National Association Of State Head Injury Administrators

PREVALENCE RATES OF BRAIN INJURY WITHIN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM ARE STAGGERING, WITH A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE AT 65 PERCENT BUT REACHING AS HIGH AS 95 PERCENT IN SPECIFIC VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SUCH AS FEMALE OFFENDERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE RECIDIVISM RATES FOR PEOPLE WITH BRAIN INJURY ARE DOUBLE THAT OF THEIR PEERS WITHOUT BRAIN INJURY. THERE IS RESEARCH THAT INDICATES A CORRELATION BETWEEN HIGH CRIMINOGENIC RISK AND BRAIN INJURY. THROUGH SCREENING, SUPPORT, AND REFERRAL, THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ADDRESS THE IDENTIFIED CRIMINOGENIC RISK AND REDUCE RECIDIVISM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH BRAIN INJURY IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THIS PROJECT BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE HEAD INJURY ADMINISTRATORS SEEKS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND INCREASE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS WHO SCREEN FOR HIGH CRIMINOGENIC RISK AND WHO ALSO SCREEN POSITIVE FOR A HISTORY OF BRAIN INJURY IN THE WYANDOTTE COUNTY (KANSAS) DETENTION CENTER (WCDC). THE PROJECT WILL SCREEN INMATES WHO ARE WITHIN 90 DAYS PRERELEASE FROMTHE WYANDOTTE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER FOR BRAIN INJURY AND SUBSEQUENT CHALLENGES USING THE ONLINE BRAIN INJURY SCREENING AND SUPPORT SYSTEM. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 250 INMATES WILL BE SCREENED ANNUALLY. THOSE WHO SCREEN POSITIVE FOR BRAIN INJURY AND ASSOCIATED IMPAIRMENT THROUGH THE ONLINE BRAIN INJURY SCREENING AND SUPPORT SYSTEM WILL BE PROVIDED A NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SCREEN USING THE AUTOMATED NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT METRICCORE BATTERY (APPROXIMATELY 188). INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A BRAIN INJURY WILL BE SCREENED FOR CRIMINOGENIC RISK AND RISK OF REOFFENDING THROUGH THE OHIO RISK ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (AN ESTIMATED 141 INMATES WILL BE SCREENED ANNUALLY BASED ON THE POTENTIAL OF 75 PERCENT SCREENING POSITIVE FOR BRAIN INJURY). INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO SCREEN POSITIVE FOR HIGH RISK OF REOFFENDING AND BRAIN INJURY TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY PROVIDERS.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE HEAD INJURY ADMINISTRATORS (NASHIA), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (IACP), WILL LAUNCH A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT OFFICER WELLNESS AND RETENTION THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALIZED RESOURCES. THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE A SERIES OF SHORT, TARGETED VIDEO MODULES AND ACCOMPANYING POCKET-SIZED TIP CARDS DESIGNED TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF BRAIN INJURY SYMPTOMS, RISK FACTORS, AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES SPECIFIC TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT WILL DOCUMENT BRAIN INJURY-RELATED PRACTICES IN FIVE STATES THROUGH A CASE STUDY PROCESS, IDENTIFYING REAL-WORLD IMPLEMENTATION APPROACHES AND LESSONS LEARNED. TOGETHER, THESE TOOLS WILL EMPOWER DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS BRAIN INJURY MORE EFFECTIVELY, WHILE ELEVATING OFFICER HEALTH AND PROMOTING LONG-TERM RETENTION IN THE FORCE.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE HEAD INJURY ADMINISTRATORS STATE OF THE STATES IN BRAIN INJURY CONFERENCE SUPPORT - THE NASHIA STATE OF THE STATES IN BRAIN INJURY CONFERENCE IS THE PREMIER NATIONAL EVENT FOR BRAIN INJURY PROFESSIONALS AND THOSE SEEKING TO EXPAND THEIR EXPERTISE IN THIS CRITICAL AREA. THE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE WESTIN PORTLAND HARBORVIEW IN PORTLAND, OREGON FROM OCTOBER 27-30, 2025. THE CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER STATE LEADERS, RESEARCHERS, ADVOCACY GROUPS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND PROFESSIONALS FROM SECTORS WITH A HIGH PREVALENCE OF BRAIN INJURY FOR INTENSIVE LEARNING, NETWORKING, COLLABORATION, AND RESEARCH-TO-PRACTICE ACTIVITIES. KEY OBJECTIVES INCLUDE FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS WITH DECISION-MAKERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OFFERING CONTENT THAT SPANS THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF CARE WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON SUPPORTING THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY. WITH ADVANCED INSIGHTS FROM LEADING EXPERTS AND RESEARCHERS, THE CONFERENCE AIMS TO BRIDGE RESEARCH TO PRACTICE, EQUIPPING PARTICIPANTS WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND PRACTICAL TOOLS TO ENHANCE SERVICES AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES IN THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONS.  MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, WILL FEATURE TWO INTENSIVE SESSIONS FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28 AND WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 WILL FEATURE A GENERAL TRACK AND TWO SPECIAL TRACKS ON THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THROUGH THE CONFERENCE SESSIONS, EXPERTS FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF SECTORS AND PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WILL SHARE BEST PRACTICES, KNOWLEDGE, AND IDEAS FOR IMPLEMENTATION. THE CONFERENCE AIMS TO DISSEMINATE RESEARCH AND TO ENSURE IT IS APPLIED AND IMPLEMENTED ACROSS STATE PRACTICES. BY FOCUSING ON EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES AND INNOVATIVE MODELS OF CARE, THE CONFERENCE WILL PROVIDE RESEARCHERS, PRACTITIONERS, AND POLICYMAKERS WITH THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES THAT IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH BRAIN INJURY.