Table of Contents

• Welcome Message

• National Brain Injury News

• Alaska Brain Injury Updates

• Get the Facts

• Clinical Center

• Injury Prevention Tips

• Caregiver Junction

• Kids Corner

• Resources

• Save Your Spoons

• Inspiration

• Training

• Event Calendar

Welcome Message

Hello and Welcome to the 1st quarterly newsletter for the Brain Injury Council of Alaska (BICA)! My name is Anna Zierfuss and it has been my pleasure to be the Chair of the Council for the last 4 years. This newsletter is the latest in a series of resources that the Council has been a part of creating or updating for our Alaskan brain injury community and it will change and grow as we move forward. It will include a lot of useful information not only for survivors but also for the people around them like caregivers, medical providers, family members, legislators and more. If there is something you don’t see or would like to see (especially for March’s Brain Injury Awareness Month) please let us know through our Community Submission Form (located above) and if you have any questions about the Council or our work please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Coordinator, Kayla Pokupec: [email protected]

This Welcome Message will be unique in that it will be both a Hello and a Farewell. As with all things, the current Executive Committee of myself, Guylene and Kimberly is coming to an end as we term out and there will be upcoming changes and events we want to inform you about. Over the next 3 months we will be going through the succession process which will include informing the Council of the transition, talking about the open positions, taking nominations and then elections in March. We know that everyone has busy lives and long to-do lists but we hope that you might consider putting your name up for nomination. You do not need to have prior experience in this area and the positions can be tailored to fit your schedules and involvement level. Please keep an eye out for more information in the coming days through your email and we hope to see you at our Council and Committee meetings.

I want to personally extend all my thanks to Sondra, Lucy, Kayla (and Patty - retired) from UAA CHD for all their support and knowledge during my tenure and to my fellow Executive members Guylene and Kimberly, I really couldn’t have done it without you! I have learned so much over the last 4 years that I never thought I could accomplish and it wouldn’t have been possible without all of you. I also want to extend my sincerest thanks to all the Council members, partners, collaborators and survivors that have worked so hard. I hope that if you are reading this and are not already involved you might join us at our next few meetings to see what we are all about and help us further the positive impact on the lives of people with brain injury.

Take care and stay warm! Anna Zierfuss, BICA Chair

National Brain Injury News

TBI Reauthorization Act Reintroduced in the Senate - Sep. 25, 2025

U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin and Andy Kim (with bipartisan cosponsors) reintroduced the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 to keep key federal TBI grant programs running. For more information click here.

Advocates seek to fill research gap on link between violence against native women and head trauma - Dec 2, 2025

The story highlights how advocates say brain injuries from domestic and sexual violence against Indigenous women are likely underdiagnosed and undercounted, in part because many survivors never receive screening or medical evaluation. For more information click here.

The Consequences of the Sports Concussion - Oct 8, 2025

This piece argues that sports concussions can produce real brain changes and a range of physical and mental health symptoms, even when return-to-play decisions are made without imaging. For more information click here.

Alaska Brain Injury Updates

Alaska’s New Brain Injury State Plan (FY26–FY30): Our Roadmap for the Next Five Years

BICA is excited to share that the FY26–FY30 Alaska State Plan for Brain Injury (July 2025–June 2030) is here—a statewide roadmap that highlights where Alaska most needs to strengthen prevention, supports, services, and systems for people impacted by brain injury. Importantly, the plan is for everyone in Alaska: there’s no single agency responsible for completing it. Instead, it’s designed to help organizations across the state align priorities, strengthen strategic planning, and advocate for funding and action.

What’s inside: six priority areas

The FY26–FY30 plan is organized into six connected focus areas: Prevention, Awareness, Resources, Data, Infrastructure, and Advocacy—each with a clear vision, goals, and measurable objectives to guide work over the next five years.

This plan is more than a document—it’s a shared call to action. BICA will be using it to guide subcommittee work, partnerships, and outreach statewide, and we invite you to read it, share it, and help move its goals forward.

Click here to view the Alaska State Plan for Brain Injury.

Addressing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Incarceration

Adam Grove, ND CBIS

In November 2025, I was asked to present to the Senior and Independent Living Council (SILC) board on the intersection of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and incarceration. I wanted to share the salient points from that presentation here. While not widely acknowledged, TBI is a significant factor that both increases the likelihood of justice involvement and raises the risk of re-arrest following release.

The goal of this presentation was to raise awareness that one potential solution to Alaska’s extremely high incarceration rate—mirroring a broader national problem—is to identify individuals with TBI, treat them while incarcerated, and support them upon reentry in order to reduce recidivism.

