Heading Forward: Community Connections
Updates from the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration and Developmental Disabilities Administration became Home and Community Living Administration
Information, Referral, Resources
Information and Referral (I&R) provides information about services and assists in connecting people with resources and services.
WA211 provides free and confidential Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) I&R Services.
📞 Dial 2-1-1 or (877) 211-9274 for support.
📺 Watch WA211 Information & Referral - Help is just a contact away to learn more.
📞 Dial 9-8-8 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for help during a crisis, emotional support, referrals, and resources.
🔗 Link in with Teen Link, a program of Crisis Connections that serves youth in Washington State. For teens by teens, volunteers are trained to listen to your concerns and talk with you about whatever’s on your mind. Dial (866) 833-6546 for Teen Link!
Partnership Highlight
Supporting Veterans and Military Families?
Check out the WDVA TBI Toolkit! Explore the toolkit, take the next step in your recovery journey, and know that you are not alone. Toolkit includes:
Educational Resources: Learn about the types of brain injuries, symptoms, treatments, and recovery processes.
Journaling Prompts & Exercises: Reflect on your experiences, express your emotions, and track your progress with specialized journaling prompts.
Support Networks: Access vital information about veteran support groups, family resources, and mental health services available in Washington State.
Helpful Links & Services: Find state and national organizations that offer further resources for veterans living with TBI.
The WDVA Brain Injury & Recovery-TBI Program supports and represents every veteran in WA State who has incurred a Brain Injury or is experiencing symptoms. For more info and support, email: braininjuryrecovery@dva.wa.gov
Community Connections
All-Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Training
Join the Center for Independence at the Northwest Indian College in Bellingham on July 15th from 1:30 - 3:30pm for an All-Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Course! This essential training will equip you and your loved ones for emergencies or unexpected weather events. This class supports individuals with disabilities but welcomes everyone.
We are committed to making this event accessible to all. ASL interpreting already included with the class. For more details or to request reasonable accommodations please contact 253-538-1253 ext.115 or aminh@cfisouth.org.
Washington Traffic Safety Summit
The Washington Traffic Safety Summit on July 15 - 17 in Spokane will explore the Safe System Approach, a proven strategy for eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries like traumatic brain injury. This event brings together planners, officials, law enforcement, public health, and safety advocates to collaborate on innovative solutions. Learn from experts, share insights, and help shape a safer future for all. Register today and be part of the movement to save lives and prevent TBI!
Turning Knowledge Into Action
Save the date for July 23, 8:00am - 4:30pm! Washington State Department of Health, Injury & Violence Prevention in partnership with Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center and Safe States Alliance are hosting a free, virtual prevention summit. Sessions will include topics such as Shared Risk and Protective Factors and other prevention frameworks, Data and Research, leading injury topics discussions, community prevention strategies, and more. Register here!
Should you have any questions or trouble registering, please do not hesitate to reach out to info@safestates.org.
Join the Youth Empowerment Summit!
Please help spread the word about the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment’s (GCDE)’s first virtual Youth Empowerment Summit, scheduled for Friday, August 1, 2025, from 1:00 - 4:00pm.
What is your superpower? Share your story about disability pride. Learn the history of the disability rights movement. Hear a presentation and discuss with members of the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment. Learn how to get involved, advocate, and speak up for yourself. Register and join on Zoom for a few hours of fun, learning and discussion with peers! Contact elaine.stefanowicz@esd.wa.gov for more info.
Summertime Safety with Safe Kids!
Every day, kids get hurt having fun - riding their bike, playing sports, playing on the playground with friends. For many years, Safe Kids Washington has been at the forefront of child safety. Find your local Safe Kids information here.
🚲 How? Local Leaders Creating Sustainable Coalitions!
Safe Kids uses a local community-based coalition model where community members work with a local Safe Kids coordinator on topics of child safety that are important and relevant to that community. The local coordinator connects the community to resources and helps plan community awareness events and safety trainings. Community members learn and help spread new skills and knowledge across their community. The TBI Council is an active partner in these efforts. View the annual report on our Safe Kids-TBI Partnership (PDF)
Looking for Safe Kids Events & Resources?
🎈 Concrete Youth Activity Day!
Join the fun at Silo Park on Thursday, July 17, 10am-2pm for free food, prizes, resources, and games, including bicycle helmets! Everyone is welcome! Learn more here.
🚗 Free Car Seat Clinic!
Join us at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in the parking garage on the 4th floor to learn how to safely harness your child in their seat and how to install the seat in your vehicle. Takes place from 10am-2pm on the fourth Saturday of every month-- No appointment needed! Contact Benton-Franklin Health District at 509-460-4200 or InjuryandViolencePrevention@bfhd.wa.gov for more info.
🔥 Kids Fire Camp!
