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State‑funded Brain Injury Network highlights new resource facilitators, data tracking and outreach
Summary
The North Dakota Brain Injury Network reported hiring two new resource facilitators, deploying a custom Salesforce data system and expanding educational programming and corrections partnerships after recent state funding increases; leaders said additional state support has expanded access to resource facilitation across rural and urban areas.
Rebecca Quinn, associate director at the Center for Oral Health and manager of the North Dakota Brain Injury Network, told the House human resources appropriations committee that state funds and federal grants allowed the network to add resource facilitators and new programs, build a tailored data system and extend outreach statewide.
Quinn said the network was able to hire two resource facilitators during the latest biennium: Andrea Seiler (based in Lemoore to cover southwestern/rural communities) and Shannon Stankey (based in Fargo and a caregiver with lived experience). The network also retains a northwest‑based facilitator (Nikki Levdolan). Resource facilitation is an evidence‑based, care‑coordination model that Quinn likened to care navigation; facilitators assist survivors and families with Social Security, waiver applications and access to community supports.
Quinn described other investments: a custom Salesforce‑based data tracking system (configured for brain‑injury case management and shared with a multi‑state network), a living‑life‑fully curriculum offered in prisons and communities, a survivor engagement group for advocacy, and training programs for Medicaid HCBS providers. She reported the program provided resource facilitation to 244 individuals and held 338 events reaching more than 4,000 participants during the period cited.
Quinn also described a newly awarded Department of Justice grant that will enable screening in Department of Corrections facilities and post‑release linkage to community services. She described partnerships with the Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Corrections, and said the network’s virtual education platform for schools was already producing requests for on‑site training.
Why it matters: Brain injury is a cross‑cutting health condition that affects access to education, behavioral‑health care and justice‑system outcomes. Witnesses described that modest state funding helped expand navigational services and statewide training and that the network is using new data systems to measure and coordinate services.
What’s next: The network plans to continue expanding resource facilitation, refine the new data system and use the DOJ grant to integrate brain‑injury screening and referral inside corrections programs.
