1. Community Services for People with Traumatic Brain Injuries
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Brain Injury & Statewide Specialized Community Services Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP)
Community Services
for
People with Traumatic Brain Injuries

2. SHIP Service Coordinators
9 Regional Coordinators covering 7 Regions
2 Veteran’s Coordinators serving Veterans statewide
Each Regional Coordinator is primary contact for all SHIP eligible consumers in their region (An average of 400 consumers per region)
Each Regional Coordinator has an active caseload of 75 – 90 consumers

3. SHIP Service Coordinators
Regional Service Coordinators provide:
Information, Referral and Assistance to all consumers within their region.
Initial Assessment to all newly eligible SHIP consumers.
Identification and provision of SHIP Paid Services.
Monitor the provision and quality of services.
Identify new sources of benefits and services.

4. Purchased Services Community Services – Case Management
It is intense and time-limited.
It may provide a more focused or comprehensive assessment.
Development of compensatory and cognitive strategies.
It assists the individual with navigating complex entitlement systems.
Provides further identification of needed services and access to them.
Assists with establishing and maintaining contact with community-based service providers and therapists.
Occasionally, SHIP purchases case management as a long-term but periodic service.

5. Purchased Services Community Services – Support Workers
Focuses on functional skills development.
Implementing strategies developed by another professional, such as a Case Manager.
Primary responsibility is on increasing or simply maintaining independence and community access.
The provision of hands-on training, modeling and monitoring in order to facilitate community access.
Provided in the consumer's home and/or local community.
Functional living skills could also be taught within community settings such as local stores, restaurants, libraries, or by accessing public transportation and other community providers.
Accompanying a consumer to a medical or therapy appointment, when appropriate.

6. Purchased Services Community Services – Individual Aide
Provide support and assistance with activities of daily living.
Accompany individuals on community outings for social and recreational events.
Companionship
In-home assistance to the family via respite care.

7. Purchased Services Community Services – Cultural Facilitator
Assist in addressing barriers related to linguistically or culturally diverse communities.
Field questions and address issues from the consumer/family, as it may relate to their culture and value system.
Provide a comforting and familiar presence, perhaps in conjunction with another professional.
Help a funding agency staff recognize cultural barriers to delivery of services and to understand the concerns and point of view of the consumer.

8. Purchased Services Community Services – Regional Service Centers
SHIP funds 4 Regional Service Centers located Quincy, Rayhnam, Hyannis and Springfield.
These centers provide structured, supervised opportunities for training and practice in the consumer's home and community.
The centers focus on development of independent living skills; cognitive remediation; behavior management; employment-related skills; socialization; health and wellness; and recreation and leisure planning.
The centers also provide case management, advocacy and family support services.
Education is provided to consumers and families about case management with the expectation that eventually they will take primary responsibility for this activity themselves.
Each center has an affiliated evening and weekend recreation program which is open to any individual with a brain injury.

9. Purchased Services Community Services Social and Recreation Programs
SHIP currently funds 22 Social and Recreational Programs across the state.
Any adult with a brain injury, who lives in Massachusetts, may be able to participate in one of these programs regardless of eligibility for SHIP.
Each program has an activities coordinator, but it is the participants who determine the types of activities being planned.

10. Purchased Services Community Services - Other
Respite
Technical Assistance and Consultation
Specialized Substance Abuse Treatment and Consultation
Family Assistance Program
Homeless Brain Injury Project