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BrainSTEPS Colorado

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Join BrainSTEPS CO!

Application to Join BrainSTEPS CO (PDF)

Colorado’s BrainSTEPS CO will be accepting NEW TEAMS and NEW TEAM MEMBERS for the 2023-24 school year from May 1st through September 25, 2023. To participate in this nationally recognized professional development opportunity:

  • Districts/BOCES identify a team of 4-6* or more professionals (multi-disciplinary) who are interested and have the flexibility to serve as BrainSTEPS CO team members (BrainSTEPS CO Best Practices (PDF)). *4-6 person teams are recommended. Exceptions may be made based on district/BOCES needs.
  • One application per new member must be completed by September 25th, 2023.
  • All new team members are required to attend a 2 day in-person NEW TEAM MEMBER TRAINING on October 24th and 25th 2023.
  • .District/BOCES identify one-two persons who will oversee their BrainSTEPS CO team as the team leader (this person must be identified on the application packet prior to the training.)
  • All BrainSTEPS CO team members are expected to attend a team training/update held in February 2024. Date to be determined. 

Current BrainSTEPS CO Teams

  • Academy 20 School District
  • Adams 12
  • Aspen School District
  • Aurora Public Schools
  • Boulder Valley School District
  • Centennial BOCES
  • Cherry Creek School District
  • Colorado River BOCES
  • Denver Public Schools
  • Douglas County School District
  • Eagle County School District

  • East Central BOCES
  • Fort Morgan RE-3
  • Fountain‐Fort Carson School District 8
  • Harrison 2 School District
  • JeffCo Public Schools
  • Littleton Public Schools
  • Mesa County Valley School District
  • Moffat County School District
  • Montrose School District
  • Poudre School District
  • Pueblo County District 70

  • Roaring Fork School District
  • San Juan BOCES
  • School District 27J
  • School District 49
  • St. Vrain Valley School District
  • Thompson Schools
  • Ute Pass BOCES
  • Weld RE-4
  • Weld RE-6

BrainSteps CO Team Contacts 

About BrainSTEPS CO

 

Colorado’s BrainSTEPS CO (Strategies Teaching Educators, Parents, and Students) Brain Injury School Re-Entry Consulting Program was modeled after Pennsylvania’s BrainSTEPS program which began assisting school districts in 2007 and is considered a national model for brain injury educational consulting.  Download "Why your District/BOCES Needs a BrainSTEPS CO Consulting Team" (PDF)

As a result of acquired brain injury, many students return to school with lingering effects that impact classroom performance. BrainSTEPS CO has been designed to consult with school teams and families in the development and delivery of educational services for students who have experienced acquired brain injury.

Acquired brain injuries include any injury to the brain that is sustained after a period of development and encompasses the following:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (injury caused by an external force), including concussions, and
  • Non-traumatic brain injuries (e.g., strokes, brain tumors, brain infections, and anoxia).

BrainSTEPS CO works to not only re-enter students following brain injury, but with students previously identified as having a brain injury who may begin to develop educational effects over the years as the brain develops and matures.

 

BrainSTEPS CO teams:

 

  • Consult with schools regarding identification, IEP/504 Plan development, intervention selection, and implementation by using the Building Blocks of Brain Development© framework. Teams also consult on school re-entry planning and other issues professionals face in supporting students with brain injury, and provide long-term monitoring of students.
  • Provide consultation to parents of any student with brain injury referred to the team and ongoing communication regarding services the team is providing for the student.
  • Monitor students annually until graduation for manifestation of new cognitive/behavioral/social issues.
  • Disseminate brain injury resource information (e.g., written information, links to websites, referrals to community resources, etc.) to educators, families, and community providers working with students with BI.
  • Provide training on the educational implications of brain injury to educators as well as groups in their local community (e.g., parent, medical, rehabilitation).

 

Brochure and Best Practices


Jody Dickerson, RN, BSN, MN
Brain Injury Specialist 
Phone: (720) 795-2273
Email Jody Dickerson

Toni Grishman, RN, BSN
BrainSTEPS CO Program Coordinator
Web: Health and Wellness - Brain Injury
P (303) 524-4321
Email Toni Grisham


BrainSTEPS is a joint project between the Colorado Mindsource Brain Injury Network and the Colorado Department of Education.

CDHS - Mindsource Brain Injury Network

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