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State and Protection & Advocacy Grantee Information

Grants to States 

In April 2006, the Federal TBI Program made awards under a new grant category for State agencies.This new category is called the Implementation Partnership Grant (IPG) and supplants the former Planning, Implementation, and Post-Demonstration grants. Planning grants allowed States to build infrastructure through the Program’s four core capacity components—establishing a TBI Statewide Advisory Board/Council, identifying a Lead State Agency, implementing a Needs and Resources Assessment process, and developing a TBI State Action Plan. Implementation and Post-Demonstration grants were provided to create models and expand or improve service capacity. The new IPG awards allow State agencies to conduct any of the activities of the former grant categories, depending on what needs to be done to expand or improve their systems of services and supports, and what is best suited to the development of a State.  

In addition to the four core components, the Federal TBI Program strongly encourages States to: (1) develop partnerships for sustainability; (2) focus on selected high risk populations; and (3) have or work towards being able to hire a full-time Program Director for TBI (for the overall State TBI Program, not solely for the purpose of administering the Federal grant) who will actively supervise all State TBI Program activities, including those developed through contracts with other agencies and organizations.

Implementation Partnership Grants cannot be used to support primary injury prevention initiatives, research initiatives, or the provision of direct services. Funds may be used, however, to educate the public about the causes, symptoms and treatment of TBI. 

TBI Ombudsman

Effective Fiscal Year 2009, the Federal TBI Program mandates that currently funded State grantees have, or provide a plan with a timeline to recruit and put into place, a family representative to serve as an ombudsman to the State TBI Program and the public. The role of the TBI Ombudsman is to act as a trusted intermediary, who is responsible for speaking on behalf of individuals with TBI and family members while representing the broad scope of constituent interests. The TBI Ombudsman: 

  • should be an individual with TBI, a family member of an individual with TBI, or someone with a demonstrated, substantial and long-term commitment to serving individuals with TBI and their families;
  • may be a funded or volunteer position;
  • is expected to participate in the TBI Statewide Advisory Board/Council Meetings and attend the Federal TBI Program’s Annual Grantee Leadership Meeting.

The responsibilities of the TBI Ombudsman may intersect with State Brain Injury Association (BIA) Affiliate Information & Referral (I&R) functions, Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman (authorized via the Older Americans Act and embedded in State law), or the National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC). The role of the TBI Ombudsman has been filled by one person in some States, while other States have involved multiple people with a systems approach. 

Implementation Partnership Grants (IPGs)

IPGs are currently available for up to four years and up to $250,000 per year for States and up to $100,000 per year for Territories.

Between 1997 and 2012, 48 States, 2 Territories, and the District of Columbia received at least one State agency grant. For 2012, 21 States have received funding for Implementation Partnership grants. 

Grants to Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems 

The P&A TBI grant program is a formula-based program that allows 57 States, Territories, and the Native American Protection and Advocacy Project to assess their State P&A Systems' responsiveness to TBI issues and provide advocacy support to individuals with TBI and their families.   

Together, P&As comprise the nation's largest provider of legally based advocacy services for people with disabilities. P&As have the legal authority to:

  • Investigate suspected abuse or neglect and seek justice for victims and their families;
  • Have access to records and facilities necessary to investigate abuse or neglect or to monitor the treatment and safety of residents;
  • Pursue litigation and all other appropriate remedies under Federal, State and local law;
  • Provide information and referrals regarding entitlements to services and other legal rights; and/or
  • Educate policymakers on needed reforms to disability-related laws and services.

All P&As maintain a presence in facilities that care for people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and other disabilities, where they monitor, investigate and attempt to remedy adverse conditions and situations. They devote considerable resources to ensuring full access to inclusive educational programs, financial entitlement programs (e.g., Medicaid and Social Security), healthcare, accessible housing and productive employment opportunities, and they respond to allegations of abuse and neglect.