NCDHHS launches statewide traumatic brain injury action plan
The 2026-2029 plan focuses on access to services, provider support, caregiver support and prevention efforts across North Carolina.
RALEIGH — North Carolina health officials have launched a new statewide plan intended to improve services and support systems for residents living with traumatic brain injury.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said the 2026-2029 Traumatic Brain Injury State Action Plan went into effect July 1. The plan was developed by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services with input from people with lived experience, caregivers, providers, advocates, community partners and the Brain Injury Advisory Council.
The plan sets four strategic priorities: better access to services, better support for providers and clinicians, better support for people with traumatic brain injury and caregivers, and better preparation for communities to prevent brain injuries.
“Really listening to those most impacted by TBI was essential to developing strategies that will improve their quality of life,” Kelly Crosbie, assistant secretary for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, said in the department’s release. “Our goal is to create a system of care that allows people living with brain injuries to lead the life they choose with dignity while staying in their homes and communities.”
NCDHHS said falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths in North Carolina. The department said 8,260 people were hospitalized due to traumatic brain injury in 2024, 2,668 people died from TBI-related causes and more than 32,000 people visited emergency departments for TBI-related injuries.
One of the first initiatives under the plan is an Online Brain Injury Screening & Support System, known as OBISSS. NCDHHS said the tool will be available Aug. 1 for people age 10 and older to identify possible brain injury-related challenges, receive recovery strategies and connect with supports.
The department said it purchased a one-year, $6,500 subscription allowing up to 5,000 screenings per year, with the option to pay for additional screenings if needed. NCDHHS also plans to continue subscribing to the service indefinitely.
A webinar on how to use the system is scheduled for July 29, according to the department.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
