BIANC Resource Book
Publications
Collaborations and Partnerships
The Brain Injury Association of North Carolina partners with the Disability Rights NC legal organization, the Developmental Disabilities Consortium, the Coalition for Mental Health, and other disability advocacy groups to provide oversight and guidance for legislative initiatives that affect persons with brain injuries and their families. BIANC represents the citizens of North Carolina, including all branches of our military forces, in seeking support for services that allow persons with brain injuries to attain their highest level of independence and optimal quality of life.
What is a Pilot Club?
Pilot International is an innovative volunteer service organization that does more than just have meetings. Pilot members take an active part in making communities a better place to live... today and tomorrow. The service focus of Pilot International is brain-related disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, chemical dependency, traumatic brain injuries, developmental, emotional, and mental disabilities. There are 375 clubs in the USA, with 34 in NC. Pilot International's signature program is BrainMinders "Protecting Your Brain for Life." This program encompasses many areas, from educating children in Pre-K, to Senior adults, and Alzheimer Units. The "Play Safe, Play Smart" program uses entertaining puppets to thrill their audiences as well as the performers. BIANC is partnering with Pilot Clubs to provide the pre-school BrainMinders puppet safety show in Raleigh, Greenville, and Asheville areas. The Hind’s Feet Farm Day program participants in Asheville have decided to make BrainMinders one of their community projects. Pilots also partner with local law enforcement to provide Project Lifesaver to families with children or adults who suffer from a wandering syndrome often due to Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury and/or brain disorders. For the past two years, Camp Carefree has been the NC Pilot District statewide project and clubs across NC have sent in donations, as well as collecting boxes of prizes to be used as door and Bingo prizes. Pilot volunteers have helped as cabin counselors, cooks, golf cart drivers, and have provided materials for arts and crafts projects, as well as decorations for the Friday night dance. Call Susan Fewell at 919-618-3003 to learn more about Pilot Clubs in your area or visit http://www.pilotinternational.org.
BIANC participated in preparing a Call to Action Paper from the Governor’s Advisory Council on Brain Injury, that was disseminated to all North Carolina legislators during the 2009 session. The paper provides information about the status of brain injury in North Carolina and outlines specific recommendations to improve our service delivery system.
Issue Brief Trust-Fund Document
BIANC also participated in preparing an Issues Brief on Trust Funds that discusses the need for a special fund that is designated to meet the service needs of persons with brain injuries. Over twenty states have established trust funds, often funded through fees and fines related to traffic violations, that provides specialized brain injury services. The Brain Injury Association and the Governor’s Advisory Council are recommending that North Carolina also establish a special brain injury fund that will allow this state to improve and expand services for persons with brain injury.