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with 614 individuals incarcerated per 100,000 people. Alaska exceeds even that figure, at 744 per 100,000. Notably, Alaska also has the highest rate of brain injury in the nation—twice the national average and three times higher among Alaska Native populations. Is there a connection?

Most likely, yes. Brain injury causes physiological changes that often result in behavioral changes and social failure, increasing the likelihood of involvement with law enforcement. Studies indicate that up to 60% of adults and 33% of youth in U.S. prisons and jails screen positive for a history of brain injury, most of which occurred prior to incarceration. TBI is also associated with higher rates of substance misuse, homelessness, and mental health diagnoses—each of which independently increases the risk of incarceration.

Brain injury is not only a leading contributor to incarceration but also to failed reentry and recidivism. This should not be surprising. It is difficult to make sound decisions, behave appropriately, and maintain social norms when the brain is not functioning properly. Research consistently shows that the behavioral consequences of TBI are often more disruptive to recovery than residual physical or cognitive impairments. If individuals are not identified and treated while incarcerated, how can we reasonably expect them to function more successfully once released?

Breaking this cycle of social failure requires understanding TBI, screening for it, and providing appropriate diagnosis and treatment. We cannot reasonably expect individuals with TBI to “fix” themselves—especially when many are unaware they have a brain injury at all. If we continue to ignore TBI as a primary driver of incarceration, society will continue to bear enormous human and financial costs.

Most justice-involved individuals with TBI do not receive the help they need, and there are no good excuses for this. In the United States, incarceration is often framed primarily as punishment, and we pay dearly for that approach. If instead incarceration were viewed as an opportunity for rehabilitation, many individuals could be released as successful, contributing citizens.

In 2024, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance published recommendations for addressing TBI within the justice system. They outlined five broad recommendations, which have been successfully implemented by several states—though Alaska is not yet among them:

• Training and education for all justice system personnel, from law clerks and judges to correctional officers and law enforcement. The entire system must be informed and aligned.

• Screening and identification of individuals entering and exiting the system. A focus on youth is especially effective, as a TBI during youth is associated with a fourfold increased risk of later offending.

• Compensatory strategies and system modifications for individuals with TBI at every stage—from pre-incarceration through reentry—to ensure meaningful participation. These accommodations must be individualized and consistently applied. Colorado offers a strong model in this area.

• Referrals and coordinated resources for individuals leaving the system. Robust support and warm hand-offs dramatically reduce the likelihood of reoffending and must be actively promoted and maintained.

• Thoughtful implementation strategies, supported by policymakers and administrators. National models exist that Alaska could adopt.

It is worth noting that Alaska has already taken some positive steps. The Alaska’s Education Service Agency (SERRC) and the Department of Juvenile Justice have implemented a tool to screen youth for TBI and provide appropriate accommodations and treatment. Early data from this initiative are very encouraging.

I concluded the presentation by acknowledging the reality in Alaska: we incarcerate more people than any other state or nation, while demonstrating limited appetite or funding for rehabilitation. Progress is still possible if we focus on reducing recidivism, particularly by prioritizing youth. We can learn from other states that are achieving better outcomes, and we can build on the promising efforts already underway in Alaska.

The fact that SILC requested additional information on this topic is encouraging. The more people who understand the role of TBI in incarceration, the greater the opportunity for meaningful, lasting change.

Get the Facts

Alaska Section of Epidemiology, EpiBulletins, Traumatic Brain Injury in Alaska:

This report summarizes Alaska’s TBI burden includes:

• Morbidity, mortality, Medicaid spending, and a population needs assessment

• During 2016–2021 Alaska’s TBI-related mortality rate was the highest in the nation, with suicide accounting for 43% of TBI-related deaths

• Disproportionate impacts by age, sex, region, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations.

• Major cost and access issues, including over $29 million in Alaska Medicaid TBI-related expenditures (2017–2021)

• Common barriers like geographic/financial limitations and low awareness of services.

  View full report here: epi.alaska.gov

Clinical Center

Brain Injury Association of America Publishes a Study on Public Perceptions of Brain Injury

Adam Grove, ND CBIS

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) partnered with the Harris Poll and surveyed 2,084 U.S. adults ages 18+ in February 2025. The key findings are:

• Almost 4 out of every 10 adults have experienced symptoms of a brain injury. This number is much higher than the Centers for Disease Control and Surveillance (CDC) have published. A 2018-2019 phone poll conducted by the CDC of nearly 14,000 adults, children and adolescents showed 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 10 children reported brain injury symptoms in the last year. So this BIAA study shows a much higher incidence of TBI than we have previously thought.

