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Brain Injury in North Dakota

North Dakota governor signing proclamation for brain injury awareness
Governor Dalrymple signing the proclamation declaring March 2016 Brain Injury Awareness Month

Brain Injuries in North Dakota

  • Each year in North Dakota an estimated 5,500 individuals sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
    — That's equal to the population of Emmons County, including the towns of Linton, Strasburg, Hazelton, Braddock, Kintyre, Temvik, Westfield, and Hague!
  • More than 13,000 North Dakotans are currently living with a long term disability from TBI.
    — Although similar to that for several other types of injuries, the percentage (15.7%) of injury-related productivity loss attributed to TBI is 14 times that associated with spinal cord injury.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there were 330 deaths due to stroke in North Dakota in 2022.
    — That's equal to the population of Arthur, ND!
  • About 2.9% of North Dakota adults reported they had been told at one time they'd had a stroke, according to the 2022 North Dakota Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

The American Stroke Association in North Dakota is working on creating a culture of health in our state. They, along with the North Dakota Brain Injury Network (NDBIN), are helping to raise awareness about the vital effect lifestyle has on health; especially staying active and eating nutritious foods.

Timeline of Brain Injury in North Dakota

The work of several committees, groups, and programs has had many accomplishments in developing brain injury services, dating back to 1987.

2023

  • Awarded Gibbens Memorial Grant Brain Injury Lunch and Learn grant of $5,000
  • Brain Injury State Plan updated
  • Reallocation of state appropriated funding allowed for NDBIN to hire two additional resource facilitators
  • Primary seat belt law passed allowing law enforcement to stop and issue a seat belt citation to someone for not wearing a seat belt. Research shows that states that have primary enforcement have experienced up to a 10-12% increase in their observed seat belt use. By increasing seat belt use, lives will be saved and injuries will be prevented on North Dakota roadways.
  • NDBIN attended Brain Injury Awareness Day at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

2021

  • Awarded Administration of Community Living grant of $1.5 million over five years for Traumatic Brain Injury State Partnership Program
  • Awarded Consensus Council Grant of $15,000 for Positive Outcomes for Individuals with a History of Brain Injury and Involvement within the Criminal Justice System through Screening, Identification and Assessment

2020

2019

  • The Legislature formally changed the definition of brain injury in North Dakota to include of all types of brain injuries.
    • "Brain injury" means damage to the brain or the coverings of the brain that produces an altered mental state and results in a decrease in cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or physical functioning. The term does not include an insult of a degenerative or congenital nature.
  • Participation in Learning Practices Academy in Criminal Justice held by National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
  • NDBIN developed and started distributing their popular Brain Injury Playing Cards to North Dakota residents. Order a free deck today!

2017

2016

2015

  • Legislature added funds to Health and Human Services budget for a Return to Work Program
  • Legislature changed language from Traumatic Brain Injury to Brain Injury and added language to start collecting data from contractors
  • Legislature added funds to Health and Human Services budget for Resource Facilitation
    • Health and Human Services continues to contract with University of North Dakota – Center for Rural Health for the North Dakota Brain Injury Network (NDBIN)
    • Health and Human Services continues to contract with Community Options for pre-employment services
    • Social and recreational contracts continue

2013

  • Legislature added funds to Health and Human Services budget specifically for the service of resource facilitation
  • Health and Human Services released a Request for Proposal to develop and provide continuum of services to include informal support, peer mentoring, resource facilitation, and ongoing public awareness and education
    • The contract was awarded to University of North Dakota-Center for Rural Health to develop the North Dakota Brain Injury Network (NDBIN)
    • The project includes a program director and three resource facilitators
    • Health and Human Services continues to contract with Community Options for pre-employment services
    • Social and recreational contracts continue

2011

  • Legislature added funds to Health and Human Services budget to expand the increase the informal support services in the eastern part of the state
    • Funds were added to the contract with the Head Injury Association
    • Contracts with Community Options for prevocational skills continued
    • Health and Human Services expanded the social and recreational contracts to include support groups across the state
      • HIT, Inc. in Mandan, Dakota Center for Independent Living in Bismarck, HeartSprings in Fargo, Onword Therapy in Fargo, and Sanford Health in Fargo.
  • Annual Mind Matters Conference began in March

2010

  • NDBIN attended Brain Injury Awareness Day at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

2009

  • The 2009 legislative session appropriated funds for Traumatic Brain Injury to Health and Human Services
  • The funds provided:
    • Informal supports; peer mentoring; education and public awareness; social and recreational services; prevocational skills; and extended services or ongoing employment support
  • Health and Human Services contracted with:
    • The Head Injury Association for informal supports, etc
    • HIT Inc. for social and recreational services
    • Community Options for prevocational skills
  • Extended services or ongoing employment support portion of the funds became available to those individuals working with Vocational Rehabilitation
  • NDBIN attended Brain Injury Awareness Day at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

2008

  • North Dakota Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee updated the state action plan for recommendations to Health and Human Services funding, Governor and Legislation

2007

  • Health and Human Services awarded a three year federal Traumatic Brain Injury grant
  • Contracted with University of North Dakota – Center for Rural Health for the day to day activities of the grant
  • Four Goals
    • Re-establish the advisory committee, statewide education and public awareness, peer mentoring with Native American individuals on the reservations, and make connections with military partners/agencies

2005

  • Completed North Dakota Traumatic Brain Injury Needs Assessment Report and Action plan

2003

  • North Dakota awarded Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) planning grant to conduct needs assessment

1999

  • State law regarding registry was repealed
  • Legislature approved funds to create a basic care licensed group home in the western part of the state

1994

  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention funding for registry ceased
  • Health and Human Services receives approval for a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waiver for Traumatic Brain Injury

1992

  • 1st Head Injury Action Plan

1989

  • North Dakota Department of Human Services established as lead agency
  • Legislation requiring Department of Health to forward names on registry to Department of Human Services

1987

  • North Dakota Department of Health established as Lead agency
  • North Dakota Legislature mandated North Dakota Department of Health create Traumatic Brain Injury registry but provided no state funding