What is Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI? A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an injury that affects how the brain works. Anyone can experience a TBI or find themselves in a position of caretaking for someone experiencing a TBI. Traumatic brain injuries affect people of all ages and backgrounds.
DSHS is committed to increasing public awareness of TBI and connecting the TBI community to Information and Referral, resources, and person-driven support.
To learn more and get connected, choose one:
Center for Disease Control (CDC) studies show that certain demographics are more likely to experience a traumatic brain injury:
- Those in the corrections system
- Domestic violence and intimate partner violence victims
- Older Adults
- Veterans /Active Duty
Information, Referral, Resources
WA211 (wa211.org) is the provider for DSHS TBI Information and Referral Services.
Information and Referral, also known as I&R, provides information about services and assists in connecting with the supportive resources and services they are seeking.
The first step to getting SUPPORT and getting CONNECTED to the best local resources for your needs. With dozens of agencies and organizations – where do you start?
Washington 2-1-1 is a free confidential service accessed by:
- CALL 2-1-1 or (877) 211-9274 or online Wa211.org
A person is connected with a Community Resource Specialist who is trained to actively listen and understand the person’s needs for access to more than 30,000 resources. Community Resource Specialist can link to existing public, private, and local area services.
Wa 211 Information and Referral - Help is just a contact away - YouTube
Three Ways to Connect – Dial 911, 988, 211 to Get Support
Call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Seek help during a crisis, emotional support, referrals, and resources. Depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health concerns can affect anyone.
TBI Events and Resources
TBI Learning and Support Resources Flyer (pdf) - Information and links to materials and resources.
TBI Events Portal - Information about no cost Brain Injury Workshops and Education, to include a library of past recordings and upcoming workshop and webinar events.
Request for Information
Traumatic Brain Injury In-Person Support Groups - ALTSA, on behalf of the Traumatic Brain Injury Strategic Partnership Advisory Council of Washington State (TBI Council), aims to develop quarterly in-person support groups that increase awareness and supportive resources that aid in the development of long-term knowledge and generic problem-solving skills to help attendees overcome barriers to sustaining a fulfilling life among people with traumatic brain injury across the state. The $125,000 allocated for fiscal year 2025, for in-person support groups will be divided equally among organizations interested in providing in-person support groups geographically located in the nine accountable community of health regions. Interested parties should respond by sending a completed Provider Response form, as an attachment in an email, to the RFI Coordinator, at the email address indicated in the RFI Coordinator section, by close of business, September 16, 2024.