Our mission is to offer help, hope, and a voice for people with brain injury, and their families; by
Prevention
Education
Research
Advocacy
The Brain Injury Association of North Carolina develops,
supports, and/or administers programs, services, and activities
that make a difference in the lives of men, women, and children
and military and veterans who have been affected by the trauma of brain injury.
What is the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina (BIANC)?
BIANC is the statewide non-profit organization serving North Carolinians. BIANC was founded in 1982 by family members and concerned professionals. Today, BIANC provides brain injury information, complementary memberships, resource referrals and technical assistance. BIANC also offers trainings and educational materials to survivors, families, and professionals across NC. Our mission is to offer help, hope and a voice for people with brain injuries and their families, including military and veterans. BIANC currently has a full-time President, a strong Board of Directors, statewide Training Coordinator, and 4 Family and Community Support Offices. Our goals are to connect people with appropriate resources, education, and services; to support stability of 43 existing support groups; and help new groups get started. BIANC strives to assist in development of community based services, to offer training, and to educate legislators and families on the need for more resources.
New Employees of BIANC: Help us welcome Jamie Pierce, our new Statewide Training Coordinator. Jamie brings a lot of experience and background in brain injury to the job.
Left to right: Susan Fewell, Peggy Philbrick, Karen Harrington, Sandra Farmer,
Sandie Worthington, Brittnye Batchelor, Jonna Roy, Rachel Schreck and Jamie Pierce (not pictured)
Who are the Employees of BIANC?
Sandra Farmer, MEd, CBIS: President , work experience includes 5 years with BIANC. She also worked at Cumberland Hospital in Virginia, UNC Hospital's Neuropsychiatric Clinic and Learning Services in NC. Education: MEd in Counseling
Jonna Roy: Business Manager/Webmaster, Work experience includes 5 years with BIANC. She also worked in a corporate/business setting for 21 years. Education: degree in IT development.
Susan Fewell, MS, CBIST: Outreach and Training , Work experience includes 5 years with BIANC and 15 years with Carolinas Rehabilitation. She has also worked for Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Labor, and Mental Health. Education: MS in Rehabilitation Counseling and Vocational Evaluation.
Karen Harrington, CBIS: Regional Outreach Coordinator Asheville Office, and Day Program Coordinator, Has worked at BIANC for 4 years. She became involved with brain injury resources & support after her son sustained a TBI at age 16.
Peggy Philbrick, CBIS: Regional Outreach Coordinator Charlotte Office , (TBI Project STAR/Carolinas ehabilitation), Work experience includes 11 years at Project STAR at Carolinas Rehabilitation and 9 years at BIANC. Her husband sustained a severe TBI in ‘96. After going through the rehab process with him, she wanted to help others coping with TBI.
Rachel Schreck, MEd, CBIS:Regional Outreach Coordinator (part time) Employee of BIANC 4 years. Education: BA in Psychology and Business, and MEd in School Counseling. Rachel will be attending school in Wilmington for a Master's Degree in International Business.
Sandie Worthington: Regional Outreach Coordinator Greenville Office, Work experience includes Recreation Therapist on Brain Injury Unit at Regional Rehabilitation in Greenville for 7 years. She assisted with the support group, served on the BIANC board and led/co-led the brain injury survivors’ camp.
Brittnye Batchelor, BA: Assistant Regional Outreach Coordinatorand Day Program Coordinator (HRSA contract),, Work experience includes Principal Financial Group, North Carolina Theatre- Hair, makeup and wig supervisor. Education: BA in Sociology with a minor in Music and Associates degree in Cosmetology. Brittnye brings experience and creativity to the job.
Jamie Pierce, MS, CRC, LPC: Statewide Training Coordinator Worked as a cognitive rehabilitation therapist, a manager at a psychosocial clubhouse, and most recently worked in Customer Service and Advocacy at the Division of MH/DD/SAS. She is excited to again be working with individuals and families who have been affected by brain injury. Education: MS in Rehabilitation Counseling.
What is a Family and Community Support Office?
