Annual report 2011

Reaching Out
ANNUAL REPORT
FY2011

According to the Central Registry, 72,311 Georgians
sustained new traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries in 2009.
That's an increase of 25% over the previous year.

72,311. That's not just a number. They aren't just points on a graph or slices of a pie chart. These are individuals your neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members. In the words of author Annie Dillard, "To get a feel for what this means, simply take yourself in all your singularity, importance, complexity and love and multiply it" by 72,311. These are the Georgians who are today picking up the pieces of their lives and building new ones for themselves, bit by bit.

And they need our help.

So we are extending our hands, reaching out, and making sure that each of these individuals knows that they can get that help, that someone is on their side, and that they are not alone.

We do this through three major avenues: The Central Registry, the Trust Fund, and as Georgia's Lead Agency for Traumatic Injuries.

The Central Registry (p. 3) provides us with the information we need to specifically contact each newly-injured individual and provide them with critical knowledge of the resources available to them. We also use the data to inform our goals as we advocate for improvements in services and care.
Reaching Out The Trust Fund (p. 6) which is funded through a surcharge on DUI fines provides needed monetary resources for those whose insurance has run out or who cannot pay for the needed goods and services post-injury. Estimated lifetime costs of care for a person with a severe TBI are $4,800,000. Care for a severe SCI can reach upwards of $2,900,000 (both in 2006 dollars). Alleviating even a portion of the financial struggles of someone seeking rehabilitation, getting back to work, or making their home livable in their new physical condition can cause a ripple effect across their entire lives and open the door to greater independence.

OUR VISION is a Georgia where people with
traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries are valued, have equal opportunity and real choices.

As the Lead Agency (p. 7), we are collaborating with stakeholders across the state to make sure that Georgia has a system of care that truly meets the needs of people with traumatic brain and spinal injuries. Through our State Action Plan we are collaborating with agencies, hospitals, schools, service providers and more to improve comprehensive care across the state. Our stewardship program is pulling in volunteers across the state to assist injured persons whether helping them navigate the application process for receiving a Trust Fund award, or finding services in the local area. Our legislative efforts have impacted laws that reduce injury and given a voice to those with traumatic injury at the legislative level.

On all of these fronts and more, we are reaching out to our communities at every level to make sure that Georgia's citizens with traumatic injuries are heard and have access to needed resources to thrive in the "new normal" of life with an injury.

2011 ANNUAL REPORT 1

| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S LETTER |

Dear Friends:
This year has been a year dedicated to reaching out. We have continued our constant efforts to connect to those in our communities with traumatic injuries, because:
There are more newly-injured Georgians than ever TBI injury is up 25% to 72,000 over the prior year, according to the latest Central Registry Data.
Many people have lived with their injury for years and have not heard about the resources the Trust Fund can offer to them.
We are committed to meeting ongoing needs to identify services and resources, such as the newly created Options Counselors at the regional ADRC offices who can assist Georgians desiring to move back to their communities.
With awesome courage and relentless self-will, thousands of Georgians are rising above the challenges of living a life with an injury. But, sadly, success is not assured.
Consider the individual and family that now has to face the long term consequences of a catastrophic injury. What is the lifelong impact on a person's daily life, their ability to cope with mental and/or physical challenges, and the attitudes of society towards an individual with a disability? How does that person empower their own lives and create a fulfilling life with meaning?
When we asked ourselves these questions, we were driven to multiply

our efforts at reaching Georgians with traumatic injuries and partnering with the agencies committed to helping them because every Georgian deserves a chance to succeed, and the costs of failing to support them are just too high:
Cost to the individual the precariousness of economic independence, mobility and community access, not to mention the astronomic lifetime costs of the injury itself.
Cost to families who must exit the work force to care for a loved one and to find accessible and affordable housing, medical care and rehabilitation.
Cost to communities providing the needed transportation services, building codes, and universal access so the disabled remain valued members of the community.
Cost to the state disability, particularly when a home and community based setting is not the norm but the exception, is expensive.
The cost of care of 15,000+ Georgians with a TBI is $35 million annually to a shrinking Medicaid program.
CDC cost analysis for TBI applied to the state of Georgia suggests that TBI alone costs nearly one billion dollars annually for acute hospital care and lost wages (though most injuries occur to children and seniors).

