Traumatic Brain Injury Commitment to the Community
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex injury with a broad range of symptoms including impairment of cognitive, physical, behavioral or emotional function. The impact on a person and his or her family can be devastating. As a member of the McHenry County Mental Health Board TBI Task Force, Family Service and Community Mental Health Center for McHenry County has been providing specialized services for TBI since 1992.
Program Benefits
The Traumatic Brain Injury Program is a blend of services, based on individual needs, provided to individuals with traumatic brain injury, along with their family members and significant others. Services focus on strengths and potential, are provided in a variety of settings (in the agency’s offices, the consumer’s home and other community locations including school or place of employment), and are coordinated with other service providers in the community.
Focus
The Traumatic Brain Injury Program has been developed to offer the support services needed to sustain and improve the level of functioning of the individual, and to assist individuals and their families to be as engaged as possible in personally meaningful areas of living, learning, and working.
COMMUNITY CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Criteria for Admission: McHenry County residents with TBI who are in need of case management services.
- Assessment for needs and services
- Individual and family support for community reintegration
- Advocacy for accommodations and services
- Provide education on brain injury management
- Develop and support the use of strategies for adaptation to brain injury and to improve daily function.
- Counseling to develop skills to cope with the effects of a brain injury
- Referral and linkage with other brain injury services and resources
ILLINOIS BRAIN INJURY WAIVER CASE MANAGEMENT
Criteria for Admission: Individuals qualify based on the Illinois DHS Home Service Program determination of need and specific financial criteria.
- Coordination of care and services in the home, including supports such as care givers, therapy and day services, are provided to keep an individual in the community who may otherwise be at risk for nursing home placement
- Provide brain injury education including strategies to improve day to day function
- Referral and linkage to community services and benefits
BRAIN INJURY GROUPS
Groups provide peer support and a safe environment in which to practice compensatory strategies and coping skills.
- New Beginnings is a group for individuals with a brain injury who need support to develop and practice compensatory strategies for cognitive problems.
- Transitions is a group that was developed to take the next step in the journey of brain injury recovery. The focus of the group is to identify strengths and reinforce lifestyle changes using the support of peers.
BRAIN INJURY RESOURCE ROOM
The resource room was developed with the support of group members and volunteers. Resources include books, magazines and DVDs that provide information about a variety of brain injury issues. Software such as Eye Q and Wii Games have been added to provide tools for individuals with brain injury to work on a variety of skills such as reading, focus, eye hand coordination and memory.
- The resource room is open on Monday and Wednesday and by appointment. Contact Jan Zbynski, Recovery Specialist, at 815-385-2558, or email at jzbynski@familyservicemch.org to schedule use of the resource room.
CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Referral/Intake: contact Karen Calendo, Brain Injury Intake Coordinator, at the Mental Health Board (815) 455-2828.
If you would like to discuss TBI Case Management services, please feel free to contact:
Jane Skirven, LCSW, ACSW
TBI Program Manager
Phone: (815) 385-6400 Ext. 2456
Email: jskirven@familyservicemch.org | 
