These sessions are for anyone interested in learning more about brain injury, concussion, how injury affects the brain and human behaviors. Learn how to help by providing supports, offering interventions and gaining new perspectives on life after brain injury. Professionals, caregivers, parents, and family members, as well as adolescent and adult survivors are all invited to participate. Learn how to better support those living in our communities. Then…share your knowledge with others!
Professionals can gain up to 28 hours of professional development, FREE OF CHARGE.

Regional Series are being offered in Arizona include:
  SOUTHEASTERN AZ Regional - SIerra Vista Unified School District (Sierra Vista)
  CENTRAL AZ Regional - Pinal ESA (Florence, AZ)
  NORTHERN AZ Regional  - Flagstaff Unified School District (Flagstaff, AZ)
  EASTERN AZ Regional - Whiteriver Unified School District (Whiteriver, AZ)
  NORTHEASTERN AZ Regional - Navajo Nation at Dine' College (Tsaile, AZ)
  CENTRAL/EASTERN MARICOPA COUNTY - Gilbert Unified School District (Mesa, AZ)
  CENTRAL/WESTERN MARICOPA COUNTY - Washington Elementary School District (Glendale, AZ)

!~!~!  Celebrate BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH in March  !~!~!
Lots of opportunities exist.  OPTIONS INCLUDE:
  Attending an injury prevention event in your community
Giving a child a helmet for biking or contact sports
  Participating in local or regional professional development event
Offering new parents a child passenger safety seat (correctly installed!)
  Volunteering at your local Brain Injury Alliance or your Brain Injury Association
  Joining a local support group for survivors or caregivers
  Sharing a story of courage and hope with someone whose life has been changed by brain injury!
Getting online and learning more about brain injury!
EVERYONE HAS A ROLE!

ARIZONA has many options going on this month!
The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (www.biaaz.org) is hosting it's annual BBQ on March 14th!

Local and statewide training events for professionals, parents and community members
(see list below)

Participate in the BIAAZ Professional Development Networking Event on March 26th!

JOIN US FOR A NEW TRAINING on neurodevelopment and implications for STEM education and persistence in STEM fields!
OCTOBER 24, 2014    1:00pm - 3:00pm
Blue Ridge High School Library, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
It's an interactive two-hour session discussing implications of executive functioning and higher-order thinking in light of STEM education practices. Learn about creating problems for students that tap into Bloom's highest levels and address the State standards!

You will surely learn a lot about concussions, mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) and returning students to the learning environment after head injury. This half-day workshop will investigate (1) the mechanisms of injury, (2) specific formal and informal assessments needed to identify and diagnose TBI, (3) several effective classroom interventions and (4) prevention strategies (of course!) 

We will discuss options for feasible adjustments to the educational experience including the need for 504 Accommodations Plans and ongoing monitoring of student improvement. We will also address the need for a small percentage of students who can benefit from more extensive supports through an Individualized Education Plan under I.D.E.A.

This is valuable information for general education and special education teachers, all related service personnel (OT, PT, Speech, School Psychologists, Counselors, school nurses), District Risk Managers, athletic coaches and trainers, and especially parents. Interested community members are always welcome.

Please come and join us for a FREE, fun, and fact-filled morning of learning and feedback.
INVITE OTHERS ALSO!!!
Florence Unified School District - Administration Building Board Room
1000 S. Main St., Florence AZ
Thursday, June 26th   8:00am - Noon
Space is limited to the first 50 registrants.

Learn how stroke occurring in childhood and adolescence has significant impacts of personality, school and work performance, transition and post-secondary/adult outcomes.  

JOIN US at the 2014 TBI SUMMER INSTITUTE in Flagstaff Arizona June 2nd - 6th 
for five days of fun, cool weather, intense education, interactive activities that engage learning,
and lots of professional development hours (if you need them!)

~ ! ~ ! ~   REGISTER here on our STORE PAGE before 5/16/14!  ~ ! ~ ! ~

This month is devoted to raising awareness about child abuse and how to prevent it!
Child abuse and neglect come in many forms, from emotional abuse, to physical abuse to sexual abuse -- all of these forms have devastating consequences for the victim.
Life long consequences include permanent changes to brain (malformation) as it develops in the young child. Add to that victims of abuse have lower levels of self-esteem as they mature and higher rates of behavioral health issues in adulthood. There is also evidence that male victims are more likely to become abusers in adulthood and female victims are more likely to continue being victims in unhealthy adult relationships.

SHAKEN BABY is a significant form of abuse and, by definition, SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME RESULTS IN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)!

Learn more about Shaken Baby Syndrome and other issues related to brain injury at the 2014 TBI Summer Institute being held as week-long conference in Flagstaff, AZ at the family resource center during the week of June 2nd-6th!
Join us for 40 hours of interactive education and training as we investigate abuse, its effects and how to identify children with brain injury. You will meet and discuss issues with other concerned professionals, parents and youth who are committed to make a difference!

March is dedicated to increasing awareness about brain injuries, their prevention and the impacts and effects once they have happened.

Take some time to learn more about brain injuries - concussions, stokes, anoxia, hypoxia, aneurisms, tumors, congenital injuries and more. Investigate how the brain works and realize that all behavior stems from brain function.

Make time to get to know your local brain injury alliance or association in your state or territory.

Gain additional information about brain injuries by attending local training, conferences, or workshops. Learn about it and educate others.  !!! COME TO THE TBI SUMMER INSTITUTE !!!