Tag Archives: virtual

Colorado’s Brain Injury Help Desk for Kids

Colorado Department of Education seal reading “Excellence in Education” and “Est. 1876”

Colorado Department of Education (CDE) just launched its brain-injury support office hours in the State, holding its first virtual session of the 2026-2027 school year on Thursday, October 22. The five Zoom sessions that are currently scheduled are open to anyone wanting to learn, ask questions or share issues related to brain injury.

In addition to this new endeavor, the CDE hosts Colorado Kids with Brain Injury that’s “website serves as a resource for educators, related service providers, community partners, families, and anyone seeking information, tools, and guidance to support Colorado students with brain injuries..” The CDE also manages Colorado’s youth brain injury program, through a 2011 agreement with the State’s brain injury agency MINDSOURCE, and in 2016 adopted BrainSTEPS, a school-consulting initiative modeled on that created by Pennsylvania’s health department in 2007. By fiscal 2024, MINDSOURCE’s legislative report reported 31 BrainSTEPS teams, with 265 members serving districts enrolling 75 percent of students, and 549 staff had completed concussion “Return to Learn” training.

(Most states have a specialized state department, agency or programs to oversee brain injuries, rather than relying on a federal Department of Brain Injury.)

UC Leads National Study of Support for Brain Injury Caregivers

The NIH announced on October 6, 2026, that they have provided a R01 grant of $2.5 million to University of Cincinnati researchers. Building on the positive results of an earlier and smaller study, this five-year study is instead a larger national trial of a wellness program for families caring for loved ones with traumatic brain injuries.

Researchers present a $2,450,000 NIH research grant check at UC Health College of Medicine; banner reads “Congratulations on the R01 Grant!” and check names University of Cincinnati, Caregiver Wellness After Traumatic Brain Injury Program, and Dr. Natalie Kreitzer, MD.

Led by Natalie Kreitzer, MD, UC, the Caregiver Wellness After Traumatic Brain Injury Program tests a web- and phone-based program. Caregivers will be guided through personal stress and distress, coping, patient outcomes and cost following a loved one’s traumatic brain injury, in addition to other related topics, such as medical leave, the move from the ICU to rehab, and preparing the home. Involving input not only from UC, but also The Ohio State University, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Washington, the goal is for 354 patient-caregiver pairs to enroll, with a set start date in early 2027.