Navigating the challenges of a traumatic brain injury ( TBI ), such as managing health services and applying for disability benefits, can seem insurmountable to individuals and families. To help them, Dr. Susan Davies, chair of the Department of Counselor Education and Human Services and professor of School Psychology at the University of Dayton, launched the Brain Health Collective in 2021. The Collective is working to educate professionals on brain health, conduct research on community needs, collect data on program outcomes and increase community awareness about brain health.
The Dayton Foundation adopted the Brain Health Collective as a leadership initiative in 2022 and awarded a $450,000 discretionary grant over three years. Additionally, the Foundation placed a Del Mar Encore Fellow with the Collective to assist their research and marketing efforts.
Four Areas of Focus
Work completed to date has helped to identify community partner organizations that will lead in the following traumatic brain injury (TBI) areas, with dozens of other health, nonprofit and government agencies providing support.
- Care and health equity – Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley
- Interdisciplinary education – Clark and Montgomery County Educational Services Centers
- Applied research – Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association
- Marketing, awareness and promotion (Putting the Pieces Together campaign) – Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services
The Brain Health Collective’s 2024 TBI symposium brought more than 70 educators and medical professionals together to better understand how to recognize and respond to TBIs.
Contact Karen Gruenberg at (937) 225-9928 for more information.