$20,000 grant from Dakota Medical Foundation supports traumatic brain injury partnership Dakota Medical Foundation has provided $20,000 to support the North Dakota Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Partnership, administered by the Center for Rural Health at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The TBI partnership is designed to strengthen the coordination of services for individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in North Dakota, with particular attention to the needs of military veterans and American Indians. The Center for Rural Health administers the TBI project in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Human Services. The Center managed the state's original planning grant for traumatic brain injury. Additional funding partners include the Dakota Medical Foundation, the North Dakota Head Injury Association and the Anne Carlsen Center. Grant funds will be used to improve screening and referrals for needed services and service coordination. Other goals include strengthening cultural awareness, implementing a peer mentoring pilot program involving American Indians, promoting education and awareness through a statewide summit this fall, targeted medical education, and developing a resource library. Resources may also be used to explore ways to track the incidence of traumatic brain injuries in North Dakota. Dakota Medical Foundation, Fargo, N.D., focuses its efforts on improving health and access to medical and dental care in the region, with a special emphasis on children. Since 1996, the Foundation has invested over $33 million to 300 nonprofit organizations in the region. For more information, see www.dakmed.org. -- Wendy Opsahl, Communications Coordinator, Center for Rural Health, wopsahl@medicine.nodak.edu, 777-0871