Athletics & Concussion

How Counseling Can Help After a Concussion

• A mental health counselor can support someone in the aftermath of a concussion and guide people in their support networks - family, friends, coaches, teachers, and employers -helping them better understand what a concussion is and how they can be of assistance. (Credit: Counseling Staff | Samantha Keller - June 2019)

Colorado Department of Education Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• A child with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a child with an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, which impairment adversely affects the child's ability to receive reasonable educational benefit from general education.

• Brain Injury and Concussion Management Guidelines

• Concussion Management Guidelines

  • Updated in April 2014.

  • In an effort to address youth concussion, Governor John Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 11-040, also known as "The Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Act" into law on March 29, 2011. This law went into effect in Colorado on January 1, 2012. The Colorado Department of Education developed "Concussion Management Guidelines" to educate school districts on SB 11-040 and to provide guidance to superintendents as they work to implement concussion management guidelines within their districts.

Brain Injury in Children and Youth: A Manual for Educators

• Created in 2001 and updated in 2013, this manual was written as a joint effort between the Colorado Department of Education, The New Start Project within the Center for Community Participation at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and the Children's Hospital Colorado.

• Since 2001, research and practice has changed the area of brain injury significantly, therefore, it was felt that this Brain Injury manual required updating. The TBI Networking Team (TNT) Steering Committee took on the task of reviewing, re-writing and updating information.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury

• Contains information about preventing concussions, recognizing symptoms of concussion, what to do after a concussion.

• Resource Websites

  • Concussion in Sports

  • Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports

  • Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports

  • Heads Up Online Training Course

  • Heads Up to Schools: Know Your Concussion ABCs

• For Coaches

  • Concussion Signs and Symptoms Checklist | (CSSC) en Español

  • Fact Sheet for Coaches

  • Guide for Coaches

• For Athletes

  • High School Sports Fact Sheet for Athletes | (HSSFSA) en Español

  • Youth Sports Fact Sheet for Athletes

• For Parents

  • General Fact Sheet for Parents | (GFSP) en Español

  • High School Sports Fact Sheet for Parents | (HSSFSP) en Español

  • Youth Sports Fact Sheet for Parents

Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT)

• CBIRT is a center under the office of Research, Innovation and Graduate Education (RIGE) at the University of Oregon., CBIRT conducts research and training to improve the lives of children and adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). CBIRT's research focuses on developing interventions to improve outcomes related to education, employability, and quality of life. Our training activities promote the use of best practices among educators and other professionals who serve individuals with TBI.

Children's Safety Network (CSN)

• Children's Safety Network National Resource Center for Injury and Violence Prevention is dedicated to working with state, territorial and community Maternal & Child Health and Injury & Violence prevention programs to create an environment where all children and youth are safe and healthy. We work with states and territories to infuse knowledge, expertise, and leadership to reduce injury, hospitalization, disability and death for all children and youth.

Colorado Brain Injury Program

• The Colorado Brain Injury Program has been established to help people with brain injury and their loved ones by assisting with accessing needed supports to maximize recovery now and in the future. In addition to services, the Colorado Brain Injury Program focuses on education and research related to brain injury.

• The Brain Injury Program is part of the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Funds for services, education and research are generated via the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund.

Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Sports Medicine and Concussion Information

• In pursuit of excellence, the Colorado High School Activities Association strives to create a positive and equitable environment in which all qualified student participants are challenged and inspired to meet their highest potential.

• Contains information on youth concussions along with other general sports medicine resources.

• CHSAA Concussion Policy

• NFHS Concussion Course - Required for all high school coaches in Colorado.

Concussion in Sports: What You Need to Know

• This course is required for all high school coaches in Colorado.

• Free online course created by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide information and resources to help educate coaches, officials, parents and students on the importance of proper concussion recognition and management in high school sports.

How to Handle a Concussion: Brain injuries are a common and worrisome risk for kids - and active people of all ages

• Article in the Denver Post (Published Aug. 2013)

REAP the Benefits of Good Concussion Management

• Published October 2013 by the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke's

• REAP stands for Remove/Reduce, Educate, Adjust/Accommodate, Pace. This is a community-based model for concussion management that was developed in Colorado.

Returning to Learning Following a Concussion

• Published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Oct. 2013)

• Unfortunately, because most children and adolescents look physically normal after a concussion, school officials often fail to recognize the need for academic or environmental adjustments. Appropriate guidance and recommendations from the pediatrician may ease the transition back to the school environment and facilitate the recovery of the child or adolescent. This report serves to provide a better understanding of possible factors that may contribute to difficulties in a school environment after a concussion and serves as a framework for the medical home, the educational home, and the family home to guide the student to a successful and safe return to learning.

Support Groups in Colorado

• Hosted by the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado, which is the only statewide non-profit exclusively dedicated to brain injury. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for people with brain injuries by connecting survivors with resources to help navigate the path of rehabilitation.

• The purpose of a support group is to share with and support one another for the mutual benefit of the whole group.

Summit County Concussion and Head Injury Support Group

• St. Anthony Summit Medical Center and the Brain Injury Allice of Colorado are offering a Concussion and Head Injury Support Group. This group is for young adults, high school students and their supporters, friends and family.

• The support group takes place the 2nd Monday of every month (beginning November 12th) 7:00pm - 8:00pm at The Church at Agape Outpost, 15404 Highway 9, Breckenridge, CO 80424

• No registration or fee required.

Traumatic Brain Injury Networking Team Resource Network

• This website was designed through funding from the Colorado TBI Trust Fund. This website should serve as a tool for educators, school administrators, school psychologists, related services professionals, and families. Feel free to join in the discussion and learn more about how to support our kids in Colorado with brain injuries.

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