Cost to our society for TBI survivors alone, unemployment is over 14%, divorce 2-4 times the national rate, homelessness is 50%, and incarceration in correctional facilities has reached 60%.
Sustaining a TBI or SCI sets off a cascade of fragmented care and under-financed responses by a poorly organized post-acute care system that does not understand the disease process or the long term needs of brain- and spinal-injured family members. It is a clear indicator of how complexities within the social, economic and vocational systems in our state and nation prevent us from meeting the basic human needs of our most vulnerable family members, friends and neighbors.
For these reasons and so many more, we are reaching out to forge new partnerships, to find new sources of funding, and to leverage best practices developed in innovative care systems across the country. Our task is daunting but we must succeed the cost not to do so is enormous in every sense of the word.
Join us as we reach out to change lives.
Craig Young BSITFC Executive Director

2 1-888-233-5760 www.bsitf.state.ga.us www.gatrustfund.org

CENTRAL REGISTRY FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN AND/OR SPINAL INJURIES
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2009
Total Injuries 72,311

By Age in Years 0 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 14 15 - 24 25 - 34 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 64 65 - 74 75+

Emergency Department Hospital Hospital TBI Only TBI Only TBI + SCI

10,712

347

*

5,836

134

*

4,712

149

*

11,471

1,065 39

7,201

859

23

5,860

764

31

5,561

950

45

3,892

893

25

2,885

820

17

6,085

1,898 18

By Sex Female Male

30,319 33,893

3,088 51 4,790 156

By Race

American Indian/

Alaska Native

103

Asian

732

Black (Non-Hispanic) 19,822

Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander 329

Other

3,122

Unknown

345

White

39,762

TOTAL

64,215

11

*

84

*

2,015 74

35

*

421

*

32

*

5,281 123

7879

207

Injury Causation Motor Vehicle Falls Assault/Abuse Struck by/against Object

Hospital TBI only 8,968 14,335 3,962 3,657

TBI/SCI Age 20+ 63 33 * *

*fewer than 10 ** Hospital - SCI Only were fewer than 10 in every category

We're Reaching Out Through...
The Central Registry
The Brain & Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission is dedicated to reaching out to every individual who has sustained a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. Unfortunately, that number is growing significantly, from 58,216 new injuries in 2008 to 72,311 in 2009 a 25% increase. Our hope is that the rising numbers of injuries reflect a growing awareness among service providers and the community, leading to greater recognition and reporting of minor injuries like concussions.
We use the information the Central Registry provides to:
Contact each newly-injured Georgian with information on available resources.
Identify trends increases or decreases in causes of injury and affected age groups to be used by our community partners for needs assessment and injury prevention.
Educate policy-makers and the community on the incidence of traumatic brain and spinal injuries, which can illuminate the needs of injury survivors.
We are committed to gathering accurate and useful information that will tangibly help the thousands of Georgians coping with new injuries each year.

2011 ANNUAL REPORT 3

A Fuller Life

Two decades ago, Andreena Patton had just graduated from high school and enrolled in a community college to pursue her dream career Early Childhood Education.
"Being a teacher had been a dream of mine since I was six years old," she says. "I was working three jobs plus going to school full time." Eventually, she started working full time to save extra money so she could continue her education later.
But in September 1994, just 10 days before her 22nd birthday, Andreena fell asleep at the wheel of her vehicle, flipping her car four times, landing upside down. After a couple found her unconscious and called 911, she was flown to GA Baptist Hospital where her family was told she had sustained a C5-6 spinal cord injury and would never walk again.
"My recovery process was extremely hard," she says, describing the two months she spent in the hospital surviving on a ventilator with three chest tubes, a feeding tube, and a halo to keep her neck stable after surgery.
When she was finally discharged from the hospital, she spent another five months at Shepherd Center. There, she says, "I started the recovery process of trying to live with a spinal cord injury." She had to learn how to

