Administration for Community Living (ACL) Grant at MassAbility

Annually, Massachusetts sees 73,000 cases of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) of which survivors are at high risk for post-injury neuropsychiatric disorders, with nearly 50% experiencing major depressive disorder within the first year. Discover MassAbility's Brain Injury Strategic Plan and screening tools for more information.

MassAbility has received grant funds from the Administration of Community Living (ACL) (previously HRSA) for over 20 years. These grants focus on enhancing statewide programs, education, training and resources regarding brain injuries. 

Brain Injury Strategic and Implementation Plan

The strategic plan outlines the State’s main goals for improving services and supports for people living with brain injuries. In late 2023 and early 2024, the Brain Injury Council sub-committees met to identify ideas and activities that could help achieve those goals. The notes from those meetings helped shape the implementation plan, which explains how the State will carry out the goals in the strategic plan.

Read about both plans here: 

• MassAbility's Brain Injury Strategic Plan
• MassAbility's Brain Injury Implementation Plan

Training and Learning Opportunities

• Domestic Violence and Brain Injury: part one
• Brain Injury Web Course: a FREE, seven-module, self-paced web course curricula was designed to help Massachusetts build a trained brain injury work force statewide. The content is geared for all levels of community-based providers covering introduction to brain injury, mental health, screening and resources, alcohol and substance use, and employment supports for those with brain injury. This course and it’s content was updated and republished in January 2024.
• Brain Injury and Substance Use Forum (5-Modules) 
• MassAbility Regional Communities of Practice
• How to Support the Brain Injury and Substance Use Community

Screening Tools and Accommodations

• Accommodations and Compensatory Strategies For Cognitive Deficits Resulting from a Brain Injury
• Lifetime History of Traumatic Injury and other Acquired Brain Injuries Screening Tool and Instructions
• Online Brain Injury Screening and Support System (OBISSS)
  • NASHIA OBISSS Flyer

Contact us to learn how we can assist with implementing OBISSS into your work  Learn more at MassAbility's Brain Injury Screening Resource Hub