Ms. Lucinda Crissman called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.
There were no additions to the agenda or changes to the minutes of the last meeting.
Mr. Micki Greenstein motioned to approve the agenda and minutes. Ms. Lucinda Crissman seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Ms. Dively explained that the Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of brain injury survivors and family members dedicated to increasing public awareness about acquired brain injury and to providing support, education, information, advocacy and other services for individuals with acquired brain injury and their families. Their website is www.abin-pa.org. Ms. Dively shared the below concerns with Ms. Kovalcik-Weaver prior to the call and shared with members on the call:
Those with brain injury face extra challenges in returning to work.
In the context of trying to determine whether any changes within OVR would help maximize employment for those with brain injury, I would be looking to discuss several issues.
Ms. Dively discussed that there are 245,000 people in Pennsylvania disabled by traumatic brain injury (TBI) alone, and 245,000 more due to just stroke. This means at least one-half million disabled by brain injuries in Pennsylvania. The Department of Health has a Head Injured Program which provides one year of rehabilitation to a person with TBI. The CommCare and OBRA Waiver provide help. Advocates are trying to work to get private health insurance to cover rehabilitation for TBI.
Also working on Brain Injury Initiative with Estelle Richman exploring what it might do. Ginny Rodgers of the Department of Public Welfare heads the Brain Injury Initiative. At one time, OVR had a 6 week program at the Hiram G. Andrews Center for young men with brain injury. Those on the call stated they would like to find out more from OVR as far as services they provide for TBI.
Members would like to have Ms. Dively on the agenda for the November 19, 2008 Full Council Meeting. This request for Ms. Dively to be on the November meeting agenda will be presented to the Executive Committee at their next meeting on September 26, 2008.
Members discussed the annual report. Ms. Williams reported the contract number on the back page needed changed. Members discussed adding the recruitment poster. Staff will look at the cost with the printer to see if it is feasible. The chart of representation will be updated with some date changes. The Goals for 2009 are now by committees. On the PaRC at work page the Recruitment Poster information was added.
Mr. Micki Greenstein motioned to approve the annual report with changes. Ms. Lucinda Crissman seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Ms. Williams reported that we would be adding the link to the National Coalition of SRCs www.ncsrc.net and the training modules www.eRehab.org for members. This will also be in the November weekly update.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:45 a.m.
Ms. Kovalcik-Weaver will poll members for the next call in December.