Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bastrop ISD to use portion of $170,000 Toyota Way Forward grant for pediatric traumatic brain-injury awareness and prevention
Summary
Bastrop ISD will receive part of a $170,000 Toyota Way Forward grant awarded to Ascension Catholic Church and Lost Pines Toyota; the district plans curriculum, parent education and a community awareness campaign focused on pediatric trauma-related brain injury.
Jennifer Bloom, a school counselor at Mena Elementary, told the Bastrop Independent School District board that a $170,000 Toyota Way Forward grant written and submitted by Ascension Catholic Church and trustee Priscilla Ruiz will fund a multi-pronged pediatric traumatic brain-injury (TBI) initiative involving Bastrop ISD and Lost Pines Toyota.
Bloom said approximately $80,000 of the award will go to Bastrop ISD to develop and deliver curriculum, parent education and a community awareness campaign. The district’s three-part plan includes: (1) adopting age-appropriate health lessons about recognizing and preventing pediatric TBI for grades K–12 and purchasing helmet sensors or similar tech for high school athletic trainers; (2) parent education at school and community events with referrals to health partners such as Dell Children’s Medical Center; and (3) public-service announcements and materials produced by BISD Communications featuring student ambassadors, school medical and athletic staff, Lost Pines Toyota and the School Health Advisory Council.
Bloom described pediatric TBI as often “invisible” and said early recognition and intervention can reduce long-term impacts on cognition, behavior and emotional regulation. Bloom said mechanics of the grant will fund awareness materials and make “helmets that have specialized software to help trainers assist student athletes” available at the high school level.
Carlos Liriano, owner of Lost Pines Toyota, told the board the dealership and community partners intend this to be a pilot program that could expand to other communities. He thanked trustee Ruiz and the board for supporting the application and said Toyota’s foundation is interested in scaling the effort with medical and community partners.
Board members and presenters emphasized the program’s educational focus and the district’s role in awareness and prevention rather than clinical diagnosis or treatment.
No formal board action or vote on the grant was recorded on the transcript; presenters described the award and the district’s planned use of funds.
Bloom closed by saying the partnership with Toyota, Ascension Catholic Church and Lost Pines Toyota could “break the stigma surrounding brain injuries and provide every child the opportunity to succeed regardless of their struggles.”