sit up, feed herself, put on makeup, brush her teeth, brush her hair, have people help her get dressed, "not to mention how to drive a power wheelchair," she says.
"While at Shepherd, I learned how to deal with the physical changes of a spinal cord injury," Andreena says, "however, to me, the real recovery process happened when I came home. My life as I knew it prior to my injury no longer existed."
It was then that she was forced to face the psychological ramifications of her injury thinking she would never be able to go back to work or school, live on her own, "or do much of anything," she says.
But as her friends and family formed a supportive circle around her, encouraging her to be as independent as possible and to do the little things she didn't want to do like get up and get dressed in the mornings she began to adjust to life with a spinal cord injury.
"Ten months after my injury," she says, "I knew it was time to move on with my life." In March 1996, she enrolled in Mercer College and moved to Macon, GA. "At first I was scared because I had to rely on others to get out of bed and had only a few hours of attendant care a day," she says.

But a year later, she was approved for the Independent Care Waiver Program, which enabled her to receive more hours of attendant care each day and truly live independently. This assistance "was instrumental in allowing me the opportunity to get a college degree, a master's degree, a job, and live independently in my community," she says. "Without attendant care, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish my goals or adjust to life with a spinal cord injury."
The Trust Fund, she says, has also been "a tremendous help in providing assistance with assistive technology and durable medical equipment" to help her in her journey toward building a new life post-injury

4 1-888-233-5760 www.bsitf.state.ga.us www.gatrustfund.org

And that new life has been incredibly full. Andreena graduated with a double major in Early Childhood Education and Program and Leadership Services, and three years later received her Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling. She has been a peer supporter with Disability Connections and is now their Assistant Director.
Beyond her educational and professional achievements, Andreena is also a powerful advocate for people with disabilities.
"My work as a peer supporter at Disability Connections has allowed me to advocate for people with disabilities in all aspects, especially

Just because I have a disability doesn't mean that my life is over. If anything, I have accomplished more because of my disability.
in respect to transportation, employment, waiver services, and self-empowerment," she says. She has talked with and testified to legislators about the importance of funding Home and Community Based services in order to keep people with disabilities out of nursing facilities. She has also served on the Independent Care

Waiver Program Advisory Committee and on the Brain & Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission's Advisory Committee.
"I realized the importance of people with disabilities having a voice in the services they receive," she says. "So many people without disabilities make decisions about services for people with disabilities, and never even ask people with disabilities what they want or need."
Andreena still faces challenges as she continues living with her injury one of the biggest being society's perception of people with disabilities.
"As I haven't always had my disability, I know what it's like to be seen without a disability," she says. "Society's view of people with disabilities from my experience is that we cannot do for ourselves, or people feel sorry for our disabilities. I get the `pity look' or the `I'm so sorry' speech. While I try to understand their responses, I also try to educate people by sharing all that I have done since my injury and explain that just because I have a disability doesn't mean that my life is over. If anything, I have accomplished more because of my disability."

2011 ANNUAL REPORT 5

We're Reaching Out Through...
The Trust Fund
With money received from a surcharge on DUI fines, the Brain & Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission is able to assist those with traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries in a tangible way through awarding grants that can help alleviate even a portion of the often insurmountable costs of procuring the necessary equipment and services that help rebuild lives after a traumatic injury.
As the collections chart on pg. 11 shows, though, our funds have never been lower. So we are doing our best to reach as many people as we can and make what money we can give go further. We are constantly looking at our distribution policies to make sure we are meeting the most urgent needs for those who most need the assistance (see pg. 11 for more information on our new policies and for a break-down of this year's awards by category).
This year, we were able to award $1.4 million in goods and services to 200 injured people. We hope each year that this number will grow and that we'll have more and more to give away. If you would like to be a part of our efforts to reach out to those most in need, please contact our office.
How Can We Help?
L-R, Keisha Pighee, Richard Benton, Ayanna Anderson, Dionne Braxton, Leslie McNely, Dionna Littlejohn, Stephanie Lotti, Kelley Mautz, Shameria Fletcher and Craig Young

