracts, and federal grants that provide brain injury services throughout the
Commonwealth. The BISC Unit serves as a point of contact for customers seeking
general or agency-specific information about brain injury resources. BISCU also
manages the Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Trust Fund, the Brain Injury
Discretionary Services (BIDS) Fund, and provides staffing for the Virginia Brain Injury
Council (VBIC). DRS was awarded a three-year (2006-09) federal TBI Act systems
change grant, "Strengthening Our Statewide Infrastructure for Brain Injury Services
(SOS:BIS)." Federal grant activities are carried out through a contract with the Brain
Injury Association of Virginia, which is managed by the Brain Injury Services
Coordination Unit.
The BISC Unit works closely with other CBS Division programs, particularly the
Community Rehabilitation Case Management Services Program, to provide
comprehensive services and to resolve customer concerns regarding agency services for
persons with brain injury. The BISC Unit and the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center
(WWRC) Brain Injury Services Department provide support, guidance, and technical
assistance to DRS field staff and agency administration regarding the rehabilitation of
persons with acquired brain injury. Sponsorship funding through BISCU is available each
year for a limited number of DRS and WWRC staff to receive specialized training in brain
injury through workshops, courses, and conferences.
The Brain Injury Services Coordination Unit works collaboratively with consumers,
advocacy groups, state agencies, and other community entities to improve services and
resources for Virginians with brain injury.
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2. Brain Injury Services Coordination
Vocational Rehabilitation Program Services
assessment/evaluation
counseling/guidance
job development/placement & supported employment
vocational training
WWRC Brain Injury Services Program
cognitive rehabilitation services
community transition services
driver evaluation/training
independent living/community re-entry skills (dorms and cottage)
counseling and guidance (including neuropsychological assessment)
occupational/physical/recreational
speech and language therapy
rehabilitation engineering
specialized case management services
specialized vocational counseling
Administered by DRS
Brain Injury Discretionary Services (BIDS) Fund.
Brain Injury Services Programs in Virginia .
Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Services (PAS) Program.
Community Rehabilitation Case Management Services (CRCMS) Program.
Community Support Services for People with Brain Injury (CSS/BI).
Personal Assistance Services Program for People with Brain Injuries (PAS/BI).
Community Support Services for People with Brain Injury
DRS recognizes that deficits in non-vocational life areas may adversely affect the ability
of a person with a brain injury to gain and/or maintain employment. Community Support
Services (CSS) involve intensive one-to-one education and training to assist a person
with a brain injury to live and participate as independently as possible in home, work,
and community settings of choice. Community Support Services typically focus on the
development and implementation of compensatory strategies versus the retraining of
cognitive skills. Specific services may include education, life skills training, assessment
and instruction related to the use of assistive technology, as well as the development
and implementation of strategies and techniques to help a person to function
successfully in community settings. Areas targeted for Community Support Services may
include household and financial management, personal care/hygiene, coping and social
skills, using transportation, and other similar skills and tasks.
The Brain Injury Services Coordination Unit encourages organizations and individuals to
apply for vendorship approval to provide Community Support Services to DRS customers
served by the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, as well as those served by programs
within the Community Based Services Division. Although Community Support Services
may be paid for by a vocational rehabilitation counselor in certain situations, services are
usually provided through the Brain Injury Discretionary Services Fund managed by the
Brain Injury Services Coordination Unit. CSS Vendorship information and application
materials are available in the DRS Forms Cabinet under "Brain Injury Services Forms."
For more information, contact Patti Goodall at Patti.Goodall@drs.virginia.gov or 800-552-
5019 (voice) or 800-464-9950 (TTY).
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3. Brain Injury Services Coordination
Brain Injury State Action Plan in Virginia 2008-2012
The Virginia Brain Injury Council (VBIC), http://www.vadrs.org/vbic.asp, serves as the
advisory body to a federal Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act grant awarded to the
Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), the lead agency in Virginia for the
coordination of brain injury services. A 1998-2000 federal “TBI Act Planning Grant”
required DRS to develop an “action plan” to guide the development of brain injury
services statewide. DRS, in partnership with the Brain Injury Association of Virginia
(BIAV) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health Systems, developed the
2000-2005 Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) State Action Plan. DRS received additional
funding through a TBI Act “Implementation Grant” and in Spring 2005 formed a Steering
Committee to oversee the process of updating Virginia's 2005 Action Plan, one of the
goals of the grant. Representatives from the Virginia Brain Injury Council (VBIC), the
Brain Injury Association of Virginia (BIAV), the Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative
(CNI) Trust Fund Advisory Board, and the Virginia Alliance of Brain Injury Service
Providers (VABISP) developed a work plan to carry out this important activity. The
Virginia Brain Injury Council endorsed the Steering Committee’s work plan.
During 2005, DRS hosted several Brain Injury Town Meetings across the state and
invited survivors, family members, professionals, and other stakeholders to participate.
The Town Meeting process allowed facilitators to receive feedback on the development
of "core" or foundational brain injury services; to identify and prioritize local service
needs; and to share information on developing and enhancing services within a local
community. DRS partnered with the Brain Injury Association of Virginia (BIAV)
http://www.biav.net and with the VCU Rehabilitation Research & Training Center to
conduct the Town Meetings and prepare a report of their findings.
In 2007 , DRS invited Susan Vaughn, Director of Public Policy for the National
Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) to provide an overview of
other states’ actions plans and councils at its January 2007 meeting. DRS also hired Ann
Deaton, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist, to research, develop, and prepare a written draft of
Virginia's Brain Injury State Action Plan for 2008-2012. A preliminary draft and progress
report on the Action Plan will be presented to the Council at its April 2007 meeting.
Information on Virginia's 2005 State Traumatic Brain Injury Action Plan, the Town
Meeting process, and a survey for gathering information on the development of the
2008-2012 Brain Injury State Action Plan are available below. DRS invites stakeholders
to submit comments by completing the survey below (due March 7, 2007) and mailing it
to DRS Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Services, 8004 Franklin Farms Drive,
Richmond, VA 23229 or via e-mail to Patti.Gooall@drs.virginia.gov. For assistance or to
submit comments in any other format, contact Patti Goodall at
Patti.Goodall@drs.virginia.gov; (804) 662-7615; (800) 552-5019 Toll Free; or (800) 464-
9950 TTY. We encourage all who are interested to participate in the process!
2007 Survey for Brain Injury State Action Plan
Results of 2005 Town Meetings: Final Report (Word Document) (PDF Format)
PowerPoint Presentation from the 2005 Town Meetings
For further information regarding the programs and services managed by the BI/SCIS
Unit, please email Patti.Goodall@drs.virginia.gov or call (804) 662-7615 or (800) 552-
5019.
Statistical Information
Virginia Department of Health
Center for Injury & Violence Prevention
http://www.vahealth.org/civp/datacivp.asp.
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4. Brain Injury Services Coordination
Traumatic Brain Injury in Virginia 1999-2003
http://www.vahealth.org/civp/TBIreport.pdf (PDF File).
Traumatic Brain Injury National Database Center
http://www.tbindc.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Traumatic Brain Injury: http://www.cdc.gov/node.do?
id=0900f3ec8000dbdc&aspectId=A0400020
For additional information on brain injury:
Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)
http://www.biausa.org
Brain Injury Association of Virginia (BIAV)
http://www.biav.net
National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury
http://www.neuro.pmr.vcu.edu/
Virginia Commonwealth University Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
http://www.tbi.pmr.vcu.edu/
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