BIAMI Support Services






	– Support Groups Information and Resources National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC) Recreation Survivor Activities Veterans' Information				– For the families and friends of those who deal with a brain injury, there is nothing more important than the support that the team we call the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI) represents. Toll-Free Help Line: (800) 772-4323 A Toll-free Family Help Line is available and is designed to assist individuals and families with specific requests. Need Help Right Now? If you would like to request information about brain injury relating to resources available in Michigan, education and prevention activities, legislative efforts, or other, please send a detailed email message including your name, daytime telephone number, and email address to info@biami.org Finding a Support Group The Brain Injury Association of Michigan makes referrals to support groups throughout the state, including for persons with brain injury, their families and friends. There are 19 chapters and support groups meeting monthly, with membership ranging from 50 to 125 each. The Brain Injury Association of Michigan can help link persons with brain injury and their loved ones to self-directed, voluntary support groups. Support groups can provide a number of benefits and provide the following key results: Emotional healing comes when people interact with other people. Sharing of similar experiences helps members feel less alone and more ready to deal with day to day issues. Encouragement comes from learning about how others have conquered situations similar to theirs. Contribution helps support group members feel meaningful. Education results from the exposure to information and personal experiences in a group. Socialization occurs when connections with people are made and confidence in social skills develops when appropriate interaction occurs in support groups. Self-expression, as emotions are experienced and released, creates a greater understanding of oneself. Confidence building results as members take responsibility for the work of the group, and see progress with the plans they made. Safety, in the environment of a confidential, supportive, non-judgmental group, allows for honest disclosure and sharing of common difficulties. A sense of growth occurs as long-term members see new participants and reminisce about where they began and how far they have come in their personal journey. For a growing number of chapters and support groups, many of them meeting on a monthly basis, the BIAMI is an acknowledged foundation of support for those affected by brain injury. Click here for support groups Return to Top of Page Information and Resources Information allowing you to gain a better understanding of brain injury, rehabilitation services, legal and medical resources. The Association maintains a comprehensive resource library, open daily. We have thousands of articles of resource information available and will provide an individualized information packet. Return to Top of Page National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC) The Brain Injury Association of Michigan, in collaboration with the National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC), are pleased to announce a national toll free number is now available for Michigan callers to get individualized and confidential brain injury information and help. Individuals, including family members/caregivers, professionals and persons who have experienced a brain injury, calling the national 800 number are automatically linked to his or her state BIA office. Callers would then be connected to local services, resources and support relevant to their brain injury problems and issues. These may include local treatment and rehabilitation services; funding and legal programs; veterans options; as well as connecting to programs where they can learn coping and living skills; school and work adjustments, and effective ways to manage the changes in their lives and plan for their future following a brain injury. Brain injury specialists will be able to provide callers with information about traumatic or acquired brain injuries including head injuries, concussions, and comas. The NBIIC project will provide a standardized protocol for responding to calls, a customized packet of information on brain injury topics, consistent data element collection and resources to brain injury services to the caller’s local community. The project is currently being funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the Brain Injury Association of Michigan has always maintained a statewide toll-free number, we are one of three states helping the National Brain Injury Information Center to pilot-test and evaluate a national toll-free number. Michigan will receive no financial reimbursement for this project from NBIIC. To date, we have committed nearly $4,000 towards this new project, not including staff time. SERVICE PROVIDERS - Posters (see above) and referral pads are available to place in a location that is accessible to your clients who may need or be interested in calling for information and resources in their communities. If you need more information, or have questions, please contact Kathie Sell at (800) 444-6443. Recreation Coming Soon Return to Top of Page Survivor Activities Spring Fling *Date: May 3, 2008* Generously hosted by the Fent Family, BIAMI members and proprietors of the Best Western in Birch Run, a pizza party lunch kicks off the beginning of the Spring Fling! The Spring Fling provides people with brain injuries and their family an opportunity to gather and socialize with other members from around the state. The day and evening are loosely structured in order to accommodate everyone. Hotel accommodations are at the Best Western in Birch Run, just off I-75. Shopping takes place at the Prime Outlet Mall in Birch Run and in the quaint German community of Frankenmuth. LAPS Walk Michigan International Speedway NEW DATE TBD The LAPS Walk (Leadership and Awareness to Promote Safety) is a series of walkathon events created by NASCAR racing legend and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivor Ernie Irvan and the Brain Injury Association of America at racetracks across the country to raise awareness and needed funding in the fight against the silent and growing epidemic of TBI in America. Click here for event dates and online registration. Veterans Early in 2007, the Brain Injury Association of Michigan created a Veteran's Program to specifically help our combatants returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with the complex traumatic brain injury issues. Veterans returning from combat may have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), mortars, grenades, bullets, mines, car accidents or falls. Brain injury presentations are made to pre homecoming to families and post deployment (reunion workshops) to returning soldiers and their families. BIAMI expects to begin pre-deployment briefings to soldiers to begin in 2008. HELPING OUR RETURNING TROOPS It is difficult to return home from an intensive combat environment. It takes a lot of understanding and patience on the home front as our troops adjust back to their previous lives. In many cases, they may never be completely the same. It is even tougher for those that have sustained a TBI during their combat tour. It is critical that the family members, close friends and co-workers of troops returning from combat understand and watch for TBI and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Find more information about PTSD at www.ncptsd.va.gov. Additional resource links available at http://www.biami.org/links.htm Click here to download the Resources for Veterans brochure (PDF) Return to Top of Page