Learn with South County Fire about how to stay safe while at home, at play, or on the road with free and fun activities for the whole family! Tour a fire engine and meet the firefighters! Learn hands-only CPR! No registration required. Find the camp schedule and more info here! Can't make it in person? Check out the Online Fire Camp! Online camp is free, but please register here.
🦺 Check Out the Safe Kids Washington online learning modules!
Topics include pedestrian safety, brain injury guide for parents, emergency preparedness, fall prevention, winter safety, farm safety, child passenger safety, playground safety, sports safety, traffic safety gardens, water safety, and bike safety, and more!
☀️ Summer is Coming!
Check out the Traffic Garden Toolkit, a resource guide for pop-up and permanent traffic gardens, developed in collaboration by community partners and the TBI Council. Add a traffic safety garden to your spring and summer events!
Need Support? Check out our TBI Virtual Support Groups and Support Group Guide!
TBI virtual support groups are designed to aid in the development of long-term knowledge and generic problem-solving skills to help attendees overcome barriers to sustaining a fulfilling life. Groups emphasize connection and a person-centered approach, as well as education and engagement after sustaining a TBI.
We welcome people including caregivers, veterans, and families.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Support | HeyPeers
Need Wi-Fi to access a virtual support group? Find free drive-in WiFi hotspots
The Support Group Guide (pdf) is a resource for those interested in creating or participating in a TBI Support Group or any other type. This guide is designed to walk you through the process of creating a support group, choosing the best facilitator, managing support group sessions, and connecting with available resources to best educate and build a support group.
Designing Inclusion for Students with Disabilities
Check out these powerful new inclusion tools created by a group of Washington state students with disabilities!
Over five weeks this winter–spring, nine Washington state students (ages 15–22) partnered with Co-Design Works, Washington State's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network to co-create inclusion tools using liberatory design.
Visit the Designing Inclusion with Students with Disabilities website to find links to these resources that can be used to support inclusion efforts in staff meetings, classrooms, newsletters, and more!
⭐ Accessible Posters:
⭐ Reflection Videos:
What is Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury?
To learn more, check out these resources from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network
For Service Providers:
For Community Education:
Post-Injury Education Card (English)
Head Injury Education Card (Spanish)
The Trauma-Informed Care Manual is another resource that offers trauma-informed practices and protocols for domestic violence programs.
Do You Know About the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC)?
The NIWRC provides national leadership to end violence against American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women and communities by lifting up the collective voices of grassroots advocates. They offer culturally grounded resources, technical assistance and training, and policy development to strengthen Tribal sovereignty, including the StrongHearts Native Helpline. Connect with knowledgeable advocates who can provide lifesaving tools and immediate support to enable survivors to find safety and live lives free of abuse. Dial or text 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) or visit here for chat: strongheartshelpline.org 24/7.
Want to Learn More about TBI in Corrections and Justice Systems?
Learn More about A.H.E.A.D.
A psycho-educational curriculum for traumatic brain injury, the goal is to provide justice-involved individuals who have screened positive for traumatic brain injury (TBI) with the insight and tools to better cope with and address the symptoms that they deal with, such as short-term memory loss, delayed speed of processing, and difficulty with emotional regulation. This group curriculum was developed based on best practices for group facilitation for individuals with TBI. In addition, the group topic focus areas were selected to address the hallmark symptoms of TBI. Check out the A.H.E.A.D. Complete Facilitators' Guide here! For more info on the curriculum, view: https://youtu.be/eYr56gUvCco
Your Voice Matters!
Share Your Questions about Brain Injury with The Center on Brain Injury Research & Training (CBIRT)
Are you navigating the complexities of brain injury — whether as a caregiver, educator, or someone on the recovery journey? If you have a question about brain injury, CBIRT wants to hear from you!
Here’s how it works:
👉 Submit your question through the Google Form here: https://forms.gle/gvJhV7o86AsCQ1Zv6
👉 Questions will be shared with experts in the field of brain injury (note: it may be several weeks before we get a response)
No question is too small or too big — your input can spark meaningful conversations and provide valuable resources for others facing similar challenges. Fill out the form and join in creating a space for education, understanding, and support.
Don't forget to...
🧠 Visit the TBI Events Portal to register for Building Capacity in Brain Injury conference workshops, and see our most recent conference on Supporting First Responders and Justice Involved Persons available now!
🧠 Check out the TBI Council's pilot project on TBI in Corrections! Find the project brief here and report here.
🧠 Check out the TBI Comprehensive State Plan here!
🧠 Explore and share our TBI Capable Caregiver for Brain Injury training curriculum available in 13 languages and other learning resources here!
Opportunities to Serve
Explore and share Current and Upcoming Gubernatorial Appointment Opportunities!
Anyone interested in being appointed will need to fill out this Application. Check out the Boards and Commissions Profiles if you are interested in learning more about the TBI Council or any other opportunities to get involved! Reach out to Boards and Commissions staff at GovernorBoardsandCommissions@gov.wa.gov with any questions