• Only 1 in 4 adults reported that a medical provider asked them about brain injury and men were more likely to be asked about a brain injury than women.

• 7 out of every 10 adults reported that they were familiar with concussions but 8 out of 10 did not know that a concussion is considered a traumatic brain injury. 9 out of 10 respondents could correctly identify a brain injury symptom but nearly half of these folks also incorrectly identified a symptom.

• 3 out of 4 adults in the study said that they knew brain injuries do not resolve in days and can develop into chronic conditions.

• Less than 3 out of 10 respondents associated brain injury with an invisible or hidden disability.

This study shows that great progress has been made in educating Americans about brain injury but large gaps in knowledge remain in the general population and among and medical providers.

The original BIAA report can be found here: https://biausa.org/brain-injury-surve

Injury Prevention Tips

Preventing Brain Injury During Spring Weather

Patty Raymond-Turner

Spring is a transitional season in Alaska and can be a risky time for Alaskans. Many parts of the state are still experiencing winter weather, with snow and ice. Other areas have rain, or even warm and dry weather. Here are some tips for staying safe during Spring:

• Wear ice cleats on your shoes or boots when the ground is snowy, icy, or wet.

• Look out for black ice while driving, riding, or walking.

• Keep your driveway and walkways clear of snow and ice and well lighted.

• Keep up with vehicle maintenance, including for snow machines and ATVs.

• Always wear a seatbelt when driving.

• Use properly fitted car seats or booster seats for children.

• Never drive or ride a vehicle of any kind after drinking alcohol or taking drugs (including prescription medications that can alter attention, vision, or other senses).

• Wear appropriate safety equipment, including a helmet, when riding or participating in sports and recreational activities.

• Remove clutter from indoor and outdoor walkways.

• Move electric cords away from walking paths to avoid tripping.

• Use stair gates and window guards to protect young children from falls.

Find more brain injury prevention tips here:

Alaska Division of Public Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Caregiver Junction

Nine Strategies Caregivers Can Use to Help

Stacy Stroia

There are more than 5.3 million individuals in the United States living with a permanent brain injury-related disability. That’s one in every 60 people. Annually, at least 2.8 million Americans sustain traumatic brain injuries in the United States.  Alaskans experience a notably higher prevalence of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) but lower hospitalization rates comparatively to the rest of the US. The elevated TBI prevalence in Alaska underscores the need for targeted education and prevention efforts. This short summary highlights nine strategies caregivers can implement to help someone with a brain injury.

Education. Understanding a brain injury and its effects can help friends, family and caregivers provide better support. Every brain injury is unique, so the best approach is to ask questions, listen to their responses and observe their behavior. Cognitive symptoms are often difficult to self-evaluate so paying attention to what they don’t say often provides valuable information. Common cognitive symptoms include memory issues, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, mood changes and trouble with communication.

Encouragement. Be Patient and Flexible. Understand that recovery takes time and progress can be slow and frustrating. Encourage them without rushing or pressuring them.

Assistance. Depending on their needs, survivors may need some assistance with remembering appointments, organizing tasks or managing household responsibilities. Ask if you can assist rather than just taking over.

Rest and Routine. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms. Encourage a healthy sleep cycle, regular rest breaks and help them develop a consistent routine during their day.

Communication. Speak clearly, calmly and at a steady pace. Use simple language and give them time to process and respond.

Support Emotional Well-Being. Brain injuries can lead to frustration, anxiety or depression. Be a good listener and encourage social engagement when appropriate.

Advocacy. Help them navigate medical appointments, rehabilitation and legal matters if necessary.

Promote Independence. Encourage them to do what they can while offering support when needed. Recognize and celebrate small successes which can boost confidence and recovery.

Self Care. Being a caregiver, friend or family member can be challenging at times. Make sure to seek support and practice self-care.

Kids Corner

Welcome to Kids Corner — a space dedicated to sharing kid-friendly information, practical tools, and supportive resources to help youth thrive after brain injury.

Brain injuries, including concussions, are more common in youth than many realize and can affect how children and teens learn, play, behave, and feel. While young brains are often described as resilient, they are also still developing, which means a brain injury can sometimes lead to longer-lasting or delayed challenges as development unfolds.

This month’s Kids Corner is hosted by Alaska’s Youth Brain Injury Program and features a handout with guidance for immediate steps after sustaining a strong impact to the head or body, along with a link to Alaska’s Return to School website (https://returntoschool.org/AK).

