New York State Department of Health Traumatic Brain Injury Program

Working Together:
The Best Practice 2008

15th Annual Symposium


Thursday, October 16, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Training & Technical Assistance Day
Friday, October 17, 2008
9:00 a.m. - NOON

Empire State Plaza Convention Center
Albany, New York

Sponsored by:
New York State Department of Health
Office of Long Term Care
Bureau of Medicaid Long Term Care and the Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waiver for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury

The Bridge Graphic was designed and developed by waiver participants.

Working Together: The Best Practice 2008

CO-SPONSORS

New York State Department of Health Office of Long-Term Care
Office of Managed Care
Office of Minority Health
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
Bureau of Injury Prevention
Disability and Health Program
Early Intervention Program
Lead Poisoning Program
Bureau of Long Term Care Restructuring
NYS Developmental Disabilities                 The Gifford Foundation
Planning Council (DDPC)                       School of Public Health, University at Albany
NYS Crime Victims Board                           Brain Injury Association, Inc
NYS Education Department, VESID           Brain Injury Association of NYS
NYS Independent Living Council, Inc.        Bi-Net:  The Research and Training Center on
NYS Office of Mental Health                       Community Integration, Mt. Sinai Medical Center
NYS Office of Mental Retardation               Helen Hayes Hospital
and Developmental Disabilities                United Cerebral Palsy Association of NYS
NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance     The New York State Catholic Health Care Council
Abuse Services                                         Organization of NYC Hospital Discharge Planners
United Hospital Fund                                    Home Care Association of New York State
NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety                     NY Association of Homes and Services for the
Committee                                               Aging
Coma Recovery Association
NYS Department of Motor Vehicles              Institute for the Advance of Health
NYS Council on Children and Families         Care Management
NYS Commission on Quality of Care            Burke Rehabilitation Center   
and Advocacy for Persons with                 ICD-International Center for the Disabled
Disabilities                                                 Healthcare Association of NYS
NYS Commission for the Blind and              Sunnyview Hospital Injury Prevention Services
Visually Handicapped                                   Think First of New York
NYS Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA)    Blythedale Children’s Hospital
NYS Insurance Department                         School of Business, University at Albany

The Moses Max Mindknit Research Center: First Annual 2008 USA/Japan Conference: A Report on the Conference and Other Cutting Edge Research at NIH and Return with Dignity for 320,000 At Risk Veterans for Traumatic Brain Injury

The New York State Department of Health Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program wishes to thank all who donate to support scholarships for waiver participants and their family members. Special thanks goes to the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council for their commitment to persons with brain injury through ongoing scholarship support.

We are pleased to announce a special Scholarship fund that has been set up through a generous donation from the Gifford Foundation for persons from Onondaga, Madison and Oswego Counties.

Working Together: The Best Practice 2008

GENERAL INFORMATION

BACKGROUND
Since 1993, the annual Best Practice Symposium has offered an affordable and accessible opportunity for persons who have experienced a brain injury and their loved ones to connect and share their experiences with one another.  The Symposium also provides a forum for service providers and policy makers to promote innovation and best practices in the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) service delivery system.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
We encourage the following individuals to attend: Individuals who have experienced a brain injury, family members and caregivers, persons involved in the design and delivery of services, state agency personnel at every level, and leaders in legislation and public policy.

ACCESSIBILITY
Working Together: the Best Practice is held at a facility which will, to the greatest extent possible, meet the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities who will be attending.  If ADA accommodations such as interpreters, large print or Braille materials are needed, please contact Jennifer Lee at 518-474-6580 or via email at jxl22@health.state.ny.us no later than September 10, 2008.

LOCATION
The New York State Convention Center is located at the Empire State Plaza (ESP) in Albany, New York.  A map with directions to the ESP appears in the back of this program.  Visitor parking is available at the ESP for $8.00 per day.  On street metered parking as well as separate parking lots are also available. Parking is limited. Please arrive early to allow time for parking.

LODGING SCHOLARSHIPS
A limited amount of lodging scholarships is available this year and will be awarded based on applicant’s financial need.  Due to limited availability of lodging this year, lodging scholarship requests MUST be received no later than September 16th.  Please refer to the Registration form on page 11 for more information.

MORE INFORMATION
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact TBI Waiver Program at 518-474-6580 or via e-mail jxl22@health.state.ny.us.


Working Together: The Best Practice 2008


Working Together: The Best Practice 2008

PRELIMINARY SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW


THURSDAY OCTOBER 16, 2008

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.    Registration, Continental Breakfast, Exhibit Area Open 

9:00 – 9:15 a.m.            Welcome and Orientation 

9:15 – 10:15 a.m.        Keynote Address: “Gifts from the Broken Jar”, PJ Long, Author

10:15 – 10:30 a.m.    Call for Collaboration: Invitation to Inter-agency Collaboration
Mark Ylvisaker and Tim Feeney of the TBI Neurobehavioral Project

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.    Break, Exhibits, Coffee House/Book Store open for the day

10:45 – 11:45 a.m.     Morning Workshop Session I

11:45 – 12:00 a.m.    Break, Exhibits, Coffee House/Book Store open for the day

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.       Morning Workshop Session II

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.    Lunch / Home and Community Support Best Practice Recognition

2:00 –3:00p.m.    Film Screening: “Beyond the Invisible: Living with Brain Injury”, the acclaimed documentary about veterans living with TBI, introduced by Mark Kissinger, Deputy Commissioner of Office of Long Term Care and retired Colonel James McDonough, Director of New York State Veterans Affairs. 

