RHI Foundation

Brain injury research: Rhi Foundation develops and translates a statewide system of support and collaboration into local support networks integrated through resource facilitation, data collection and outcomes measurement to enhance vocational outcome in acquired brain injury. The goals of this project are to establish brain injury specific integrated and coordinated systems of support and service at the state and local level in collaboration with the Indiana brain injury leadership board, to develop an Indiana brain injury resource center (ibirc), and to develop an outcomes measurement strategy with the Iowa and Minnesota resource facilitation programs to develop a best practice model for resource facilitation in brain injury. Following acquired brain injury (abi) and acute hospitalization and rehabilitation, the survivors and their families are challenged to discover what resources are available through various public and private sector organizations. Each organization has different accessibility criteria, priorities, and processes. Each survivor and family is left to rediscover how to navigate the maze to recovery and re-integration into the community following brain injury. Work outcomes following moderate to severe brain injury are typically less than 40%, and typically around 30% for working age patients. Several treatment studies employing specialized post-acute day treatment or holistic rehabilitation have demonstrated better outcome with return to work rates of 60-70%. The majority of people with tbi do not have access to specialized post-acute rehabilitation primarily secondary to an absence of reimbursement. More recently, many states have begun to develop resource facilitation models for people with tbi and their families with varying goals and methods. Our research group has recently completed the first randomized controlled trial of resource facilitation for people with abi beginning immediately after discharge from acute rehabilitation. The result has been a dramatic rise in the number of brain injury patients who are able to return to work and self-sufficiency.

Sports programs: the sports program makes being a part of sports activities a reality again for many individuals of the community. Participants with any type of physical disability have the opportunity to become more physically fit, learn a new sport for personal enjoyment, or be a part of competitive team sports. For over 20 years the rehabilitation hospital of Indiana sports program (rhisp) has been a national leader by providing competitive and non-competitive recreation opportunities to individuals with disabilities to enhance quality of life, promote physical fitness, introduce recreational and wheelchair sports, and challenge participants to perform at a competitive level. The rhisp is committed to providing more than just the provision of recreation services. We believe that sports, recreation, and leisure play important roles in the intrinsic motivation of people with disabilities to re-enter the workforce, develop strong social skills, and improve levels of physical fitness.