This site offers many additional tools and resources, including recorded webinars from the Center for Brain Injury Research and Training, topic-focused handouts and research summaries, and a connection to the SERRC Youth Brain Injury Program. Through this program, all students and families in Alaska have access to resources that support recovery and school success after a brain injury. If you work with youth or know a youth who has experienced a brain injury, be sure to check out these resources!

Resources

1) Navigation & support

Resources that help people figure out where to start and what steps to take next.

• Concussion Legacy Foundation HelpLine (Alaska) 

• The Alaska TBI Resource Locator 

• Concussion & TBI Peer Support Group: Navigating Life After Brain Trauma

2) Patient & caregiver education

Resources that explain symptoms, recovery, and what to expect in plain language.

• The Concussion Guidebook for Patients and Caregivers in Alaska

• AK Head Injury ECHO for providers

• Canadian ECHO on TBI for providers

3) Community education & training organizations

Programs that provide education, training, outreach, and ongoing resources.

• SERRC (Alaska Educational Resource Center)

• CBIRT (Center on Brain Injury Research and Training) 

• Alaska Brain Bus

4) Concussion prevention & recognition by age

Quick-reference materials for identifying concussion signs and responding early.

• Infant concussions (0–6 months) infographic (PDF) 

• Toddler concussions (2–4) flyer (PDF) 

• Concussion in adolescents flyer (PDF) 

6) Alaska-focused conversations & media

Video content that highlights Alaska-specific perspectives and populations.

• Interview playlist: Dr. Adam Grove — Brain injury & Elders (AK Commission on Aging) 

Save Your Spoons

Spoon Theory — the idea that you start each day with a limited amount of energy (your “spoons”), and everything you do costs some of that energy. “Saving your spoons” means prioritizing what matters most, pacing yourself, and saying no to extra demands so you don’t run out and crash. It’s a simple way to explain fatigue and overload—especially with chronic illness and brain injury.

Inspiration

Training

University of Washington Offers Free TBI Training

University of Washington offers free ECHO sessions twice a month focusing on the connection between brain injury and mental health. CEUS are provided. They also have an extensive library of past topics you can watch on demand. More here: https://tbi-bh-echo.psychiatry.uw.edu/

Brain Injury Association of America

Redefining Recovery: Addressing TBI as a Chronic Condition online webinar

Interested in learning more about TBI as a chronic condition? Join us on February 12 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET for , a joint webinar from the Brain Injury Association of America and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Kristen Dams-O'Connor, Director of the Brain Injury Research Center of Mount Sinai, will discuss evidence-based strategies to improve the care of people living with chronic TBI symptoms and address information and service gaps. Register here.

Alaska Head Injury ECHO for Providers

Event Calendar

The LoveYourBrain Summit

March 20 - 22nd, 2026 - Online

Advancing the Science and Practice of Holistic Healing after Brain Injury. This two day online summit brings together visionary leaders, scientists, brain health experts, and the brain injury community to explore emerging, evidence-based holistic therapies—from neurofeedback and trauma-informed mindfulness to gut-brain health and non-invasive brain stimulation.

For more information visit loveyourbrain.com/summit

Upcoming BICA events

Data / Infrastructure Subcommittee - Thu, Jan 15 2:00pm AK

https://alaska.zoom.us/j/85019870955?pwd=8rpxxQ4O4HrYMjCTBCs8bkTi7O5oBE.1

Advocacy Committee Meeting - Mon, Feb 2 10:00am AK

https://alaska.zoom.us/j/87409572601?pwd=Bq8Mn7UZSciGYKikgGKGfaBO1BCQrL.1&jst=2

Prevention, Awareness, and Resources (PAR) Committee meeting - Thu, Feb 12 2:00pm AK

https://alaska.zoom.us/j/81160629565?pwd=FDuM3iNbnS0G3Hu6Nf3xvpaYzTJjeq.1&jst=2

Brain Injury Council of Alaska (BICA) Monthly Meeting - Fri, Feb 13 11:00am AK

https://alaska.zoom.us/j/84205859326?pwd=C2DjRdFsg0KFbOLekj7beCEdkGQ9MI.1&jst=2

That’s it for now!

The Brain Injury Council of Alaska meets virtually the second Friday of each month from 11:00-12:30. Anyone is welcome to join and see what is happening at the State and local levels and provide your perspective.

Interested in becoming a council member or have questions?

Contact Kayla Pokupec, Council Coordinator - [email protected]