You see, Brooke is not just one of our staff, she is one of the few people on our staff who has a background in blogging and social media! Brooke and her husband recently adopted their daughter, Adelyn, and so Brooke has been out on maternity leave.

Lets learn a little more about Brooke!

Brooke Annessa is a case manager in our Child & Adolescent Program here at Brain Injury Services. Brooke has been on our team for three years and was also an intern and volunteer for two years before joining our staff. Brooke’s desire to work with individuals with disabilities stems from her older brother, Brad, who has Down syndrome.

Brooke chose to pursue a degree in Social Work and graduated with her MSW from Virginia Commonwealth University and is also a Certified Brain Injury Specialist. When asked what she feels her greatest achievement is in her career so far she is quick to respond and share the story of a little boy named Quentin. You can learn more about that story by checking out this news clip or watching our Brain Injury Services Video here.

Brooke is also a strong advocate for all survivors of Brain Injury, working hard to get the message of the vital nature of what we do here at Brain Injury Services out to our legislators. Here she is practicing the speech she would later delivery at a local budget hearing.

When Brooke isn’t trying to save the world she enjoys spending time with her family, doing yoga, and baking!

1.       Click HERE to be taken to “Who’s My Legislator?” Virginia.

2.       Enter your home address (BIS address if you live outside of VA)

3.       Tell your legislators why they CAN NOT cut BIS funding!

“Brain Injury Services is the only organization that is devoted to supporting survivors of brain injury in our community. Whether it’s a child who’s been abused, a businessman who’s has a stroke, a soldier returning from war, or an elderly woman who’s fallen – Brain Injury Services Is THERE. They are there coordinating services, advocating for needs, supporting goals, and walking the long road of recovery with them”

The details.

As some of you may know, the Governor released his 2013-2014 budget last week; within it are over $400,000 in cuts to the Department of Rehabilitative Services budget for community based programs, including a nearly $78,000 cut to brain injury services.

We need every voice that we can muster to demand that this budget cut not be borne on the backs of the brain injury community.

Our services are completely underfunded and to cut any more money from a service system that is already stretched beyond its means is sheer folly.

BIAV and the Virginia Alliance of Brain Injury Service Providers are seeking a $600,000 budget amendment to restore the $78,000 and to increase funding for our network of community based services across the Commonwealth.

We are unable to do this work of advocating for more services and supports without those of you who are dealing day to day with the challenges created by living with brain injury.

We need you.

Have you contacted your legislator? Come back and leave us a comment telling us how it went! 

You know those people who take themselves seriously?

The one’s who wear suits and ties and shoes that squeak when they walk?

Well…

We’re not those kind of people…

And we’re all pretty proud of it!

Welcome to the Brain Injury Services blog – we’re happy you stopped by!

Keep checking back to see what we’re up to and what we’re all about!