Iowa Plan for Brain Injury, 2007-2010

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) impacts the lives of thousands of Iowans every year. TBI has been described as the “Silent Epidemic” because so often the scars are not visible to others. The affects of brain injury are cognitive, emotional, social, and can result in physical disability. In addition to the overwhelming challenges individuals with brain injury experience, families also face many difficulties in dealing with their loved one’s injury, and in navigating a service delivery system that can be confusing and frustrating. In 1998, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) conducted a comprehensive statewide needs assessment of brain injury in Iowa. This assessment led to the development of the first Iowa Plan for Brain Injury, “Coming Into Focus.” An updated state plan, the Iowa Plan for Brain Injuries 2002 – 2005, was developed, which reported on progress of the previous state plan, and outlined gaps in service delivery in Iowa. Four areas of focus were identified by the State Plan for Brain Injuries Task Force that included: 1) Expanding the Iowa Brain Injury Resource Network (IBIRN); 2) Promoting a Legislative and Policy Agenda, While Increasing Legislative Strength; 3) Enhancing Data Collection; and, 4) Increasing Funding. The IDPH utilized “Coming Into Focus” as the framework for an application to the federal TBI State Grant Program, which has resulted in more than $900,000 for plan implementation. Iowa continues to receive grant dollars through the TBI State Grant Program, which focuses on increasing capacity to serve Iowans with brain injury and their families. Highlighting the success of this grant project, in 2007 the IDPH received the federal TBI Program’s “Impacting Systems Change” Award. The Iowa Brain Injury Resource Network (IBIRN) is the product of nine years of TBI State Grant Program funding. The IBIRN was developed to ensure that Iowans got the information and support they needed after a loved one sustained a TBI. It consists of a hospital and service provider pre-discharge information and service linkage process, a resource facilitation program, a peer-to-peer volunteer support network, and a service provider training and technical assistance program. Currently over 90 public and private partners work with the IDPH and the Brain Injury Association of Iowa (BIA-IA) to administer the IBIRN system and ensure that families have a relevant and reliable location to turn for information and support. Further success was accomplished in 2006 when the Iowa legislature created the Brain Injury Services Program within the IDPH. This program consists of four components focusing on increasing access to services and improving the effectiveness of services available to individuals with TBI and their families, including: 1) HCBS Brain Injury Waiver-Eligible Component; 2) Cost Share Component; 3) Neuro-Resource Facilitation; and, 4) Enhanced Training. The Iowa legislature appropriated $2.4 million to the Brain Injury Services Program in state fiscal year (SFY) 2007, and increased that amount to $3.9 million in SFY 2008. The Cost Share Component models the HCBS Brain Injury Waiver menu of services but is available for Iowans who do not qualify functionally or financially for the Waiver. In addition, the Neuro-Resource Facilitation program links individuals with brain injury and their families to needed supports and services. The Iowa Plan for Brain Injury highlights the continued need for serving individuals with brain injury and their families. Additionally, the Plan outlines the paths of prevention and services, which will expand the current system and direct efforts into the future.

Uniform Crime Reports as a Vehicle For Reporting State Wide Data on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, April 1998

This project is part of an effort conducted by the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) under a grant whose objective is to provide states with descriptions of existing methodologies to collect Domestic Violence (DV) and Sexual Assault (SA) data. JRSA has identified three different methodologies to collect such data: · Incident-based reporting as part of the Uniform Crime Reports · Specialized data collection from law enforcement through a separate data collection system · Specialized data collection coming directly from service providers. One state has been selected as an example of each type of data collection above, with Iowa selected as a representative of states with incident based reporting (IBR) as part of the UCR system.

Chronic Disease Connections, September 2013

IDPH has a new grant-funded program, the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Control Partnership. This publication, Chronic Disease Connections, will be part of the communication strategy between IDPH staff and healthcare system providers throughout the state as we partner to help patients control their diabetes and high blood pressure. This is just one of the major objectives for the funding. The CDC would like to see that more patients are aware that they have pre-diabetes, diabetes or high blood pressure and that health systems are maximizing evidence-based strategies to assist patients with achieving control. Over the coming months you will hear more about the new program and how you can become involved.

