HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) today announced five new grants totaling $254,673 to strengthen protection and advocacy (P & A) services for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families.  
 
The new grants will help existing P & A systems improve services for individuals with TBI by providing information, referrals and advice; individual and family advocacy; legal representation; and assistance in self-advocacy. 
 
The P & A program was authorized as part of the Traumatic Brain Injury Program section of the Children's Health Act of 2000.  It was funded by HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau in fiscal year 2002. Other TBI program grants support state efforts to improve access to health care and other services for individuals with TBI.

P & A grants support the goals of President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to participate fully in their communities.

At least 5.3 million Americans are living with TBI-related disabilities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   Motor vehicle crashes, falls, violence and sports injuries are the major causes of TBI and a leading cause of death and disability among young people in the U.S.
 

Traumatic Brain Injury Protection & Advocacy Program, FY 2003
Organization	City	State	Award
Disability Rights Center, Inc.	Little Rock	Ark.	$50,000
Office of Protection & Advocacy for Persons With Disabilities	Hartford	Conn.	$50,000
Disability Law Center, Inc.	Boston	Mass.	$53,555
Maryland Disability Law Center	Baltimore	Md.	$51,118
Montana Advocacy Program	Helena	Mont.	$50,000
	TOTAL:		$254,673