APPLYING FOR A TRUST FUND AWARD
We welcome applications from all Georgians who have sustained a traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injury.
To qualify, we ask that applicants:
submit medical documentation stating the nature and cause of injury
show proof of Georgia residency
supply one quote each for all services and goods requested
complete the application's daily living survey
supply statement of annual income
explain how an award will increase your independence, have long-term benefits and promote inclusion in your community
sign and forward all release forms to the Commission
Applications are reviewed every month.
We are committed to improving the quality of life for the more than 72,000 Georgians who sustain a TBI/SCI each year. So, call us (1-888-233-5760) if you are unsure about applying. We are happy to help you find the resources you need.
Four Steps to an Award
1: Apply online at www.bsitf.state.ga.us or call tollfree (1-888-233-5760) for an application. As soon as your application is complete (i.e., has all supporting documents), it is sent to the Distribution Program staff.
2: The Distribution Committee reviews applications for greatest need and makes a recommendation to fund or not to the Commission.
3: The Commission votes to adopt the recommendations made by the Distribution Committee, approximately six to eight weeks from the receipt of a completed application.
4: The Commission sends funding recommendations to the Governor's Office for approval as required by our legislation. Applicants are notified by a letter from the Commission when their application gains approval by the Governor.

6

We're Reaching Out As...
The Lead Agency

State Action Plan
The State Action Plan was implemented in 2008 to educate Georgians on the impact of traumatic brain and spinal cord injury and to maximize services for those affected.
2011 was a productive year for our dedicated task forces and subcommittees as they addressed the component areas of the State Action Plan and worked toward our 10-year goals. Just a few of the year's highlights include:
Creating public service campaigns featuring critical information about injury prevention and awareness for persons with TBI/SCI and their families.
Establishing a coalition to review the traumatic brain injury service system in Georgia and determine a best practice approach to providing care for individuals with neurobehavioral symptoms.
Implementing a statewide education plan and prevention network, resulting in the development of an independent concussion coalition to raise awareness and inform policies for pull from play and return to play in schools and community-level sports programs.
Devising training tools for families, service coordinators, teachers, transition coordinators, and/or rehabilitation counselors who assist children with transitions back to school, family, and community post-injury.
Holding town hall meetings designed to attract parents, youth athletes, school personnel, local stakeholders and healthcare providers to share current research and recommendations about effectively managing incidents of concussion.
In these and many more ways, we are fulfilling our task as the Lead Agency for Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries in the state of Georgia, creating positive change within the statewide system of care through a process of understanding needs, sharing ideas, identifying resources, building capacity within stakeholder groups and collaborating on solutions.
Visit the State Action Plan section of our website at www.gatrustfund.org for more highlights and successes of FY11.

Public Policy
The governor and the 2011 state legislature approved the creation of the Department of Public Health (HB 214), giving Georgia a stronger platform to address public health issues, including injury and injury prevention. The Brain & Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission is now administratively attached to the new agency, strengthening our relationship and emphasizing our collaboration on issues of injury prevention.
"We appreciate our heightened partnership with the Department of Public Health," said Commission Chair J.D. Frazier. "Being administratively attached to this agency is a great recognition that we are working toward the same goals of increasing positive health behaviors and quality healthcare for Georgians with lifelong effects of injury."
The legislature also passed a new booster seat law (SB 288) to better protect children in car accidents. The new law increased required booster seat usage from 6 to 8 years of age for children under 4'9". According to the Central Registry, 367 six- and seven-year-olds sustained a brain or spinal injury in a motor vehicle accident in Georgia between 2007-2008.
"It is important that we protect the lives of our children by ensuring every young Georgian is properly secured while riding in a motor vehicle," Governor Deal said. "I am grateful for the work that both chambers did to make this legislation a reality."
House Bill 101 was signed by the Governor, mandating that drivers must allow at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist. This law is expected to reduce car/bicycle collisions and could also encourage greater use of bicycles as transportation.
As a result of the Commission reaching out to the sponsor of SB 240, motorized wheelchairs and mobility scooters are exempt from new requirements for safety features such as head lamps, tail lamps, and a horn on personal transportation devices. Many insurers would have refused payment for these devices on durable medical equipment.

