The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Integration of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury at TIRR

R1: Increasing Social Networking Opportunities following TBI

Project Update

Flyer for Recruiting

Update - Active Recruitment:

The first years of the project were devoted to development of the mentor training program, assessment instruments, and screening and matching procedures. In addition, development of the interactive training sessions for peer mentors was designed and piloted.

A wonderful development for this project was the hiring of Jason Ferguson to serve as the Social Peer Mentor Co-Trainer. Jason had been serving as a consultant for another project on the RRTC grant (R5), but became very interested in assisting with the social peer mentoring project. Jason has been instrumental in the development of the interactive sessions. He joined our Center staff in January 2006, and we are looking forward to his continuing contributions to this project.

After completion of all of the materials and the social peer mentor training program, the project was forwarded for review by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Baylor College of Medicine. This Board reviews all projects that involve human subjects to ensure that proper protections are in place. The project was approved by the IRB and participant recruitment has begun.

 
Flyer for Recruiting

Flyers have been distributed at local hospitals, independent living centers, rehabilitation facilities, and support groups. In addition, inservices have been conducted with staff at the various facilities to ensure understanding of the project and to encourage referrals of potential participants to the project.

Participant recruitment is ongoing and we are looking forward to learning more about the potential of this program to effect positive change for persons with brain injury.