We are excited to announce that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded CBIRT a 4-year, $2.2 million cooperative agreement to study the Central Oregon TBI (COR-TBI) Return to School program. The study will compare health, academic and social outcomes of students with brain injury who are served by the COR-TBI team model with comparison school districts in Washington and Ohio. The project is led by Ann Glang from CBIRT and Deanne Unruh from the University of Oregon College of Education.
Although hospitals treat children and adolescents with TBI in their initial course of recovery, it is ultimately the school system that serves as the long-term provider of services to these students. The key components of effective RTS programs for students with TBI have been identified. These include (a) identification, screening, and assessment practices; (b) systematic communication between medical and educational systems; (c) tracking of child’s progress over time; and (d) professional development for school personnel. The COR-TBI team incorporates all 4 components of an effective RTS program.
“This research is unique in that it allows us to evaluate an existing model of support for students with brain injuries, rather than develop a new approach that may take years to translate into practice. This helps us close that research-practice gap. We look forward to working with our partners from the High Desert Educational Services District, Central Oregon schools, and medical colleagues from the Center Orthopedic & Neurosurgical Care & Research and St. Charles Medical Center in Bend to learn more about the effects of this model on important student outcomes” said Ann Glang, CBIRT Director.
The project begins November 1, 2019.