Massachusetts Rehabilitation CommissionBrain Injury & Statewide Specialized Community Services

Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP)

Community Servicesfor

People with Traumatic Brain Injuries

SHIP Service Coordinators

• 9 Regional Coordinators covering 7 Regions

• 2 Veteran’s Coordinators serving Veterans statewide

• Each Regional Coordinator is primary contact for all SHIP eligible consumers in their region (An average of 400 consumers per region)

• Each Regional Coordinator has an active caseload of 75 – 90 consumers

SHIP Service Coordinators

• Regional Service Coordinators provide:– Information, Referral and Assistance to all

consumers within their region.– Initial Assessment to all newly eligible SHIP

consumers.– Identification and provision of SHIP Paid Services.– Monitor the provision and quality of services.– Identify new sources of benefits and services.

Purchased Services

Community Services – Case Management

• It is intense and time-limited.• It may provide a more focused or comprehensive assessment.• Development of compensatory and cognitive strategies.• It assists the individual with navigating complex entitlement

systems.• Provides further identification of needed services and access to

them.• Assists with establishing and maintaining contact with

community-based service providers and therapists.• Occasionally, SHIP purchases case management as a long-

term but periodic service.

Purchased Services

Community Services – Support Workers• Focuses on functional skills development.• Implementing strategies developed by another professional,

such as a Case Manager.• Primary responsibility is on increasing or simply maintaining

independence and community access.• The provision of hands-on training, modeling and monitoring

in order to facilitate community access.• Provided in the consumer's home and/or local community.• Functional living skills could also be taught within community

settings such as local stores, restaurants, libraries, or by accessing public transportation and other community providers.

• Accompanying a consumer to a medical or therapy appointment, when appropriate.

Purchased Services

Community Services – Individual Aide

• Provide support and assistance with activities of daily living.

• Accompany individuals on community outings for social and recreational events.

• Companionship

• In-home assistance to the family via respite care.

Purchased Services

Community Services – Cultural Facilitator

• Assist in addressing barriers related to linguistically or culturally diverse communities.

• Field questions and address issues from the consumer/family, as it may relate to their culture and value system.

• Provide a comforting and familiar presence, perhaps in conjunction with another professional.

• Help a funding agency staff recognize cultural barriers to delivery of services and to understand the concerns and point of view of the consumer.

Purchased ServicesCommunity Services – Regional Service Centers

• SHIP funds 4 Regional Service Centers located Quincy, Rayhnam, Hyannis and Springfield.

• These centers provide structured, supervised opportunities for training and practice in the consumer's home and community.

• The centers focus on development of independent living skills; cognitive remediation; behavior management; employment-related skills; socialization; health and wellness; and recreation and leisure planning.

• The centers also provide case management, advocacy and family support services.

• Education is provided to consumers and families about case management with the expectation that eventually they will take primary responsibility for this activity themselves.

• Each center has an affiliated evening and weekend recreation program which is open to any individual with a brain injury.

Purchased Services

Community Services Social and Recreation Programs

• SHIP currently funds 22 Social and Recreational Programs across the state.

• Any adult with a brain injury, who lives in Massachusetts, may be able to participate in one of these programs regardless of eligibility for SHIP.

• Each program has an activities coordinator, but it is the participants who determine the types of activities being planned.

Purchased Services

Community Services - Other

• Respite

• Technical Assistance and Consultation

• Specialized Substance Abuse Treatment and Consultation

• Family Assistance Program

• Homeless Brain Injury Project