Who is ABIN?
The Alaska Brain Injury Network, Inc (ABIN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to Alaskans whose lives have been changed by brain injury. 

ABIN’s Board of 18 directors represents all regions of Alaska, and at least 50 percent are TBI survivors or family members. 

The ABIN vision encompasses a lifetime of care and services, which are both affordable and close to home.  The ABIN mission is to educate, plan, coordinate, and advocate for a comprehensive service delivery system for the survivors of traumatic brain injury and their families. 

History
Alaska’s Division of Public Health received funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to initiate traumatic brain injury (TBI) surveillance beginning in 1998. This funding began to systematically quantify what had previously been believed anecdotally to be a significant and growing public health problem.In 1999, the State of Alaska, Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities, now known as Behavioral Health (DBH), successfully applied for HRSA TBI Planning & Implementation Grants.  DBH held the grant for 9 years.  In 2009, Senior and Disabilities Services transitioned to the lead agency role.The original HRSA grant required that Alaska fulfill the following:

-Identify a State Lead Agency: The State of Alaska, Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Behavioral Health (then DMHDD) 
-Establish a Statewide Advisory Board: Alaska Brain Injury Network, Inc., (Formerly, the Alaska Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board) 
-Conduct a statewide needs and resources assessment 
-Craft an implementation plan (completed March 2003) The Alaska Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board (ATBIAB) was formed in 2000 to fulfill the requirements of the grant and conduct business as an advisory board, holding quarterly board meetings and inviting public comment.   ATBIAB earned non-profit status in 2003 and changed its name to the Alaska Brain Injury Network, Inc. in 2006. 

Current Program Activities

ABIN has two primary functions: TBI Advisory Board and TBI Resource Navigation Agency. 

Advisory Board
-Visit both urban and rural communities, and listen to the stories that the public shares about the issues facing Alaskans with brain injuries.
-Collaborate with our partner boards to affect changes in policies to improve programs and services.
-Advocate for safety legislation, in-state brain injury rehabilitation, and TBI Waiver services.
-Bring TBI professional training to Alaska.
-Conduct ‘needs assessment’ surveys of survivors, family members, and health workers.
-Maintain up to date information on emerging issues identified through callers, public testimony, and the media. 

Resource Navigation (Information and Referral)
-Respond to requests for assistance, information, resources, and referral.
-Distribute a brain injury resource directory with statewide and local resources and supports available to individuals, families, friends, professionals, caregivers and the general public.
-Work to establish a TBI hotline and brain injury support groups.
-Distribute educational and informational resources to the public.                                   

Accomplishments
TBI Advisory Board

-Visited 15 Alaska communities since 2003, hosted public comment 27 times, and heard public comment from an estimated 200 Alaskans.
-Developed the Comprehensive “10 Year Plan for TBI in Alaska”
-Increased funding through advocacy.
-Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Funding Recommendations approved:            
   -TBI Advisory Board (FY01-FY11)            
   -TBI Resource Navigation (FY07-FY11)            
   -TBI Training (FY09-FY11)            
   -TBI Care Coordination (FY10-FY11)
-Organized the TBI Partnership with Military including 3^rd Medical Unit, Elmendorf; Veteran Affairs; Veteran Centers; National Guard; and Marines.
-Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Plan, Alaska Scorecard highlights traumatic brain injury prevalence. 

Accomplishments
TBI Resource Navigation