Vaya observes Brain Injury Awareness Month 

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Did you know that every nine seconds, someone in the United States sustains a brain injury? That amounts to 3.5 million people each year. More locally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 2% of North Carolinians experience a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)—that means about 208,000 people in the state have been affected by TBI. Brain injuries range from mild to moderate to severe. Every case is different—TBI can affect a person’s ability to speak, focus, remember, and relate to others.

Raising awareness about TBI is a core aspect of Vaya Health’s mission. Vaya seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of the challenges faced by individuals in North Carolina affected by TBI, as well as promoting support within catchment communities. 

Currently, Vaya is participating in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ (NC DHHS) TBI Waiver Expansion Advisory Committee. The TBI Waiver will expand statewide in early 2025, and allows eligible individuals to receive services and support while staying in their own homes or community settings. It aims to prevent unnecessary nursing home admissions and promote independent living.

Additionally, Vaya has identified and engaged individuals across its region who have lived or cared for those with TBI for the Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (CFAC). The CFAC for Vaya’s region helps ensure that members receiving services are involved in Vaya’s oversight, planning, and operations.

Vaya Health participated in the 2024 Administration for Community Living (ACL) TBI Partners Day on Feb. 29, 2024. This event marked a pivotal moment for stakeholders, advocates, and individuals interested in TBI services, supports, and systems. Other key events surrounding TBI-awareness efforts in North Carolina include: 

• March 5: Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) at Surry Community College
• March 8: Mindful Movement After Brain Injury with Joe Barret, Virtual
• March 9: Brain Injury Awareness Walk in Charlotte
• March 23: Brain Injury Simulation at Cone Medical Center in Greensboro

Vaya’s members affected by TBI currently receive Medicaid, state-funded support, and 1915i services. For more information on Vaya’s TBI member services, contact Member and Recipient Services toll-free at 1-800-962-9003 (TTY 711) or email member.services@vayahealth.com. For more information about Vaya and its TBI efforts, visit https://www.vayahealth.com.