R 174

2020 -- H 7982 Enacted 03/10/2020

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF MARCH 9TH THROUGH 15TH OF 2020 TO BE "BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Casimiro, Alzate, Blazejewski, and Shanley

Date Introduced: March 10, 2020

WHEREAS, The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island has projected that more than

14,000 residents of Rhode Island will sustain a traumatic brain injury this year; and

WHEREAS, The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island has identified brain injury as

the leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults in this country; and

WHEREAS, Brain injury is an extremely costly public health issue; and

WHEREAS, Advances in medical technology have enabled many persons with severe

brain injury to survive these injuries; and

WHEREAS, Persons with brain injury may need specialized rehabilitation programs and

other services to meet specific needs to live life to maximum potential; and

WHEREAS, Most forms of insurance, both public and private, that are available to

persons with brain injuries may not cover the rehabilitative and long-term care needs of these

individuals; and

WHEREAS, People with brain injury and their families too often must choose between

financial hardship or discontinuing critical treatment and services due to the substantial long-term

costs; and

WHEREAS, Without specialized community services, people with brain injury may

become inappropriately institutionalized; and

WHEREAS, Providing treatment methods and services to people with brain injury must

be a priority for the State of Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Defense Veterans Brain Injury

Center (DVBIC), and the Brain Injury Association of America, the Brain Injury Association of

Rhode Island strives to increase awareness of both acquired and traumatic brain injuries, thus

making prevention and safety measures part of the American culture, and decreasing the number

of brain injuries; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby proclaims the week of March 9th through 15th of 2020, to be "Brain

Injury Awareness Week" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Debra Sharpe, Executive Director of the

Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island.

========

LC004786

========