Victoria – A brain injury can happen in a moment and change a life forever.
The Minister of Health Terry Lake announced $3 million in funding over three years to the Brain Injury Alliance to support those with brain injuries.
“Brain injury has the ability to shatter lives,” said Lake. “Left untreated, it can lead to issues that affect the whole community, which is why the funding provided to the Brain Injury Alliance is so important to make sure help goes to those who need it.”
The Brain Injury Alliance is a registered B.C. non-profit society that supports brain-injury service providers throughout B.C. The alliance will distribute the funding to organizations in the province that run programs and services to help reduce the incidence of injury or directly help those affected by brain injuries.
“This investment will touch a lot of lives,” said John Simpson, Brain Injury Alliance board member. “We are grateful to the Province of B.C. for supporting our work and helping service providers across the province to continue making a difference in their communities.”
The alliance will distribute the funding to organizations in two stages. In the first stage, $10,000 will go each of B.C.’s 16 community-based, non-profit brain-injury service providers to help with operational costs.
In the second stage, brain-injury organizations in B.C. will receive funding based on applications. Successful applicants could use the funding for a variety of programs including building or strengthening services like courses in financial skills, emotional management, injury prevention, and community brain-injury education and awareness. Other specialized programs might include art therapy, drop-in social groups, or services that help brain-injury survivors care for their pets.
In 2014, the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Canada’s largest integrated brain centre, opened in Vancouver. Scientists and health-care professionals at the centre help pioneer new treatments, prevention and rehabilitation strategies for brain diseases and injuries, and deliver those solutions to the people who need them. The provincial government provided $28.24 million to support development of this facility.
To learn more about the Brain Injury Alliance, please visit: www.braininjuryalliance.ca