2011 ANNUAL REPORT 7

L-R: Julie Haarbauer-Krupa, Allan Goldman, Susan Johnson, David Zilles, Samantha Renfro

| ANNUAL MEETING |

Sketching a Path to Recovery

P athfinder Award Artist Patrick Vassaloff loves driving 18-wheelers. But on an otherwise normal day just over two years ago, the career he loved almost came to an end.
He was standing on the ladder of a liquid tanker full of emulsified oil, just trying to catch some fresh air. He was waiting to unload the oil a task he had often done with no problems. But that day, the fumes overwhelmed him and he fell backwards off the ladder, landing head-first on the hard ground below.
Patrick sustained multiple injuries to his head, neck, shoulders and ribs. The long-term diagnosis was a traumatic brain injury.
Recuperating at Walton West Community Re-Entry, Patrick underwent training and therapy to help him regain mobility and learn the independent living skills he needed to re-enter daily life. Some of that training was focused on dealing with new behaviors that resulted from his brain injury that could pose a threat to himself or others.
As part of his therapy, Patrick was challenged to do something he used to like to do, "other than driving a truck," he laughs. Remembering years ago when he used to draw and do airbrush paintings on T-shirts and autos, he decided to practice art again. His therapists asked him to draw a picture each week and discuss how he felt about it.
"At first I was disappointed with the pictures, but I kept at it," he says. "I could no longer draw from my `mind's eye' as I used to, but I could tell I still had skills and techniques, which inspired me because I hadn't lost them!"

As his recovery time at West Walton drew to an end, Patrick was apprehensive about returning home to Sandersville, Ga. He didn't think he would be able to find facilities in the area to assist in his continued rehabilitation process. But shortly after his discharge, he read about a local artist offering an art class once a week. Encouraged, Patrick signed up. His teacher was not only a talented artist, but had a background in working with people with disabilities.
Signing up for the classes "was probably the best thing I could have done," Patrick says. He says his teacher "is really a blessing as far as I'm concerned, and allows me to progress at my own pace."
Today, Patrick is back to driving a truck locally and is still continuing his recovery. "In large part," he says, "that recovery is due to my art work."
"My artwork has even helped me at my job in a number of different ways, including my perspective and judging distance," he says. It has also provided him with opportunities to speak at award ceremonies and sell his work at auctions to raise money for traumatic brain injury awareness.
Reflecting on the past two and a half years, Patrick says, "I never thought I was going to be inspiring or help others to cope with their injuries, or inspire staff and doctors of rehabilitation facilities to continue doing such a great job, or to say `thank you' to all those involved in my recovery and now here I am, doing just that!"

8 1-888-233-5760 www.bsitf.state.ga.us www.gatrustfund.org

Award Recipients
This year, the Commission gathered in Macon for our annual Awards Reception to honor individuals who have extended their hands in extraordinary service to the Commission and to Georgians with traumatic injuries. This year's recipients were:
Pathfinder Awards As Chair of the Commission's Children and Youth Committee and Traumatic Injury Advisory Committee, Julie Haarbauer-Krupa has guided incredible initiatives this year including:
launching the Georgia Concussion Coalition
new endeavors for TBI screening and identification; and
formulating workgroups to develop new coordination of services for children with TBI and SCI in Georgia schools.
Her interest in concussion also led her to conversations with the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons to address concussion in youth sports in Georgia.

David Zilles' passion for enlightening policy makers as a change agent stems from his own experience a son with a neuromuscular disorder.
Advocating for the Nurse Practice Act became a personal objective of his when, through his volunteer efforts, he met a 26 year old with an SCI who required a ventilator 24/7 but who was still living on his own and attending a state university with the Medicaid Waiver.
"Advocacy is about passion and trying to make things better and help those that may not have the ability to help themselves," Dave says. "It is a tireless effort and sometimes you do not succeed, but if you can generate more awareness of the issue and present possible solutions, then over time more people will understand the need and be willing to help find a solution," he says.
Outstanding Service Awards Allan Goldman was appointed to the Commission in 2009 by the Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services. Allan has served the Commission as Treasurer as well as on numerous committees and work groups.

Susan Johnson was appointed by the Governor to the Commission in 2002. She has served in a multitude of capacities including Vice Chair, Advisory Committee Chair, Neurobehavioral Task Force Chair and member of the Executive Committee, and received the Pathfinder Award for 2009. She will continue to serve the Commission's Advisory committee and the Brain Injury Task Force as a member.
Larry Huggins Memorial Award As a member of the Distribution Committee, Samantha Renfro has advocated for policy improvements that will help brain injured applicants more easily apply and receive funding for the goods and services of their choosing. As a mother of a daughter with a brain injury, Samantha brings a personal knowledge that translates well to the Commission as we strive to ensure that our policies and procedures are tailored to do the most good for our stakeholders.

