WHEREAS, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a bump, blow, jolt, or other head injury that disrupts the brain’s normal function, often resulting in a lifetime of physical, cognitive, and behavioral challenges; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 2.8 million Americans, including 475,000 children, sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, including 795,000 who suffer a stroke; and

WHEREAS, as many as 8.5 million children and adults nationwide live with long-term disabilities due to traumatic brain injury and stroke; and

WHEREAS, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, an estimated 389,621 Virginians live with disabilities caused by TBI and stroke; and

WHEREAS, of the approximately 28,000 individuals in Virginia each year who sustain brain injuries including concussions, more than 7,000 are hospitalized, largely due to falls, motor vehicle crashes, assaults, sporting-related injuries, or occupational injuries; and

WHEREAS, since 2000, 383,947 U.S. military service members worldwide have been diagnosed with TBI in deployed and non-deployed settings, and as a typical injury of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, TBI presents ongoing challenges for Virginia veterans and their families; and

WHEREAS, early, equal, and adequate access to care greatly increases the overall quality of life of Virginians with TBI, enabling them to return to home, school, work, and community; and

WHEREAS, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) leads the nation in observing March as Brain Injury Awareness Month with the theme, “Change Your Mind About Brain Injury” which focuses on changing misconceptions about the injury; educating the public on the incidence and prevalence of brain injury; and advocating for the needs of individuals who are injured and their family members; and

WHEREAS, the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services is the lead agency for brain injury services in the Commonwealth, and works in partnership with the Department of Veterans Services / Virginia Veteran and Family Support Program, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, as well as a network of state-funded brain injury services programs including the statewide educational / advocacy organization, the Brain Injury Association of Virginia;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize March 2019 as BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.