About PATBI
Protection & Advocacy Traumatic Brain Injury Program (PATBI)
In 1996, Congress authorized the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau to implement state grant programs to improve access to health and other services for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families. The Children’s Health Act of 2000 reauthorized this program. In South Dakota, the program is called Protection and Advocacy Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI) and is part of Disability Rights South Dakota.
Who Is Considered To Have TBI?
Anyone who has suffered a cranio-cerebral head trauma as an occurrence of injury to the head arising from blunt or penetrating trauma or from acceleration-deceleration forces that are associated with any of these symptoms or signs attributed to the injury:
- Decreased level of consciousness
- Amnesia
- Other neurologic or neuropsychologic abnormalities
- Skull fracture
- Diagnosed intracranial lesions
The term TBI includes sports related injuries.
The term TBI does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.
What Services Does PATBI Provide?
- Information, referrals and advice
- Individual and family advocacy
- Representation
- Assistance in self advocacy to individuals with TBI and their families.
How Can the PATBI Program Help You?
Provide assistance and/or representation to individuals with traumatic brain injury in the areas of:
- Employment discrimination
- Housing
- Community-based & Health Services
- Abuse and neglect
- Rights violations
- Educational services including transition services
PATBI Program Objectives
- Provide education, training, and outreach to potential clients, collaborating entities, interested groups and public and private providers including the Veterans’ Administration Health Systems.
- Provide information and referral services on disability-related issues to eligible individuals and their families.
- Provide advice, consultation, self-advocacy, and skill development training on disability related issues to eligible individuals and their families to assist them in addressing disability-related issues.
- Provide representation in disability related issues to protect the rights of eligible individuals and their families.
- Professional linkage and collaboration with key agencies to increase and enhance access to appropriate TBI services.