BIA-NE Mission Statement

Our Mission

To create a better future for all Nebraskans through brain injury prevention, education, advocacy, and support.

Our Vision

A future where Nebraskans living with brain injury thrive in their communities.

Who This Playbook Is For

This Playbook is written for BIA-NE Resource Facilitators and other BIA-NE team members who support survivors and families through Resource Facilitation.

It is designed to help new team members get grounded quickly, while also giving experienced team members a shared reference point for how we do this work at BIA-NE.

Whether you are brand new to brain injury, new to Resource Facilitation, or simply need a refresher, this Playbook is meant to be a practical, everyday guide.

What Resource Facilitation Is

Resource Facilitation is a person-centered, goal-focused approach that helps individuals with brain injury and their families/caregivers identify needs, reduce barriers, connect to services, and build the supports needed to move forward.

At BIA-NE, Resource Facilitation is not about "fixing" people or telling them what to do. It is about listening, building trust, helping people understand what is happening, and working alongside them to take the next step. 

Resource Facilitation is part detective, part cheerleader, part problem-solver, and part guide. 

Some days, you may be helping a client apply for benefits, find housing, schedule a doctor's appointment, understand a diagnosis, or return to work or school. Other days, you may simply be helping someone feel heard, understood, and less alone.

How We Approach This Work

At BIA-NE, we approach this work in a way that is:

• Person-centered

• Strengths-based

• Trauma-informed

• Practical

• Respectful

• Flexible

We meet people where they are.

We focus on real-life barriers, real-life goals, and real-life next steps.

We recognize that brain injury often overlaps with trauma, behavioral health, poverty, housing instability, substance use, caregiving responsibilities, other disabilities, and involvement with other systems. We do not expect people to untangle all of that on their own.

We also know that progress is not always linear. Sometimes moving forward looks like completing a benefits application. Sometimes it looks like returning a phone call, making it to an appointment, or getting through a difficult week. 

Our job is to notice the wins, build on them, and keep moving.

Brain Injury In Nebraska

Brain injury is one of Nebraska's most common - and most misunderstood - disabilities.

A brain injury can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. It may result from a fall, car crash, sports injury, assault, stroke, aneurysm, infection, lack of oxygen, or another medical event.

Brain injury does not discriminate. It can affect a child, a parent, a teacher, a farmer, a nurse, a student, a coworker, or someone you love.

For many people, the effects do not end when they leave the hospital.

An estimated 10-20% of people with a brain injury will need ongoing support to manage the effects of their injury and move forward with daily life.

A brain injury can affect:

• Memory, attention, & organization

• Mood, behavior, & emotional regulation

• Communication & relationships

• School, work, & daily responsibilities

• Transportation, housing, finances, & independence

Because many of these challenges are invisible, people with brain injury are often misunderstood. They may be seen as lazy, unmotivated, angry, forgetful, or "not trying hard enough," when in reality they are working twice as hard just to get through the day. 

That is where BIA-NE comes in.

We help people understand what is happening, connect to resources, build practical supports, and take the next step forward.

Why This Work Matters

When brain injury goes unrecognized, the impact ripples far beyond the individual.

Individuals may lose jobs, fall behind in school, struggle with daily tasks, miss appointments, or have trouble maintaining housing & transportation.

Families often carry the emotional, financial, and practical burden of trying to help - usually while navigating complicated systems with little information and no clear roadmap.

Communities and systems absorb the cost through increased use of emergency care, behavioral health services, disability supports, homelessness services, and involvement in the justice system.

For Nebraska, failing to identify and support brain injury early leads to significantly higher long-term costs across healthcare, behavioral health, disability services, education, and public safety. 

The good news: Early identification, accurate information, and practical support make a difference.

When people understand their injury and get connected to the right resources, they are more likely to stay housed, stay employed, stay in school, improve relationships, and remain involved in their communities.