Concussion Baseline Testing Grant Available for NJ High Schools

On February 24, 2006, the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey announced the availability of grant funds for New Jersey high schools to implement ImPACT, a computerized pre-season baseline and concussion management program for athletes.  This is the first opportunity of its kind for our state’s high school athletic departments.  Already, ABC Channel 7’s Dr. Jay Adlersberg and CBS Channel 2’s Jay Dow, as well as The Record and Asbury Park Press have reported stories on it.  Simply put, baseline and post-concussion testing help take the guesswork out of concussion management and return-to-play decisions.  It is my pleasure to invite your school to apply for this opportunity.

To help you, your school board and athletic department learn more about this grant, the ImPACT program, and sports concussion, you may review the following documents:

• Cover Letter to Principals
  
  
• Grant Application and Licensing Agreement
  
  
• Grant Announcement Flyer
  
  
• Press Release
  
  
• ImPACT Handout – This includes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on ImPACT and the NJ High School Grant Opportunity, an article on concussion in high school sports, and one attorney’s feedback on ImPACT.
  
  
• ImPACT Brochure
  
  
• ImPACT Demo Instructions – This will allow you and your colleagues to sample the program online.
  
  
• ImPACT Sideline Assessment Card
  
  
• Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Concussion in Sports Consensus Statement – This defines concussion and discusses the issues involved in return-to-play decisions.
  
  
• Flyer for Free CDC Tool Kit on Concussion For High School Coaches

To apply for this grant, a high school must have an athletic trainer on staff to administer ImPACT, have the technology to support the software, and meet a few other requirements. The Grant Announcement Flyer and Grant Application & Licensing Agreement above both outline these in detail.  The application review process will take place from April 15 to May 1, 2006.  Award announcements will be mailed by May 10, 2006, and ImPACT training for athletic trainers and team physicians will be held on May 22 and 23, 2006 at locations soon to be announced.  This will enable schools to implement ImPACT in time for Fall 2006 sports.

Despite over 300,000 sports- and recreation-related concussions that occur each year in the United States, public recognition of brain injury is quite low.  Concussion is a brain injury and should be taken seriously.  This grant is an opportunity for your school to do that by either implementing or extending the concussion management program for your athletes.  Already we have heard from some very enthusiastic athletic trainers who look forward to implementing ImPACT in their schools.  Perhaps your athletic trainer is among them.  We hope that you and your school board will be just as eager as these athletic trainers are to apply.

Should you have any questions after perusing this information, please do not hesitate to contact our Public Education Coordinator, Joanna Boyd at 732.738.1002 or jboyd@bianj.org.  We look forward to hearing from you. 

Yours truly,
Barbara Geiger-Parker