Chronic Disease Connections, October 2013

IDPH has a new grant-funded program, the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Control Partnership. This publication, Chronic Disease Connections, will be part of the communication strategy between IDPH staff and healthcare system providers throughout the state as we partner to help patients control their diabetes and high blood pressure. This is just one of the major objectives for the funding. The CDC would like to see that more patients are aware that they have pre-diabetes, diabetes or high blood pressure and that health systems are maximizing evidence-based strategies to assist patients with achieving control. Over the coming months you will hear more about the new program and how you can become involved.

Chronic Disease Connections, November 2013

IDPH has a new grant-funded program, the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Control Partnership. This publication, Chronic Disease Connections, will be part of the communication strategy between IDPH staff and healthcare system providers throughout the state as we partner to help patients control their diabetes and high blood pressure. This is just one of the major objectives for the funding. The CDC would like to see that more patients are aware that they have pre-diabetes, diabetes or high blood pressure and that health systems are maximizing evidence-based strategies to assist patients with achieving control. Over the coming months you will hear more about the new program and how you can become involved.

Evaluation of Asphalt Mix Permeability, MLR-90-2, 1992

Efforts to eliminate rutting on the Interstate system have resulted in 3/4 in. aggregate mixes, with 75 blow Marshall, 85% crushed aggregate mix designs. On a few of these projects paved in 1988-1989, water has appeared on the surfaces. Some conclusions have been reached by visual on-sight investigations that the water is coming from surface water, rain and melting snow gaining entry into the surface asphalt mixture, then coming back out in selected areas. Cores were taken from several Interstate projects and tested for permeability to investigate the surface water theory that supposedly happens with only the 3/4 in. mixtures. All cores were of asphalt overlays over portland cement concrete, except for the Clarke County project which is full depth AC. The testing consisted of densities, permeabilities, voids by high pressure airmeter (HPAM), extraction, gradations, AC content, and film thicknesses. Resilient modulus, indirect tensile and retained strengths after freeze/thaw were also done. All of the test results are about as expected. Permeabilities, the main reason for testing, ranged from 0.00 to 2.67 ft per day and averages less than 1/2 ft per day if the following two tests are disregarded. One test on each binder course came out to 15.24 ft/day, and a surface course at 13.78 ft/day but these are not out of supposedly problem projects.

Chronic Disease Connections, December 2013

IDPH has a new grant-funded program, the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Control Partnership. This publication, Chronic Disease Connections, will be part of the communication strategy between IDPH staff and healthcare system providers throughout the state as we partner to help patients control their diabetes and high blood pressure. This is just one of the major objectives for the funding. The CDC would like to see that more patients are aware that they have pre-diabetes, diabetes or high blood pressure and that health systems are maximizing evidence-based strategies to assist patients with achieving control. Over the coming months you will hear more about the new program and how you can become involved.

Aging Watch, December 20, 2013, Vol. 13, no. 14

Aging Watch is provided in the spirit of information and education. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Department or its programs. The Department shall not be liable for any damages that may result from errors or omissions in information distributed in this publication. Aging Watch will be published regularly during the legislative session and monthly in the interim by the Iowa Department on Aging. “Aging Watch.” The Department is providing this update to better inform you about policy affecting older Iowans. In addition to policy updates from the statehouse and the nation’s capitol, you’ll learn about Department programs and changes affecting the landscape. As you’ll learn reading this and future editions, big changes are coming for the Iowa Aging Network. Over the next year the Department will be reducing the number of local Area Agencies on Aging, as required by legislative action. Not surprisingly, this is a major change for everyone.

Aging Watch, February 24, 2014, Vol. 14, no. 12

Aging Watch is provided in the spirit of information and education. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Department or its programs. The Department shall not be liable for any damages that may result from errors or omissions in information distributed in this publication. Aging Watch will be published regularly during the legislative session and monthly in the interim by the Iowa Department on Aging. “Aging Watch.” The Department is providing this update to better inform you about policy affecting older Iowans. In addition to policy updates from the statehouse and the nation’s capitol, you’ll learn about Department programs and changes affecting the landscape. As you’ll learn reading this and future editions, big changes are coming for the Iowa Aging Network. Over the next year the Department will be reducing the number of local Area Agencies on Aging, as required by legislative action. Not surprisingly, this is a major change for everyone.

