Advisory council: means the traumatic brain injury advisory council established pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 68-55-101
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) Aggressively seek and obtain funding, on an ongoing basis, from all available sources, including, but not limited to, medicaid waivers and for expansion of the medicaid program, private and federal funds needed to implement new state plans and services, and to expand and revise existing state plans and services for persons with TBIs, including case management;(2) Seek funding, on an ongoing basis, and, in conjunction with other state agencies, prepare, coordinate, and advocate for state appropriations needed to fund and to develop services to implement the state plan;(3) Identify available programs and services and compile a comprehensive directory of identified programs and services;(4) Provide technical assistance and define gaps in service delivery and spearhead the development of those services needed for a comprehensive system of service delivery;(5) Implement, oversee and receive surveillance data from the Tennessee brain trauma registry to use in developing and revising the state plan to meet the changing needs of this population;(6) Evaluate surveillance data regarding the quality of services provided and outcome and impact on the quality of life of this population, including reintegration and productivity in the community;(7) Promote research on the causes, effects, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of head trauma injuries; and(8) Serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information collected on available programs and services. A state-wide toll-free telephone line shall be established and operated during normal business hours for the express purpose of providing such information to callers.(b) Utilizing the services and expertise of the advisory council to the greatest extent possible and in cooperation with the advisory council, the TBI coordinator shall:
(1) Develop a coordinated case management system, a short-term state plan, a long-term state plan, affordable and accessible home and community based services, and criteria to identify training needs and priorities for all persons serving TBI clients;(2) Establish and provide for the centralized organization of a state-wide family clearinghouse of information, including availability of services, education and referral to survivors, professionals, and family members during the early stages of injury in the acute hospital setting;(3) Assure state-wide compliance with licensure, if any, and performance standards through regular service monitoring, site visitation, and self-appraisal;(4) If licensure is required, monitor and update licensure requirements specific to this population;(5) Seek funding and other resources to assure that state personnel working with this disability group are properly trained and provided, at least annually, an opportunity to attend formal or informal education programs through colleges, workshops, seminars, or conferences;(6) Ensure updates and compliance standards from the national head injury foundation’s quality standards committee are made available to professionals and providers, on a timely basis, to help educate providers and professionals regarding the latest technology available for this disability group;(7) Oversee efforts to better educate the general public concerning the need for head injury prevention programs and the need for early intervention, including, but not limited to, developing plans and programs for affordable post-acute rehabilitation services, long-term care programs, respite services and day treatment programs to deal with those who have lifelong disabilities, as well as developing plans and programs to deal effectively with TBI students in the educational system;(8) Work with vocational rehabilitation and other state agencies to offer incentives and obtain cooperation of private industries to initiate on-the-job training and supported employment for TBI persons; and(9) Assist in obtaining grant funding and provide technical assistance for the Tennessee head injury association to develop policies and procedures to maximize self-determination and self-advocacy of a person suffering a TBI.
