National Initiative Launched to Improve Emotional Health of Brain Injury Survivors
Three leading brain injury organizations, supported by funding from the Moody Endowment, will collaborate on the three-year project
HOUSTON, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA), and the North American Brain Injury Society (NABIS) announced A National Initiative to Advance Brain Health, Emotional Well-Being, and Living Well After Brain Injury. This three-year collaboration unites the organizations around the shared goal of building, testing, and scaling a coordinated set of strategies to prevent and address emotional health challenges among people living with brain injury and their caregivers. Four distinct touchpoints—prevention, identification, clinical response, and connection to services—comprise the initiative and span the continuum of prevention and care.
The Moody Endowment of Houston, TX provided funding for the initiative, which is aligned with their goals of advancing brain injury research and developing life-changing rehabilitation activities.
“The Moody Endowment is more than simply a funder of this critical project,” said BIAA President and CEO Rick Willis. “They are a valued partner whose expertise and involvement in brain injury research and rehabilitation has informed our approach to the initiative.”
Emotional health challenges are among the most common and persistent consequences of brain injury. Adults and children with brain injury are at an elevated risk for chronic behavioral health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders. Because emotional health challenges after brain injury do not emerge at a single, consistent point in time, they cannot be addressed through a single intervention.
“We are deeply grateful to the Moody Endowment for its enduring commitment to the brain injury community,” said Rebeccah Wolfkiel, Executive Director of NASHIA. “This historic collaboration brings together the shared passion and complementary strengths of BIAA, NASHIA, and NABIS to bridge research, clinical practice, and community services that will result in people receiving the support they need after a brain injury.”
This initiative brings together leading brain injury researchers, clinicians, and specialists to develop, test, and implement tools that lay the groundwork for a scalable, integrated approach to improving the emotional health of brain injury survivors and caregivers.
“No one should have to piece together care alone. This collaboration will systematize how individuals and families navigate complex health care systems, financial barriers, and fragmented community services, so they can put their energy into what matters most: their well-being, their purpose, and a life that is meaningful to them.” Said Dr. Alan Weintraub, Chairman & CEO of the North American Brain Injury Society.
About BIAA
BIAA helps survivors and caregivers navigate life after brain injury, through education, professional development and certification for health care providers, advocacy, and research. Learn more at biausa.org.
About NASHIA
NASHIA strengthens state systems and services for families impacted by brain injury by promoting and supporting development of best practices and advancing effective policies and programs that allow individuals with brain injury to thrive in their communities. Learn more at nashia.org.
About NABIS
NABIS empowers multidisciplinary professionals to translate scientific knowledge into evidence-based best practices, advance clinical care, inform policy, and drive real-world impact. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/aboutnabis.
About the Moody Endowment
The Moody Endowment funds innovative brain injury research and life-changing rehabilitation activities to improve the lives of patients and their families with the aim of better understanding brain injury and its effects. Learn more at https://moodyendowment.org.
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SOURCE Brain Injury Association of America
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