The Brain Injury Center of Ventura County is one of four national organizations still in the running for a $ 150,000 national grant to assist families of U.S. military personnel who sustained traumatic brain injuries in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

An estimated 130,000 Americans in military service have sustained brain injuries in these two wars, chiefly by being too close to the repercussive impact of an IED or other explosion. Traumatic brain injury is considered to be the signature injury of the wars.

The grant is being offered by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving and BIC was one of 20 organizations around the country to apply. The program that will be implemented is titled the “Wounded Warrior Family Caregiver Program” and it will provide evidence-based problem solving training for family caregivers of recent veterans who are living with PTSD (post- traumatic stress disorder) and/or TBI (traumatic brain injury).

The local non-profit’s proposal has now survived two rounds of cuts to make the “final four.” The grant will be awarded over a three year period and will involve three separate phases of implementation by the grantee. A winner will be announced July 31.

“We are so excited to be in the final four for this national grant and to have a chance to bring this programming to Ventura County’s veterans of the War on Terror,” said Joan Moore, executive director of the Brain Injury Center.

“All Americans appreciate the sacrifices our troops have made in fighting the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq,” added BIC president David Wilk. “That so many have come back with brain injuries is a tragedy, but we need to rise to the challenge. It is our responsibility to do whatever we can to help them and their families adjust to the profound challenges of brain injury.”

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving was established in 1987 to support the former first lady’s commitment to human development, caregiving and mental health. The Institute is centered at Georgia Southwestern State University, Carter’s alma mater, and is dedicated to creating local, state and national partnerships committed to building quality long term services.

The Brain Injury’s proposal has been spearheaded by Donna Davies, a board member whose own son suffered a brain injury 20 years ago. “We have certainly worked hard to try to assist veterans and their families with the struggle to adjust to life with a brain injury,” Davies said. “Funding for this new program in Ventura County would allow us to create comprehensive services that will hopefully be duplicated in many other communities.”

BIC has initiated community partnerships with the Ventura County Military Collaborative, Gold Coast Veterans Foundation and the Veterans Claims office of Ventura County. The organization is also working cooperatively with Kimberly Evans, Director of Psychological Health, CA Air National Guard 146th Airlift Wing base in Port Hueneme; ,Charles McDermott, Fleet and Family Support at the Navy Base Ventura; and Mike McManus, Ventura County Veterans Services Officer (and a retired USAF senior master sergeant).

Heading up the multi-phase program would be Dr. Lisa Hayden, Psy.D, a member of BIC’s Professional Advisory Council, who has worked with the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration. Dr. Hayden is an expert in evidence based programing to support individuals with TBI and has worked with families to help them support their injured veteran members.

On August 11 BIC is one of the partnering sponsors of a Veterans Resource Fair in conjunction with the Ventura County Military Collaborative. The event takes place at the Pleasant Valley Recreational and Park District office in Camarillo. For more information you can call the Brain Injury Center of Ventura County at 805/482-1312.