Aging Watch, January 24, 2014, Vol. 14, no. 1

Aging Watch is provided in the spirit of information and education. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Department or its programs. The Department shall not be liable for any damages that may result from errors or omissions in information distributed in this publication. Aging Watch will be published regularly during the legislative session and monthly in the interim by the Iowa Department on Aging. “Aging Watch.” The Department is providing this update to better inform you about policy affecting older Iowans. In addition to policy updates from the statehouse and the nation’s capitol, you’ll learn about Department programs and changes affecting the landscape. As you’ll learn reading this and future editions, big changes are coming for the Iowa Aging Network. Over the next year the Department will be reducing the number of local Area Agencies on Aging, as required by legislative action. Not surprisingly, this is a major change for everyone.

Aging Watch, June 11, 2013, Vol. 13, no. 12

Aging Watch is provided in the spirit of information and education. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Department or its programs. The Department shall not be liable for any damages that may result from errors or omissions in information distributed in this publication. Aging Watch will be published regularly during the legislative session and monthly in the interim by the Iowa Department on Aging. “Aging Watch.” The Department is providing this update to better inform you about policy affecting older Iowans. In addition to policy updates from the statehouse and the nation’s capitol, you’ll learn about Department programs and changes affecting the landscape. As you’ll learn reading this and future editions, big changes are coming for the Iowa Aging Network. Over the next year the Department will be reducing the number of local Area Agencies on Aging, as required by legislative action. Not surprisingly, this is a major change for everyone.

Aging Watch, June 28, 2013, Vol. 13, no. 13

Aging Watch is provided in the spirit of information and education. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Department or its programs. The Department shall not be liable for any damages that may result from errors or omissions in information distributed in this publication. Aging Watch will be published regularly during the legislative session and monthly in the interim by the Iowa Department on Aging. “Aging Watch.” The Department is providing this update to better inform you about policy affecting older Iowans. In addition to policy updates from the statehouse and the nation’s capitol, you’ll learn about Department programs and changes affecting the landscape. As you’ll learn reading this and future editions, big changes are coming for the Iowa Aging Network. Over the next year the Department will be reducing the number of local Area Agencies on Aging, as required by legislative action. Not surprisingly, this is a major change for everyone.

Aging Watch, March 10, 2014, Vol. 14, no. 13

Aging Watch is provided in the spirit of information and education. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Department or its programs. The Department shall not be liable for any damages that may result from errors or omissions in information distributed in this publication. Aging Watch will be published regularly during the legislative session and monthly in the interim by the Iowa Department on Aging. “Aging Watch.” The Department is providing this update to better inform you about policy affecting older Iowans. In addition to policy updates from the statehouse and the nation’s capitol, you’ll learn about Department programs and changes affecting the landscape. As you’ll learn reading this and future editions, big changes are coming for the Iowa Aging Network. Over the next year the Department will be reducing the number of local Area Agencies on Aging, as required by legislative action. Not surprisingly, this is a major change for everyone.

Aging Watch: Supplement Brief, May 1, 2012, Vol. 12, no. 2

Aging Watch is provided in the spirit of information and education. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Department or its programs. The Department shall not be liable for any damages that may result from errors or omissions in information distributed in this publication. Aging Watch will be published regularly during the legislative session and monthly in the interim by the Iowa Department on Aging. “Aging Watch.” The Department is providing this update to better inform you about policy affecting older Iowans. In addition to policy updates from the statehouse and the nation’s capitol, you’ll learn about Department programs and changes affecting the landscape. As you’ll learn reading this and future editions, big changes are coming for the Iowa Aging Network. Over the next year the Department will be reducing the number of local Area Agencies on Aging, as required by legislative action. Not surprisingly, this is a major change for everyone.

Aging Watch: Supplement Brief, April 2, 2014, Vol. 14, no. 4

Aging Watch is provided in the spirit of information and education. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Department or its programs. The Department shall not be liable for any damages that may result from errors or omissions in information distributed in this publication. Aging Watch will be published regularly during the legislative session and monthly in the interim by the Iowa Department on Aging. “Aging Watch.” The Department is providing this update to better inform you about policy affecting older Iowans. In addition to policy updates from the statehouse and the nation’s capitol, you’ll learn about Department programs and changes affecting the landscape. As you’ll learn reading this and future editions, big changes are coming for the Iowa Aging Network. Over the next year the Department will be reducing the number of local Area Agencies on Aging, as required by legislative action. Not surprisingly, this is a major change for everyone.