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.    Break, Exhibits, Coffee House/Book Store open for the day    

3:15 – 4:00 p.m.        Afternoon Workshop Session I

4:00 – 4:15 p.m.        Break, Exhibits, Coffee House/Book Store closes for the day

4:15 – 5:00 p.m.     Afternoon Workshop Session II


FRIDAY OCTOBER 17, 2008

9:00 a.m. – NOON     Training and Technical Assistance Workshops  

The Symposium draws upon our wealth of experts to offer these half-day, informal technical assistance workshops with the goals of promoting excellence and fostering creativity.  There is no charge for this training and we encourage all TBI providers to attend.  A light breakfast will be served; meals are available for purchase in the adjacent cafeteria.     


Working Together: The Best Practice 2008

SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS


SYMPOSIUM FEATURES     - OCTOBER 16, 2008


Dr. Tim Feeney and Dr. Mark Ylvisaker of the TBI Neurobehavioral Project will lead an all-day workshop on positive behavioral support, self regulation, and inter-agency collaboration for persons with co-existing disabilities.

Back by popular demand, this year’s Symposium Coffee House in the lobby of Meeting Room Seven (7) will again provide an informal atmosphere for relaxation, book signing by authors, including keynote speaker, PJ Long, and art exhibits featuring arts and crafts made by persons who have experienced brain injury.

This year’s Symposium Cinema will feature “Breakaway: A Tale of Two Survivors”.  TBI survivor Robert is determined to help Doug, another TBI survivor, to regain his ability to walk and talk.  Screening and discussion in the Convention Center after the keynote film.

A special Wellness Room, located in Meeting Room Seven (7), will offer a variety of wellness workshops, including gentle yoga for people with disabilities, and opportunities for creative expression and stress reduction. 

Workshop Highlights – October 16, 2008

Brain Injury and Work Readiness: Transitioning from Rehabilitation to Work

What’s New in Brain Injury and Substance Abuse

Therapy Can be Fun: Wii as a Motivational Tool

I am Not Gone–Helping Survivors, Loved Ones and Providers Cope with Brain Injury

A Framework for Cognitive Therapy and Its Limitation on Overall Recovery in Brain Injury

Domestic Violence and Brain Injury 

Working with Adult Protective Services

Meet the Members of Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council

The Moses Max Mindknit Research Center First Annual 2008 USA/Japan Conference: A Report on the Conference and Other Cutting Edge Research at NIH


Meet the TBI Waiver Regional Resource Development Specialists

Reaching Out to Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan: Update on the Final Year of the Federal Grant to the New York State Department of Health in collaboration with the Brain Injury Association and Other Federal and State Agencies

Best Practices in Assistance to Students with brain injury, their families and schools - “The DDPC Grant Project LEARN:  Living Education and Resources Network.”  Mark Ylvisaker, Ph.D., and the BIA Family Advocacy Training and Support Program

Overview of Compulsive Hoarding: What it is and How to Work with Individuals who Compulsively Hoard

Does Spirituality Have a Place in Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Integrating Compassionate Care with Clinical Practice

…and many other exciting workshops to be announced selected from the Call for Presentations…

Workshop Highlights – Training and Technical Assistance Day, October 17, 2008

Participants Present Projects: Illustrations of Positive Behavior Supports:
Waiver participants will describe, with members of their team, specific projects and intervention strategies designed to ensure engagement in personally meaningful activities.  Meaningful engagement as a positive behavior support and collaborative solution-focused methods will be highlighted.  Mark Ylvisaker, Tim Feeney, Melisa Capo, Paul Akers together with waiver participants and members of their support teams will present. 

Best Practice on the Front Lines:
This workshop is a presentation by the 2008 HCSS Best Practice Recognition Award Winners showcasing exemplary HCSS practice and recognizing the Profession of the Direct Support Worker.  Kate Aghaghiri, RRDS, TBI Program, Rochester Regional Resource Development Center

Understanding Brain Function and Traumatic Brain Injury: The Neuropsychological Perspective
Mary Ellen J. Keogh, Psy.D., NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, OMRDD.  This very thorough workshop is back by popular demand for the 15th year in a row.

Understanding Life with Brain Injury and Participant Rights
This highly successful training developed by the Brain Injury Association of New York State will include the video “Living in the Moment.” Judith Avner, Executive Director, Brain Injury Association of NYS; Marie Cavallo, Ph.D., Director, AHRC TBI Services.

Updates on the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Waiver
Bruce Rosen and NHTD Waiver staff will describe and answer questions about the new waiver.

Incident Investigation Training
Conducting a thorough investigation of Serious Reportable Incidents according to Best Practice standards.  Rhonda Bennett, Director of Quality Management, School and Community Support, Inc.