2011 ANNUAL REPORT 9

$199.1 million of wages were lost in
2009 for Georgians with traumatic brain injuries.
(using the Georgia civilian labor force employment ratio for ages 24-64.)

| CHAIRMAN'S LETTER |

The New Year brings us many new challenges and opportunities. I am proud to acknowledge how fortunate we are and how much I appreciate our dedicated staff, commissioners, committee members, and other paid and volunteer longmarchers. "Thank You all!" On behalf of the full commission and staff, a hearty "thank you" to Governor Deal, his staff, and our new department relationship with the Department of Public Safety.
We have seen a number of remarkable commissioners fulfill their long commitments and new commissioners come on board to step in to pick up the torch of service to our constituents. Thank you! Our new talent includes SCI and TBI rehabilitation-knowledgeable physicians, therapists, family members, state agency employee representatives, and individuals with injuries, all of whom cooperate to represent core competencies and passion to further identify and address your needs.
As always, we must reach more people, make more life-enhancing

awards, and raise awareness and money to do so. We have identified a number of mission-critical enhancements that we are undertaking to help us reach more Georgians.
Since we do not receive any state revenue other than DUI surcharges and proposed fundraising, it has become more critical to utilize what we collect more efficiently. I anticipate a thoughtful and thorough overhaul of our infrastructure to include many components such as improved application submission and processing and post-grant follow-up. Such improvements make us more responsive to constituents.
To accomplish improved performance, we are proposing to the Office of Planning and Budget that we revamp our web site, software database, and web interface to improve application and award time by streamlining how our constituents reach us and how we reach back out to constituents through technology and internal process improvements.

The challenging news is that collections are still trending somewhat downward through no single identifiable issue, other than an overarching poor economy. Hopefully, fewer people are driving drunk, and hopefully incoming data will show fewer injuries. Regardless of why resources have reduced, we still are seeking to increase our ability to reach more people and discern the best use of funds for the most needy applicants.
We look forward to reaching more people much more quickly, and in doing so, we seek to be more responsive to the needs we continue to identify within the constraints of funding.
I look forward to continuing the Trust Fund's mission.
J.D. Frazier

"Thank you for making our dream true. My son Yadiel Binyam got his wheelchair lift with your generosity. May God bless you."
--Love Meske, Nathan and Yadiel
10 1-888-233-5760 www.bsitf.state.ga.us www.gatrustfund.org

| FINANCIALS & DISTRIBUTION |

The Commission and staff have worked diligently to reduce expenses and maximize awards, given our declining funds.
But the needs of persons with traumatic brain and/or spinal injuries continues to be great. The Commission is exploring new ways to increase revenue in order to reach out to more injury survivors with assistance for attendant care, driver evaluations, durable medical equipment like physician-prescribed hospital beds and wheelchairs, neurobehavioral care, and other injuryrelated goods and services.
New Distribution Policies The Commission has modified its distribution policies in the following ways to better meet the needs of our applicants and better allocate the Trust Fund's resources:
New lifetime cap for grants to any applicant is $10,000. The new cap is retroactive, including any incomplete applications that the Commission is currently processing.
New distribution category, Alternative Transportation, is created with a grant maximum of $5,000 in a 12-month period.
The Transportation category's maximum grant for a vehicle, van or modified van is $10,000.
No more than 50 percent of each monthly distribution budget will be allotted for vehicles.
The maximum grant for the Computer category is $750 for either a desktop and monitor or laptop computer. Other computer hardware or software will be considered based on disability and cost.

Collections
$2,100,000

$2,000,000

$1,900,000

$1,800,000

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11

Awards by Category*

39%

64%

Transportation Physical/

Medical

35% Care

Community

Living

100 Transportation

70 Physical/ Medical Care

90 Community
Living

*Not including the $166,396 allocated for home modifications awards (part of the community living category) for FY11.

