In 1991, the Department of Aging and Disabilities and the Department of Social Welfare began the operation of a three-year pilot project offering community-based rehabilitative services. The goal of this program was to divert people from facility placement and/or return Vermonters with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury from out-of-state facilities. Prior to the development of this service, people were placed in expensive out of state facilities, often there for years, with little hope of returning to their home communities. The project demonstrated that individuals with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury participating in the pilot were able to be served appropriately in community-based settings.
Today, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program provides rehabilitation and life skills services to help Vermonters with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, live successfully in community-based settings. This is a rehabilitation-based, choice-driven program intended to support people to achieve their optimum independence and help them return to work. For more information about data related to TBI, refer to the VT Department of Health TBI Data Brief.