Brain Injury Services Program
The Brain Injury Services Program works to improve the lives of Iowans living with brain injuries by linking those individuals and their families to needed information, services, and supports as well as training service providers and other professionals on how to best work with people who have sustained a brain injury.
Acquired brain injuries (ABIs) describe all types of brain injuries, which can be caused by conditions such as trauma to the brain, strokes, infections, poisoning or toxic exposures, or lack of oxygen to the brain. Brain Injuries are not hereditary or degenerative. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are caused by an external force such as hitting your head during a fall or car crash, from a collision with an object or another person during activities such as participating in sports or when assaulted. Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury. Non-traumatic brain injuries are caused by an internal condition, such as lack of oxygen, an infection, or strokes.
Need information or support following a brain injury? The Iowa Department of Public Health contracts with the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa to provide a free service called NeuroResource Facilitation to provide education, support and advocacy for individuals who need assistance related to brain injury. You can talk to one of their staff by calling 855-444-6443 or by emailing info@biaia.org.
Additional information about brain injury can be found at https://biaia.org/resource-library/
Scholarships Available for Iowans to Attend National Brain Injury Conference
The Iowa Department of Public Health is sponsoring scholarships to individuals who reside or work in Iowa to attend the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) State of the States annual conference. This event will be held virtually this year.
The conference is open to all who are involved in the field of brain injury, including public and private program administrators as well as providers, advocates, educators, individuals with brain injury, families, professionals, and anyone interested in overall service delivery for individuals with brain injury including planning, prevention, rehabilitation, community and support services.
This year the conference will be held on September 7-9, 2022.
Scholarship announcement flyer 
Guidance for applying for the scholarship, including deadlines
Conference Agenda (draft)
To apply, complete an application at https://forms.gle/c3SufWSaeC2VYCf69
Iowa's Concussion Month to be Recognized in September
Stay tuned for more information.
Screening Tools for Lifetime History of Brain Injury Now Available on Your Life Iowa
Iowa's brain injury screening tools are now available online for providers who wish to screen clients for lifetime history of brain injury! Using a password-protected, fillable format found at Your Life Iowa (YLI), results are instantly emailed to the screener. To register an account, email brain.injury@idph.iowa.gov.
The adult and pediatric screening tools continues to be available by download at https://idph.iowa.gov/brain-injuries/TBI-Implementation-Grant.
Questions regarding implementing the screening tools can be sent to brain.injury@idph.iowa.gov or by calling Jim Pender at 515-204-7978.