Awards by Region

Region Awards Amount

1

$56,853.00

2

$130,137.82

3

$623,284.27

4

$159,621.20

5

$98,633.00

6

$100,141.00

7

$33,617.14

8

$63,463.67

9

$141,947.00

10

$42,473.00

Total $1,450,171.10

12 3 10

4

6

5

7

8

9

2011 ANNUAL REPORT 11

| OUR COMMISSIONERS |

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Our Commission Members are a dedicated, diverse group of individuals from around the state. Each one is committed to improving the effectiveness of the Trust Fund by overseeing its operations and disbursements.
The Governor appoints 10 members for two-year terms, although many of our members serve longer. To ensure a breadth of experience and opinion, the Commission's Governors' appointees must consist of: seven individuals or family members with traumatic brain or spinal cord injury and three representatives from medical or other relevant professions. Six Commissioners are appointed by state agencies.
Bob Bauer, PhD (not pictured), is our first Commissioner from the Valdosta area of South Georgia, having been appointed by the Governor in 2011. Bob is currently chair of the Department of Psychology and Counseling at Valdosta State University. He is a former Peace Corps volunteer. Bauer is also a member of the state board of directors for Georgia Family Connection, chair of the Lowndes/Valdosta Commission for Children and Youth, and a board member of Elderhostel, Inc., an international educational program for persons 60 years of age and older. He and his wife, Anunciacion, reside in Valdosta.
Mary Alice Bullock (1) was appointed to the Commission by the Governor in 2006. Her son, Ben, was injured in a vehicle accident in 2004 and sustained both TBI and SCI. Mary Alice is a former teacher in the Madison County School System and is involved with several local civic organizations and garden clubs.
Henry Craig (2) was appointed to the Commission by the Governor in 2010. His son sustained a TBI in a motorcycle accident. A retired Air Force and airline pilot, Henry still fills in when needed at American Airlines. He is active in local civic organizations, and chairs the Distribution and Application Revision Committee for the Commission.
Andrew Dennison, MD (3), Vice Chairman, was appointed by the Governor in 2010. Andrew is the Medical Director of Brain Injury Rehabilitation at Augusta's Walton Rehabilitation Hospital. A native of Marietta, Dr. Dennison attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine/University of Texas-Houston. He also completed a fellowship in Traumatic Brain Injury at Carolinas Rehabilitation in Charlotte, NC. He is board certified in

physical medicine and rehabilitation and is an active member in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. He is a member of the Commission's Executive Committee.
Joseph D. Frazier (4), Chairman, is the President and CEO of Para/Quad Services, Inc. He was originally appointed to the Commission by the Governor in 2007. J.D. has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards; was the Immediate Past President of the Kennesaw State University Alumni Association (2009-2010); is the treasurer of the Georgia Association of Community Care Providers; and is a registered peer supporter for Shepherd Center and a certified Medicaid Peer Supporter. He endowed a scholarship in 1996 for students with disabilities at KSU. He speaks publicly about diversity awareness and is an advocate for disability rights. In addition to serving as Commission Chairman, he also serves as Chair to the Distribution and Executive Committees.
Griffin Garner (5) was appointed to the Commission by the Governor in 2007. After serving on the staff of U.S. Senator Zell Miller in Washington, Griffin returned to his native Georgia where he has managed Governmental Affairs for the Southwire Company until 2009 when he formed his own consulting business. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and he and his wife, Emily, reside in Carrollton.
Gina Gelinas (6) joined the Commission in October of 2007, and serves on the Children & Youth Committee. She is the Program Manager of the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology (GPAT), a special project of the Georgia Department of Education, Division for Special Education Supports. Certified in speech-language pathology, she provides learning and technical support services to local school system personnel who work with students who need assistive technology. Gina is a member of the Commission's Executive Committee.
Allan Goldman (7), Treasurer, was appointed to the Commission by the Department of Human Services (DHS) in 2009. Allan is special assistant to the Director of the Division of Aging Services. He works to foster collaboration among state agencies that serve the aging and disabled citizens of Georgia to create a comprehensive system of care throughout the state. Allan is chairman of the Commission's Finance Committee.

