The Brain Injury Center of Ventura County is inviting people with a brain injury and their families to attend a special forum later this month to help set the organization’s direction for the future. The first Ventura County Brain Injury Forum will take place July 23 from 9:30 to noon at BIC’s offices in the Camarillo Health Care District complex. There is no charge to attend.

The forum will conduct separate sessions for brain injury survivors and family members/caretakers in order to assess what is most needed to meet the many challenges of living with a brain injury. BIC services presently being provided will be discussed and the hope is that ideas for new programs and services will emerge

“We exist to serve the needs of the brain injury community here in Ventura County,” said BIC Executive Director Joan Moore. “We need them to be full participants in this community – and so we want to ask them to help guide us in our planning for the future. Where are they finding holes in Ventura County as far as obtaining services and vital therapies? How can we adjust our programs and better advocate for the services they need within the greater society?

“We’re hoping to make contact with people affected by brain injury who have not yet interacted with the Brain Injury Center,” added David Wilk, BIC president. “Certainly we have not yet interfaced with every survivor and family in Ventura County. This forum offers a great chance for new people to talk about their problems and see what we are doing to help.”

Lisa Hayden, Psy. D and a clinical psychologist who treats people with neurocognitive related disorders, will facilitate the brain injury survivor session. Hayden is a member of BIC’s Professional Advisory Council and has conducted workshops for survivors in the past.

Bob Cole, a long-time Ventura County business leader, will conduct the family and caretakers session. Cole recently retired after starting and running several successful companies in the county, where he also helped found a number of charitable corporations. He has been active in the brain injury cause for over 15 years.

The Brain Injury Center currently offers separate support groups for survivors and families in several VC cities, provides free monthly workshops addressing specific challenges of living with brain injury, hosts the annual Ventura County Brain Injury Conference, offers advice and referrals via telephone and visits to its offices and makes presentations throughout the county to raise awareness about brain injury.

The July 23 forum is free and a continental breakfast is being supplied by Care Meridian. For more information and registration, call the Brain Injury Center at 805.482.1312 or visit the organization’s website at www.BrainInjuryCenter.org.