BIANC has four “Family and Community Support Offices”, in Raleigh, Asheville, Charlotte and Greenville. Each office has a part time Regional Outreach Coordinator to coordinate calls, training and referrals and resources. The Raleigh office also has part-time positions as Business Manager and Assistant Outreach Coordinator to support all the offices. Each office takes and returns telephone calls, emails or letters from survivors, families nd professionals and can schedule visits to the Resource Centers by appointment. Each office makes referrals, offers support, mails information packets or Resource books and offers training and technical assistance. Regional Outreach Coordinators reach out to local brain injury support groups and rehab facilities in their aeas to offer assistance and information and support. Each office maintains a resource library, for survivors, family members or professionals to find education materials on specific topics related to brain injury. BIANC is working to improve our website at www.bianc.net to make it more user friendly and full of helpful information, articles and resources. We are adding a Training section and a Science corner and are expanding our legislative advocacy section.
Who does BIANC serve?
Watch our promotional video to meet some NC survivors.
Who are the Central Volunteers? How can you get involved?
Volunteers assist BIANC in meeting our mission, from our support group leaders, interns, and board members o the many individuals and families and teams across the state who have helped in raising funds and awareness and with event planning for our Recreational events, Walks, Runs and Bicycle Rides. Volunteer jobs may include clerical and reception duties, working a booth at a health fair, reviewing content and suggestions to improve the BIANC website, assisting with a brain injury support group, being on a committee to plan an event, working as a family ombudsman, or helping to identify potential sponsors. We have volunteer legislative advocates with our ALSTARS program (Alliance of Legislators and Survivors Together Achieving Responsible Services) who agree to meet with and educate their local legislators and representatives on the need for continuing and increasing support and resources for people with brain injuries. We are seeking volunteers who have media connections, public relations, brain injury or advocacy experience.
Monica McGrath has volunteered almost every day at the Raleigh office of BIANC since 2000. She had a sub-ural hematoma 20 hours after birth, which caused some developmental delays. Monica has a loving and supportive family and 3 younger sisters. Her work experience includes 2 1/2 years at a Pet Shop and 17 years in Boston at John Hancock Insurance agency. She developed seizures and made the decision to go on disability and continue to volunteer. Monica is always happy to be helpful to others and helps lead the brain injury support group. She is our lead volunteer.
Additional Key Volunteers include Peggy Nelson, Kitty Barringer, John Peeler, Jennifer Nyland, Liz Gibson, Bucky Brandt, Suzanne McKenna, Angela Bettancort, Widgie Kornegay, Carol Ornitz, Pilot Clubs of NC, and all the dedicated and caring board members and leaders of brain injury support group across North Carolina.
How are the 43 local Support Groups in NC related to BIANC?
Each of the 43 brain injury support groups identified across North Carolina has their own individual structure, leadership and membership. No group pays dues to BIANC. Small support group grants are available (up to $200) from BIANC for activities related to fitness, wellness, education or awareness. All BIANC offices offer information, support and materials to assist in getting new groups started. Regional Outreach Coordinators from the Family and Community Support Offices keep in contact with support group leaders in their area, visit their groups during the year, and organize regional support group leader training sessions. The Raleigh BIANC office sends newsletters and other educational materials or information at least quarterly to all support group leaders and arranges an annual statewide support group leader training session. Monthly teleconference calls and an email list serve help with communication and sharing of ideas or concerns. Meetings vary from weekly, to monthly to quarterly and may target youth, spouses, or include other disability groups such as stroke or spinal cord injury in their groups.
What is a Volunteer Brain Injury Resource Center?
BIANC has an affiliation with the Volunteer Brain Injury Resource Center in High Point and serving the Triad area. Peggy Nelson and Kitty Barringer and many other hard-working core volunteers have worked since 2007 to insure support and resources are available in the Triad area. They have held several community events and fund raisers to raise awareness and gain local support to cover expenses for this effort. Current goal is for BIANC to support their efforts to raise local funding and build the capacity of this Volunteer Resource Center with a long term goal of making it a full-fledged Family and Community Support Office or of defining their own role to become a separate non-profit or to provide a service such as becoming a clubhouse model of day program for survivors and veterans with brain injuries.