12 1-888-233-5760 www.bsitf.state.ga.us www.gatrustfund.org

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Catherine Ivy (8) has worked in the field of aging and disability services for 20 years, specifically in care management, homecare, service planning, and policy development. In October 2008, she joined the Georgia Department of Community Health as Director of the Long Term Care Section, Medical Assistance Plan, where she develops policy and oversees Georgia's long term care programs including the Medicaid waiver programs, nursing homes, community mental health services, home health, hospice services, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, and the Money Follows the Person demonstration grant. Catherine was selected to represent the Department of Community Health as its Commission appointee in October 2008. Catherine is a member of the Commission's Distribution committee.
Susan Johnson (9) was appointed by the Governor in 2002 and served as past Vice Chair. She served as the Chair of the Statewide Traumatic Injury Advisory Committee and was instrumental in the initiation and development of the Neurobehavioral White Paper and State Action Plan. Susan is a speech language pathologist who works at the Shepherd Center as the Director of Brain Injury Services. She has over 30 years of experience working and developing programs for people with brain injuries. She is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association, and has held leadership positions at the Brain Injury Association of America and the Brain Injury Association of Georgia. Susan lives in Alpharetta with her husband Mark, who is a C-5 quadriplegic and nationallyrecognized advocate for people with disabilities.

Barbara Richards (not pictured) was appointed to the Commission as the representative of the Georgia Department of Labor where she is a Regional Director of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Division.
Dan Roach (10) is the Director of Human Resources for the Georgia Department of Public Safety, where he has served since 1999. Dan joined the Commission in 2008 as the DPS representative. He holds a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree from Indiana University, and has more than 19 years of human resource management experience, all of which have been served in the public sector.
Timothy Wall (11) was appointed by the Governor in 2010. He is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with a BS in Recreation and is currently seeking a graduate degree from Georgia Southern University. He is a wheelchair tennis enthusiast, having competed in regional championships since his spinal cord injury in 2001. He brings his personal experience working with organizations that provide recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities and a recreation/respite background to the Commission. Tim is serving on the Commission's Distribution Committee.
Jane Warnock (12) was appointed by the Governor in May 2010. She has been an advocate for people with disabilities since her daughter, Christy, sustained a traumatic brain injury in a car crash in 2002. Jane serves on the Commission's Public Policy and Finance Committees.

2011 ANNUAL REPORT 13

The mission of the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission is to enhance the lives of Georgians with
traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Guided by the aspirations of people with traumatic injuries, the Commission supports lives of meaning, independence, and inclusion. As the state's Lead Agency on Traumatic Injuries, we: Administer the Central Registry to identify those who are injured, Distribute resources through the Trust Fund, and Advocate for improvements in statewide services.
The Commission At-A-Glance
We Have Popular Support. In November 1998, Georgia voters overwhelmingly approved (by 72%) a constitutional amendment to create a Trust Fund for traumatic brain and spinal injuries. This legislation funded the Commission by a ten percent surcharge on driving under the influence of alcohol/drug convictions. The Commission receives no other state funds. We are Guided by Those with First-hand Knowledge. The idea of the Trust Fund and the advocacy efforts on behalf of the founding legislation was driven by people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Because of their first-hand experiences, they knew what was most important for people with these traumatic injuries and what was missing in the range of services and resources available. They dreamed of an agency that understood the lifelong needs of people with traumatic injuries and that was committed to supporting injured individuals at different stages in their life not just in the critical moments after the injury occurs. Additionally, more than half of the people who serve on the Commission must have a brain or spinal cord injury or be a family member of a person with an injury. Other members are specialists in the field, or work with organizations that provide services to people with traumatic injuries. Their collective knowledge and experience governs our day-to-day decisions, guides our recommendations for award distributions, and informs our public policy agenda. We Connect People To Their Communities. Georgians with traumatic brain and spinal injuries deserve lives of independence and inclusion, lives rich with vision and possibilities. Trust Fund awards assist individuals with injuries in reaching these goals.
Trust Fund awards change lives.
Brain & Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission 2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 26-426, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Phone: 404-651-5112 | Fax: 404-656-9886 | Toll-free: 1-888-233-5760 www.bsitf.state.ga.us | www.gatrustfund.org